Nathan Clayberg (Pella, Iowa), a fifth-year senior on the Drake University football team, has been named a 2018 National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, the NFF announced Wednesday, Sept. 26. The award recognizes the top scholar-athletes across all divisions of college football.
 
Clayberg, an actuarial sciences major that is pursuing an MBA as well, was one of 179 scholar-athletes to be named a semifinalist for the prestigious award. In order to qualify as a semifinalist candidates must be in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2, display outstanding football ability and demonstrate strong leadership and citizenship.
 
Past NFF Campbell Trophy semifinalists include collegiate greats such as Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Tim Tebow. In 2013 Drake defensive lineman Brandon Coleman was also awarded this honor, the most recent Bulldog to be recognized by the NFF.
 
Clayberg, a standout defensive end, has had quite the season on and off the field, and he was also recently recognized for his off the field service in the community when he was named to the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team. Last season he was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American. On the field, he was named to the All-PFL First Team.
 
A total of 12-14 finalists for the Campbell Trophy will be announced on Oct. 31, and each finalist will receive a postgraduate scholarship and an opportunity to be named the nation's top football scholar-athlete. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 61st NFF Awards Dinner on Dec. 4, where the winner of the Campbell Trophy will be announced.