South Carolina Football: Gamecock nominated for Academic All-American award

Every fall, the National Football Foundation announces the semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy). The William V. Campbell Trophy is awarded each season (since its inception in 1990) to the college football player who best exhibits excellence across athletics, academics, leadership, and community service. South Carolina football punter Kai Kroeger was nominated for this year’s award.

Kroeger fits the bill of a player who should be considered for college football’s premier scholar-athlete award. A two-time Academic All-American, Kroeger was also an All-American on the field last season. Kroeger was the male recipient of the President’s Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award across the entire University of South Carolina Athletics Department this past season, as well.

One of the best punters in school history, Kroeger has emerged as the leader of the Gamecocks’ special teams unit, and he goes well beyond his role of just kicking footballs. Kroeger excels as the team’s holder on field goals and extra points and has been a weapon at times passing the football on special teams fakes, going 7-7 in his career with 3 touchdowns, 4 first downs, and multiple 2-point conversion successes.

South Carolina football’s SEC Football Council representative is also none other than Kai Kroeger, and the left-footed punter is active in the community around Columbia. With an NFL future in front of him, Kroeger will extend his community outreach to where his football career takes him after college.

The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame will announce the Campbell Trophy’s finalists on Wednesday. Between 12 and 15 players will be selected as finalists and will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship and be invited to the annual awards dinner in Las Vegas in December. The winner will be announced at the dinner, and the scholarship will be increased to $25,000 for the recipient.