South Carolina football senior nominated for prestigious scholar-athlete award

On Wednesday, it was announced that the National Football Foundation had released their list of semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, including South Carolina football senior defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway.

The William V. Campbell Trophy is named for former Columbia University All-Ivy League player and coach Bill Campbell and is a prestigious scholar-athlete award given to the player in college football who best combines excellence on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible, players must be seniors (or graduate students) in their final year of play, hold a minimum 3.2 GPA, own a starting or other prominent role on their team, and display constant evidence of strong leadership and citizenship skills. Coaches must also nominate their team's representative.

Tonka Hemingway is a 5th-year senior for the South Carolina football program and is one of the leaders on the Gamecock defense. An athletic and versatile defensive lineman who spends most of his time at defensive tackle, Hemingway has been a solid player in both the run game and as a pass rusher, and he is among the program's all-time leaders in passes defended among defensive linemen.

The Conway, South Carolina native was a 4-star prospect coming out of high school and is one of just a handful of player on the current USC roster who played for former coach Will Muschamp and current headman Shane Beamer.

Hemingway has made multiple Academic All-SEC squads and was selected to All-SEC teams in both 2022 and 2023. If he finds his way to an all-conference team this fall, he will become the first Gamecock defensive tackle to earn the honor in three separate seasons.

One of four Gamecock defensive tackles who could be in the NFL next season (along with TJ Sanders, DeAndre Jules, and Boogie Huntley), Hemingway has gotten some buzz as a player who could push his way into the top half of the NFL Draft if he finishes the 2024 season playing well.