NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Micah Kiser, LB – University of Virginia
Foreign Affairs – 3.42 GPA
Head Coach: Bronco Mendenhall | Athletics Director: Craig Littlepage
Faculty Athletics Representative: Carolyn Callahan
University of Virginia linebacker Micah Kiser was named the 28th recipient of The William V. Campbell Trophy®, presented by Fidelity Investments, at the 60th National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in New York City on Dec. 5, 2017.
“Micah Kiser’s exceptional accomplishments on and off the field rank him among the best student-athletes in the history of our sport, making him the ideal Campbell Trophy® recipient,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “He truly embodies the scholar-athlete ideal and we are proud to have him as a member of this elite fraternity. He stands as the perfect example for the next generation to emulate.”
The Campbell Trophy® ranks as one of college football’s most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. The award, which is prominently displayed at its official home inside the New York Athletic Club, comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. A total of $241,000 was awarded tonight to Kiser and the 12 other members of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments, who comprised the list of Campbell Trophy® finalists. Each member of the class claimed an $18,000 scholarship for their postgraduate educations.
“Micah and his fellow members of the 2017 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class represent more than just the standout athletic ability seen on the field,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons, Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli, were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “Their academic achievements and their contributions as leaders in the community send a powerful message about the young men who play our sport. They have taken full advantage of the educational opportunities created by college football, and they have created a compelling legacy for others to follow.”
Kiser personifies the student-athlete ideal, having already earned his degree while claiming All-America accolades as one of the top defensive players in the nation.
A 2016 Second Team Academic All-American, Kiser graduated with a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs in May 2017 while boasting a 3.42 GPA. The two-time First Team Academic All-District selection currently maintains a 4.0 GPA while working toward his master’s in higher education. A Baltimore native, Kiser is a two-time Academic All-ACC selection and a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll member.
Kiser has earned numerous All-America accolades in 2017, earning First Team status from the Sporting News, Second Team honors from the FWAA and Walter Camp and Third Team recognition from the Associated Press. A semifinalist for the 2017 Butkus Award, Kiser has racked up an impressive 134 tackles during the regular season, which leads the ACC and is tied for fourth in the nation. His 11.2 tackles per game average leads the ACC for the third consecutive year and is tied for fifth in the FBS. He also has four pass breakups and is second on the Cavaliers with five sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Kiser’s two fumble recoveries this season are tied for second in the ACC, and he was named a finalist for the 2017 Lott IMPACT Trophy. He also received the 2017 Dudley Award as the state of Virginia's top Division I collegiate player.
Earlier this season, Kiser was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week and ACC Linebacker of the Week after his game against Connecticut when he recorded 15 tackles, two sacks and recovered one fumble at Virginia’s own goal line.
Kiser was again named the ACC Linebacker of the Week and Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week after helping the Cavaliers rally to beat Georgia Tech, 40-36, on Nov. 4. His 18 tackles against Georgia Tech and his 19 against Virginia Tech (a career best) are the two highest single-game totals in the ACC this season.
Kiser has played an integral role in Virginia becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2011, and the Cavaliers will play Navy in the 2017 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman on Dec. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. He also accepted an invitation to play in the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl, which is scheduled for Jan. 27 in Mobile, Ala., and will air on the NFL Network.
A Second Team All-American as a junior, Kiser is a three-time First Team All-ACC linebacker (2015, 2016, 2017). Only the sixth player since 1976 to lead the ACC in tackles per game in consecutive seasons, he recorded 9.8 as a sophomore and 11.2 as a junior, which ranked fourth in the nation.
A two-year team captain, Kiser currently ranks fifth all-time at Virginia with 400 career tackles, reaching double-digits in 20 of his 36 starts. His 385 tackles since the start of the 2015 season are the most in the nation during that span. The three-time Touchdown Club of Richmond Linebacker of the Year also ranks 10th all-time in Cavaliers history with 19 career sacks and is 11th with 32.5 career tackles for loss.
Kiser has had a profound impact on the community during his time at Virginia. Following the riots in Charlottesville, Va., earlier this year, he was solely responsible for uniting the football team and initiating the idea of taking a group photo with all the players locked arm-in-arm.
When asked about it, Kiser said, “I always say if the world was like a football team, we would be better off. A collection of people from all over the country from different backgrounds…if we can show what we can do together, then that’s a beacon of light for the community and an example for other people to follow.”
His other activities include volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, mentoring elementary school students and visiting sick children at area hospitals.
Following the Annual Awards Dinner, Kiser was also recognized as the Campbell Trophy® winner at several prestigious events. On Dec. 6, the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) hosted a luncheon in his honor. From there, he went directly to Atlanta for ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards at the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 7, where he was interviewed live during the show.
He will be return to Atlanta to be honored on the field during the College Football Playoff National Championship at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 8.
Kiser becomes Virginia’s second Campbell Trophy® winner, joining former Cavaliers linebacker Thomas Burns, who claimed the award in 1993. Kiser is the school’s fifth NFF National Scholar-Athlete, joining Gary Cuozzo (1962), Burns (1993), Tiki Barber (1996) and Stephen Phelan Jr. (1997). He becomes the fourth Campbell Trophy® recipient from a team currently in the ACC, joining Burns, Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami [Fla.] - 2001) and David Helton (Duke - 2014).
