IRVING, Texas (May 6, 2014) – Having established themselves as the best of the best on the field and in the classroom, the 16 members of the 2013 National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments®, find themselves among the elite prospects under consideration during the 79^th NFL Draft, which will take place from May 8-10 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The NFL Draft will be televised live nationally by ESPN, FOX Sports 1 and the NFL Network, starting May 8 at 8 p.m. EDT, and continuing May 9 at 7 p.m. and on May 10 at noon.

“The members of the 2013 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class rank among the best in our organization’s history,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Not only are they among the smartest and most gifted athletes in the nation, but they also possess all of the intangibles that will contribute to the winning chemistry of any NFL team. They’ll be an outstanding addition to any roster.”

The 16 elite draft prospects, who each claimed a prestigious post-graduate scholarship from the NFF in 2013, include:

The 2013 William V. Campbell Trophy Winner
(Receiving a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship and recognition as the nation’s top scholar-athlete.)
John Urschel (OG, Penn State)

2013 Recipients of an NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award and Campbell Trophy Finalists
(Receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship and recognition as one of the 16 best in the nation.)
Trevor Adams (QB, Northwest Missouri State)
John Arena (LB, Johns Hopkins [Md.])
Max Bullough (LB, Michigan State)
Derek Carr (QB, Fresno State)
Gabe Ikard (OL, Oklahoma)
Spencer Long (OL, Nebraska)
Niccolo Mastromatteo (WR, Coastal Carolina)
Jeff Mathews (QB, Cornell)
James Morris (LB, Iowa)
Aaron Murray (QB, Georgia)
Perry Simmons (OL, Duke)
Eric Soza (QB, Texas at San Antonio)
Dustin Vaughan (QB, West Texas A&M)
Tony Washington (WR, Appalachian State)
Erik Westerberg (LB, Augustana [Ill.])

Nine of the 16 NFF National Scholar-Athletes participated in the NFL Combine in February, including Bullough, Carr, Ikard, Long, Mathews, Morris, Murray, Urschel and Vaughan. The members of the group seek to join the 205 former NFF National Scholar-Athletes who previously played in the NFL, including 36 standouts currently on an NFL roster. (See the end of this release for a full list).

Several of the 2013 Campbell Trophy Semifinalists, who were nominated as the best scholar-athletes from their respective schools for an NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award, have also attracted attention as top NFL draft prospects this year, including Joel Bitonio (OL, Nevada), Steven Clark (P, Auburn), Devon Kennard (LB, Southern California) and Jordan Najvar (TE, Baylor). Members of the 2014 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college career, are also among this year’s draft prospects, including Jeff Budzien (K, Northwestern), Ross Cockrell (CB, Duke), Ray Guy Award winner Tom Hornsey (P, Memphis), Trey Millard (FB, Oklahoma), Weston Richburg (C, Colorado State) and Daniel Sorensen (SS, BYU).

The NFF National Scholar-Athlete Program, launched in 1959, became the first initiative in history to award scholar-athletes postgraduate scholarships for their combined athletic, academic and leadership abilities. Nominated by their respective schools, which are limited to one nominee, each NFF National Scholar-Athlete candidate must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

All the candidates become semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth and hosted at the New York Athletic Club, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation. Named in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF’s Gold Medal, the award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.

The NFF Awards Committee selects the winners of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards from the pool of nominees from their respective schools with each recipient receiving an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The winners then vie as finalists for the Campbell Trophy. Each of the winners is flown to New York City for recognition during the NFF Annual Awards Dinner where the winner of the Campbell Trophy is announced in front of a sold-out audience of the most powerful people in all of sports.

NFF National Scholar-Athletes in the NFL who claimed the Campbell Trophy include St. Louis Rams center Barrett Jones (Alabama, 2012), Arizona Cardinals defensive end Sam Acho (Texas, 2010), Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (California, 2008) and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997). Other high profile NFF National Scholar-Athletes currently in the NFL include New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (Purdue, 2000), New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker (Minnesota, 2009), New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (Mississippi, 2003), Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M, 2011), San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te’o (Notre Dame, 2012) and Chargers running back Danny Woodhead (Chadron State [Neb.]).

Other past NFF National Scholar-Athletes include former NFL standout Derrick Brooks (Florida State); actor Mark Harmon (UCLA); NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins (Illinois) and Leland Melvin (Richmond); former Dateline NBC anchor Stone Phillips (Yale); and NFF Distinguished American and chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament, Billy Payne (Georgia).

Other notable NFF National Scholar-Athletes who played in the NFL include College Football Hall of Famers Steve Young (BYU); Terry Baker (Oregon State); Gary Beban (UCLA); Doug Flutie (Boston College) and Danny Wuerffel (Florida), who also claimed the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy.

Bios of the NFF National Scholar-Athletes Class

John Urschel (Penn State, 4.00 GPA in Mathematics) – In addition to bringing home the William V. Campbell Trophy, Urschel also claimed the 84th Sullivan Award, presented by the Amateur Athletic Union to America’s top amateur athlete. A team captain and a key component to one of the Big Ten’s most productive passing offenses, Urschel claimed Associated Press Third-Team All-America honors, helping Penn State gain 5,198 yards of total offense. A two-time First-Team All-Big Ten guard, Urschel paved the way for three-straight 1,000-yard rushers and helped the Nittany Lions to winning seasons in all four years of his career. A Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient, Urschel garnered back-to-back First-Team Academic All-America honors in 2012 and 2013 while earning a bachelor’s in mathematics in May 2012. A published researcher who has taught college level classes, he earned a master’s in mathematics in 2013 and is on his way to a second master’s degree in math education. Urschel is predicted by most to be a mid- to late-round pick.

Trevor Adams (Northwest Missouri State, 3.94 GPA in Biology & Psychology) – The 2013 MIAA Offensive Player of the Year, Adams helped lead the Bearcats to the NCAA Division II national title in 2013. Boasting the highest efficiency rating of any Division II quarterback, the two-year captain threw for 3,065 yards and 30 touchdowns and helped NMSU average an impressive 45.3 points per game. A three-time Academic All-American, Adams was named the 2013 Division II Academic All-American of the Year.

John Arena (Johns Hopkins [Md.], 4.00 GPA in Neuroscience) – Arena earned First-Team All-Centennial Conference honors at linebacker in 2013, recording 48 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions. The 2013 Division III Academic All-American of the Year, Arena led Johns Hopkins to four Centennial Conference titles and three appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Also named a First-Team Academic All-American in 2012, he was recently granted an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. 

Max Bullough (Michigan State, 3.56 GPA in Finance) – A 2013 First-Team All-Big Ten selection, Bullough recorded 76 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss. A three-year starter at linebacker, Bullough twice led the Spartans in tackles and was a two-year team captain. He finished his career with 299 career tackles and ranks 11th in MSU history with 30.5 tackles for loss in his career, including 8 sacks. A 2013 First-Team Academic All-American, Bullough has been a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and was also named a First-Team Academic All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2012. Bullough hopes to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Hank and uncle Chuck, both Michigan State Spartans who played in the NFL. Most draft experts have Bullough going in the fourth or fifth round of the draft.

Derek Carr (Fresno State, 3.47 GPA in Recreation Administration & Leisure Service Management) – A two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, Carr is one of the top quarterback draft prospects this year. He became one of 19 quarterbacks in FBS history to throw for more than 10,000 career yards and 100 touchdowns, throwing for 12,842 yards and 113 touchdowns in 44 games played. His 12,842 career passing yards rank 13th in FBS history. As a senior in 2013, Carr became just the fourth quarterback in FBS history to throw for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdown passes in a season. A 2013 Second-Team Academic All-American, he earned Academic All-District and academic all-conference honors three times. Carr has been consistently ranked among the top five quarterbacks in the draft and is slated to be picked in the first two rounds.

Gabe Ikard (Oklahoma, 4.00 GPA in Multidisciplinary Studies [Biological Sciences]) – Oklahoma’s first-ever three-time Academic All-American, Ikard was named the 2013 Division I Academic All-American of the Year and the Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year for football. A two-year team captain, Ikard was named to both the Walter Camp and AFCA First-Team All-America Teams in 2013. The anchor of a Sooners’ offensive line that gained 5,499 yards of total offense in 2013, Ikard led Oklahoma to a win over Alabama in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl and was the recipient of both the 2013 Lee Roy Selmon Spirit Award and the Wuerffel Trophy. Most analysts have tabbed Ikard as a mid- to late-round selection.

Spencer Long (Nebraska, 3.79 GPA in Biological Sciences) – A former walk-on, Long helped Nebraska gain an average of 467 yards per game in 2013 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. A Second-Team All-American as a junior, he twice earned All-Big Ten honors, garnering First-Team honors in 2012 and Second-Team accolades in 2011. The Elkhorn, Neb., native was named an Academic All-American this year while earning Academic All-District and Academic All-Big Ten honors for three consecutive years. Long is predicted to be a mid- to late-round selection.

Niccolo Mastromatteo (Coastal Carolina, 3.94 GPA in Philosophy) – An All-Big South performer at two positions for the Chanticleers, Mastromatteo earned First-Team honors as a punt returner and Second-Team laurels as a wide receiver in 2012 while also garnering Second-Team honors as a punt returner in both 2010 and 2011. He finished 2013 with 35 receptions for 386 yards and four touchdowns while helping Coastal Carolina to the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Academic All-District and Academic All-Big South selection is the Big South's all-time leader in both punt returns and punt return yards.

Jeff Mathews (Cornell, 3.45 GPA in Applied Economics & Management) – The most prolific quarterback in Ivy League history, Matthews ended his career with 47 school and 18 conference records for passing and total offense. The program’s first-ever three-year team captain, he ranks among the top 20 all-time in career passing yards in the FCS and set the Ivy League’s all-time passing record by more than 2,000 yards. The three-time All-Ivy selection was a Academic All-District first-team selection as a senior and a two-time finalist for the Bushnell Cup for the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, which he won in 2011. In 2013, Mathews led the Ivy League with 2,953 passing yards and was second with 22 passing yards. Mathews is slated as a possible late-round pick or an undrafted free agent signing.

James Morris (Iowa, 3.84 GPA in Political Science) – A First-Team Academic All-American, Morris earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition three consecutive years. Morris, who moved into Iowa’s starting lineup early in his freshman season, started 42 career games and ranks sixth in school history with 400 career tackles. A finalist for both the Lott Trophy and the Wuerffel Trophy in 2013, Morris ranked second on the team with 107 tackles in 2013 and led the Hawkeyes with eight sacks, 18 tackles for loss and four interceptions. The Second-Team All-Big Ten selection was Iowa’s recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Morris is predicted to be a late-round selection.

Aaron Murray (Georgia, 3.30 GPA in Psychology) – The all-time leading passer in the hallowed history of SEC football, Murray became the first quarterback in SEC history to post 3,000-yard passing seasons in four consecutive years. Murray finished 2013 throwing for 3,075 yards and 26 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. He passed 2009 NFF William V. Campbell Trophy recipient Tim Tebow (Florida) as the conference’s all-time leader in total offense and passed 1996 Campbell Trophy recipient and College Football Hall of Famer Danny Wuerffel (Florida) as the SEC’s all-time leader in touchdown passes. The 2013 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Tampa, Fla., native was also named a Academic All-American this year while earning Academic All-District for the fourth consecutive season. Fully healed from his injury, Murray is predicted by many draft analysts to be a mid-round pick.

Perry Simmons (Duke, 3.83 GPA in Civil Engineering) – A First-Team Academic All-American in 2013, Simmons also received the Jim Tatum Award as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top senior football scholar-athlete. The anchor on an offensive line that gained 5,966 yards of total offense in 2013, he helped the Blue Devils to their first 10-win season in school history. He earned an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and is a four-time Academic All-ACC honoree. A two-time All-ACC selection in 2012 and 2013, Simmons has played more than 3,700 snaps in his career, and he was the active leader in the ACC with 50 consecutive starts before suffering a knee injury against Florida State.

Eric Soza (UTSA, 3.96 GPA in Physical Education) – A 2013 Academic All-District and C-USA All-Academic selection, Soza graduated summa cum laude in May 2013, and he is currently enrolled in a master’s program for higher education administration. A three-year team captain, he started every game of his UTSA career and finished with 574 completions for 6,952 yards and 46 touchdowns. A member of the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Soza received the Fall 2013 Conference USA Spirit of Service Award, and he volunteers with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Special Olympics and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Dustin Vaughan (West Texas A&M, 3.86 GPA in Biology) – Vaughan led the nation in passing with 5,401 yards, which set the mark for the most all-time in Division II, and his totals placed him second in passing yards per game. His 53 touchdown passes also led the nation while setting the conference record for a season and placing him third all-time in the category in the history of Division II.  He owns the school and conference records for career passing yard (13,525), total yards (13,608) and touchdowns (123). The two-time Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year and 2013 runner-up for the prestigious Division II Harlon Hill Award, he earned both AFCA and AP First-Team All-America honors as he helped guide the Buffs to an 11-3 record and a berth in the NCAA quarterfinals. A Second-Team Academic All-American in 2013, he was twice named the LSC football Academic Player of the Year. Vaughan is a possible late-round selection or could sign as an undrafted free agent.

Tony Washington (Appalachian State, 3.80 GPA in Architectural Design) – A First-Team All-Southern Conference selection in 2013, Washington led the conference with 939 receiving yards while accumulating four touchdowns. He finished his career ranked eighth in school history with 139 receptions and ninth with 1,837 receiving yards. He is Appalachian’s all-time leader in kickoff-return yardage (1,289) and average (23.4 yards per return). A two-time First-Team Academic All-District selection, Washington was twice named an FCS Academic All-Star, and he received Academic All-Southern Conference recognition three times. Washington is a possible late-round selection or could sign as an undrafted free agent.

Erik Westerberg (Augustana [Ill.], 3.86 GPA in Math & Secondary Education) – A three time Academic All-American and two time NCAA Division III All-American, Westerberg was a top ten finalist for the 2013 Gagliardi Trophy, the most prestigious individual award in Division III. A three-time all-conference selection and the 2012 CCIW Defensive Player of the Year, Westerberg led the Vikings with 78 total tackles in 2013, including ten tackles for a loss.

The 36 NFF National Scholar-Athletes Currently in the NFL

Arizona Cardinals
Sam Acho, DE (Texas, 2010)
John Carlson, TE (Notre Dame, 2007)

Atlanta Falcons
Jon Asamoah, OG (Illinois, 2009)
Sean Renfree, QB (Duke, 2012)

Buffalo Bills
Dennis Dixon, QB (Oregon, 2007)

Chicago Bears
Drew Butler, P (Georgia, 2011)

Cincinnati Bengals
Rex Burkhead,  RB (Nebraska, 2012)

Cleveland Browns
Alex Mack, C (California, 2008)
Joe Thomas, OT (Wisconsin, 2006)

Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning, QB (Tennessee, 1997)
Jacob Tamme, TE (Kentucky, 2007)

Green Bay Packers
Derek Sherrod, OT (Mississippi State, 2010)
Scott Tolzien, QB (Wisconsin, 2010)

Houston Texans
Mike Mohamed, LB (California, 2010)

Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Castonzo, OT (Boston College, 2010)
Chandler Harnish, QB (Northern Illinois, 2011)

Jacksonville Jaguars
Paul Posluszny, LB (Penn State, 2006)

Kansas City Chiefs
Chase Daniel, QB (Missouri, 2008)

Miami Dolphins
Ryan Tannehill, QB (Texas A&M, 2011)

Minnesota Vikings
Christian Ponder, QB (Florida State, 2010)

New England Patriots
Nate Solder, OT (Colorado, 2010)

New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees, QB (Purdue, 2000)

New York Giants
Eli Manning, QB (Mississippi, 2003)
Ryan Nassib, QB (Syracuse, 2012)

New York Jets
Eric Decker, WR (Minnesota, 2009)

Oakland Raiders
Stefen Wisniewski, OG (Penn State, 2010)

Philadelphia Eagles
Matt Barkley, QB (USC, 2012)
DeMeco Ryans, LB (Alabama, 2005)
Brad Smith, WR (Missouri, 2005)

San Diego Chargers
Manti Te'o, LB (Notre Dame, 2012)
Danny Woodhead, RB (Chadron State, 2007)

St. Louis Rams
Cody Davis, S (Texas Tech, 2012)
Barrett Jones, C (Alabama, 2012)

Tennessee Titans
Brian Robiskie, WR (Ohio State, 2008)

Washington Redskins
Kirk Cousins, QB (Michigan State, 2011)
Colt McCoy, QB (Texas, 2009)

About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF Showcases, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF Faculty Salute Initiative presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, and scholarships of more than $1.3 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF also presents the William V. Campbell Trophy endowed by HealthSouth and hosted at the New York Athletic Club as well as bestowing several other major awards at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City. NFF corporate partners include the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, Liberty Mutual Insurance, the Sports Business Journal, and Under Armour. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.