Photos and video of the Campbell Trophy® presentation to Charlie Kolar will be posted here as soon as possible.
 
LAS VEGAS (Dec. 7, 2021) – Iowa State University tight end Charlie Kolar has been named the 32nd recipient of The William V. Campbell Trophy® during tonight's 63rd National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas.
 
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 leadership. Awarded since 1990, the 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy comes with a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.

"The first Iowa State player to be named an All-American and an Academic All-American, Charlie Kolar embodies what the Campbell Trophy® represents," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons, Peyton (Campbell Trophy® recipient) and Eli, were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "He has led one of the most successful eras in Cyclone history while graduating with a near-perfect GPA. Charlie stands as the perfect example for the next generation to emulate."
 
A total of $241,000 was awarded in 2021 to Kolar and the 12 other members of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments, who comprised the list of finalists for the Campbell Trophy®. Each member of the class (listed below) claimed an $18,000 scholarship for their postgraduate educations.

"Charlie and his fellow members of the 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class represent more than just their standout athletic ability seen on the field," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Their academic achievements and their contributions as leaders off the field send a powerful message about the young men who play our sport. They have taken full advantage of the educational opportunities provided by college football, and they have created a compelling legacy for others to follow."
 
The first two-time First Team Academic All-American in Iowa State history, Kolar graduated summa cum laude in December 2020 with a 3.99 GPA in mechanical engineering while ranking in the highest two percent of engineering students at the university. He is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in finance.
 
The 2020 Big 12 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award recipient is a four-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection and three-time First Team Academic All-District honoree. Kolar was also the recipient of the prestigious ISU Alumni Association Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award, which is given annually to a senior who displays high character and outstanding academic achievement.
 
For the second straight season, Kolar has been named a finalist for the Mackey Award, which is awarded to the nation's top tight end. The only unanimous First Team All-Big 12 selection in 2021, he is one of only 12 players in history to receive First Team All-Big 12 honors three times (2019, 2020, 2021).
 
This season, Kolar is second at Iowa State and ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 723 receiving yards while being tied for the team lead and being tied for fifth in the conference with five receiving touchdowns. He also ranks third in the conference in receptions per game (5.27) and sixth in receiving yards per game (65.73). Kolar has recorded a reception in 35 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in school history.
 
The team captain has set new school single-season tight end records for receptions (58) and receiving yards (723) while guiding the Cyclones to a 7-5 regular-season record in 2021, including an upset win over then-No. 8 Oklahoma State on Oct. 23. Against Oklahoma on Nov. 20, Kolar set Iowa State single-game tight end records for receptions (12) and receiving yards (152) while playing on the road in his hometown of Norman.
 
The Cyclones will conclude their season against Clemson in the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at 5:45 p.m. ET at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. ESPN will broadcast the game.
 
A two-time All-American, Kolar earned Second Team honors from AFCA, FWAA and Walter Camp in 2020 and Third Team accolades from the AP in 2019. In addition to his three First Team All-Big 12 selections, he received second team all-conference laurels in 2018.
 
In 2020, Kolar guided Iowa State to its first-ever New Year's Six bowl victory, catching five passes for a team-high 53 yards and a touchdown against Oregon in the 2021 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. Kolar led the Cyclones to many other firsts in 2020, including their first-ever Big 12 regular season finish with sole possession of first place in the standings (8-1 conference record), their first-ever appearance in the Big 12 Championship game and their first-ever top 10 final ranking (No. 9).
 
Just the seventh Cyclone to reach 2,000 career receiving yards, Kolar owns virtually all school career records for tight ends, compiling the most receptions (164), receiving yards (2,148) and touchdowns (22). Among all receivers at Iowa State, his career receptions rank fourth, his receiving yards are fifth and his touchdowns rank third.
 
Kolar led the Big 12 and ranked in the top-six nationally among tight ends in back-to-back seasons in receptions (51 in 2019, 44 in 2020), receiving yards (697 in 2019, 591 in 2020) and receiving touchdowns (7 in 2019, 7 in 2020).
 
A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Kolar has volunteered at Mary Greeley Hospital and read to children at a local elementary school. He has also participated in Marshalltown tornado relief, as well as service with Victory Day and ExerCYse Time.
 
Kolar is Iowa State's first recipient of the Campbell Trophy® and the school's fourth NFF National Scholar-Athlete. He also becomes the fourth winner of the trophy from a team currently in the Big 12.
 
Following tonight's NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, Kolar will be recognized as the 2021 Campbell Trophy® recipient at several other prestigious events. On Thursday, Dec. 9, he will be interviewed live during the virtual "The Home Depot College Football Awards" on ESPN. Then on Monday, Dec. 13, a luncheon will be held in his honor at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), the official home of the trophy since 2013. Finally, he will travel to Indianapolis to be honored on the field during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on Jan. 10.

Launched in 1959 and celebrating its 63rd year in 2021, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete program became the first initiative in history to award postgraduate scholarships based on a player's combined academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments, and the program has awarded $12.1 million to 891 top athletes since its inception. Candidates 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 or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.  

The centerpiece to the NFF's scholar-athlete program, the William V. Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990. It is named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the former chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal.
 
An All-Ivy League player and the captain of Columbia's 1961 Ivy League championship team, Bill Campbell found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from Columbia football coach to advertising executive. Known as the "Coach of Silicon Valley," his ability to recruit, develop and manage talented executives – all lessons learned on the gridiron – proved to be a critical component of his ability to inspire his business teams to the highest levels of success.
 
Campbell joined the NFF Board in 1978 while he was still a coach at Columbia, and he continued to serve with distinction until his passing in 2016. In 2004, the NFF recognized Campbell's contributions and accomplishments by presenting him with the NFF Gold Medal, the organization's highest honor. In 2009, the NFF renamed college football's premier scholar-athlete award as The William V. Campbell Trophy® in his honor.
 
 
Past Recipients of The William V. Campbell Trophy®

• Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990 - University President)
• Brad Culpepper (Florida, 1991 - Attorney)
• Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992 - Climatologist)
• Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993 - Engineering Executive)
• Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994 - Physician)
• Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995 - Real Estate Executive)
• Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996 - Non-Profit Executive Director)
• Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997 - TV Personality & Philanthropist)
• Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998 - Insurance Executive & TV Broadcaster)
• Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999 - High School Football Coach)
• Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000 - Youth Football Coach)
• Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami [FL], 2001 - Corporate Executive)
• Brandon Roberts (Washington University in St. Louis [MO], 2002 - Physician)
• Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003 - Insurance Executive)
• Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004 - Sports & Entertainment Executive)
• Rudy Niswanger (LSU, 2005 - Corporate Executive)
• Brian Leonard (Rutgers, 2006 - Real Estate Executive)
• Dallas Griffin (Texas, 2007 - Corporate Executive)
• Alex Mack (California, 2008 - NFL Player)
• Tim Tebow (Florida, 2009 - Non-Profit Chairman & TV Broadcaster)
• Sam Acho (Texas, 2010 - Humanitarian & TV Broadcaster)
• Andrew Rodriguez (Army West Point, 2011 - U.S. Army Captain & Graduate Student)
• Barrett Jones (Alabama, 2012 - Financial Advisor & Broadcaster)
• John Urschel (Penn State, 2013 - Mathematician)
• David Helton (Duke, 2014 - MBA Candidate)
• Ty Darlington (Oklahoma, 2015 - College Football Assistant Coach)
• Zach Terrell (Western Michigan, 2016 - Executive Development Associate)
• Micah Kiser (Virginia, 2017 - NFL Player)
• Christian Wilkins (Clemson, 2018 - NFL Player)
• Justin Herbert (Oregon, 2019 - NFL Player)
• Brady White (Memphis, 2020 - Doctoral Student)

 
Finalists for the 2021 NFF Campbell Trophy® and Members of the 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments 

• Troy Andersen, LB – Montana State (3.91 GPA - Agricultural Business)
• Thomas Booker, DE – Stanford (3.88 GPA - Economics & Communication)
• Mike Caliendo, OL – Western Michigan (3.90 GPA - Biomedical Sciences)
• Sean Clifford, QB – Penn State (3.45 GPA - Public Relations)
• Cameron Dukes, QB – Lindsey Wilson [KY] (3.89 GPA - Physical Education & Health)
• Patrick Fields, DB – Oklahoma (3.82 GPA - Accounting)
• Matt Henningsen, DE – Wisconsin (4.00 GPA - Electrical Engineering)
• Aidan Hutchinson, DE – Michigan (3.54 GPA - Applied Exercise Science)
• Joshua King, LB - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy [NY] (3.73 GPA - Marine Engineering)
• Charlie Kolar, TE – Iowa State (3.99 GPA - Mechanical Engineering)
• Henry Litwin, WR – Slippery Rock [PA] (3.66 GPA - Safety Management)
• Sean Mahone, S – West Virginia (3.60 GPA - Management Information Systems)
• Grant Morgan, LB – Arkansas (3.66 GPA - Kinesiology)

 
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 Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Future for Football, The William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Catapult, Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Goodyear, Jostens, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the New York Athletic Club and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.
 
About The National College Football Awards Association
The William V. Campbell Trophy® is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.