IRVING, Texas (Nov. 30, 2022) – Anticipation continues to build as the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame prepares for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, which will take place Dec. 6 at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. As part of the NFF's 75th anniversary celebration, the storied black-tie affair serves as the culmination of the college football regular season.
 
The star-studded 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class headlines the event, and 15 of the game's current stars will collect $277,000 in postgraduate scholarships as members of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®. The 15 student-athletes will also vie as finalists for the coveted William V. Campbell Trophy®, which will be awarded during the event for the 33rd time to the nation's top football scholar-athlete.
 

HOW TO WATCH ON DECEMBER 6

"All of us at the National Football Foundation are excited about returning to Las Vegas for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner as we celebrate our 75th anniversary this year," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "Many people have come together to support this year's event, and I especially want to thank the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and CEO/President Steve Hill for serving as the event's presenting sponsor. As a bridge between the regular season and the bowl season, the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas provides a unique setting where we briefly set aside intense rivalries to join together to celebrate our sport."
 
Since 1958, when U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower accepted the NFF Gold Medal at the inaugural event, the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas has proven to be one of our nation's most magnetic affairs, attracting giants of industry and leaders from all walks of life. The storied event has become the one night of the year that brings together all entities of college football to celebrate the game. The 64th edition marks the second consecutive year the NFF Annual Awards Dinner will be held in Las Vegas.
 
"The National Football Foundation represents everything right about our great sport, and this night simply features the best and brightest of college football," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "The accomplishments of our 2022 honorees make us all proud while providing us the ultimate vehicle for inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps. We look forward to honoring them as we celebrate our 75th anniversary. If you're passionate about college football, there will be no better place to be on December 6!"
 
Rafanelli Events, led by President Deborah Farley, is serving as the event coordinator for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas. The Award Dinner on Tuesday night is being executive produced by Ariadne C. Villarreal of The A-Team Events Management. The videos featured in the program are being produced by Dallas-based LDWW.
 
 
The 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas – December 6
 
With more than 100 colleges and universities, 19 college commissioners and over 40 returning members of the College Football Hall of Fame in attendance, the night will feature several well-known football luminaries. ESPN3 will stream the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas live, beginning at 7 p.m. PT via this link.

• Master of Ceremonies: Rece Davis, ESPN broadcaster and host of "College GameDay"
• Official Welcome: Steve Hill, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO/President
• Recognition of the 2022 NFF Legacy Award recipients: Bob Bowlsby, former Big 12 Conference Commissioner; Tom Burnett, former Southland Conference Commissioner; Dr. Dennis Thomas, former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioner; Craig Thompson, outgoing Mountain West Conference Commissioner; and Bob Vecchione, outgoing NACDA Chief Executive Officer
• Recognition of the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Players of the Year and the NFF Chapter Leadership Award recipients
• Recognition of the 2022 NFF Chris Schenkel Award recipient: Don Fischer, Voice of the Indiana Hoosiers
• Recognition of the 2022 NFF John L. Toner Award recipient: Mitch Barnhart, Kentucky Director of Athletics
• Introduction of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®: Kathleen Murphy, NFF Vice Chairwoman
• Awarding of the 33rd William V. Campbell Trophy®: Jack Ford, NFF Vice Chairman, TV personality and former Yale defensive back
• Toast to the 75th Anniversary of the National Football Foundation
• Introduction of the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class: Archie Griffin, NFF Board Member and 1986 Hall of Fame inductee from Ohio State
• Response on behalf of the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class: Andrew Luck, former Stanford quarterback
• Official College Football Hall of Fame Ring Ceremony: Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Mississippi
• "God Bless America": Daniel Rodriguez, America's Beloved Tenor

 

2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class
 
The induction of the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class serves as the highlight of the evening and provides the ultimate stage for the legends of yesteryear to take their rightful place among the immortals of the game.
 
This year's class includes 18 First Team All-Americans, three coaches, 10 unanimous First Team All-Americans, three consensus First Team All-Americans, eight multi-year First Team All-Americans, nine winners of college football major awards and three coaches with the most wins in school history.
 
The 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class includes:

• LaVar Arrington – LB, Penn State (1997-99)
• Champ Bailey – DB, Georgia (1996-98)
• Michael Crabtree – WR, Texas Tech (2007-08)
• Sylvester Croom – C, Alabama (1972-74)
• Mike Doss – S, Ohio State (1999-2002)
• Chuck Ealey – QB, Toledo (1969-71)
• Kevin Faulk – AP/RB, LSU (1995-98)
• Moe Gardner – DT, Illinois (1987-90)
• Boomer Grigsby – LB, Illinois State (2001-04)
• Mike Hass – WR, Oregon State (2002-05)
• Marvin Jones – LB, Florida State (1990-92)
• Andrew Luck – QB, Stanford (2009-11)
• Mark Messner – DT, Michigan (1985-88)
• Terry Miller – RB, Oklahoma State (1974-77)
• Rashaan Salaam – RB, Colorado (1992-94)
• Dennis Thomas – C, Alcorn State (1971-73)
• Zach Wiegert – OT, Nebraska (1991-94)
• Roy Williams – DB, Oklahoma (1999-2001)
• Coach John Luckhardt – 225-70-2 (76.1%); Washington & Jefferson [PA] (1982-98), California [PA] (2002-11)
• Coach Billy Jack Murphy – 91-44-1 (67.3%); Memphis (1958-71)
• Coach Gary Pinkel – 191-110-3 (63.3%); Toledo (1991-2000), Missouri (2001-15)

 
 
Finalists for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy® and Members of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®
 
The 15 members of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments® begin their festivities on Monday, Dec. 5, with a Scholar-Athlete Dinner presented by Fidelity and hosted by the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium. NFF Board Member and 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Lincoln Kennedy (Washington), who serves as the radio color commentator for the Raiders, will welcome the honorees to Las Vegas at the world class, state-of-the-art stadium.
 
The 15 honorees, who will each vie as a finalist for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy® as the nation's top football scholar-athlete, boast an outstanding 3.78 average GPA. Other class accolades include 11 captains, six players who have already graduated, two players with master's degrees, eight Academic All-Americans, 14 academic all-conference selections, nine All-Americans, 13 all-conference honorees and four school record holders.
 
Each Scholar-Athlete receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship with the recipient of the Campbell Trophy® claiming a grand total of $25,000.
 
The finalists for the 2022 Campbell Trophy® include:

• Jack Campbell, LB – Iowa (3.49 GPA - Enterprise Leadership)
• Anders Carlson, PK – Auburn (3.92 GPA - Professional Flight Management)
• Jake Chisholm, RB – Dayton (3.98 GPA - Pre-Medicine)
• Nicholas D'Ambrose, RB – Chicago [IL] (3.69 GPA - Neuroscience)
• Ryan Greenhagen, LB – Fordham (3.85 GPA - Business Administration)
• Oso Ifesinachukwu, DL – Yale (3.67 GPA - Biomedical Engineering)
• Ahofitu Maka, OL – UTSA (3.78 GPA - Cyber Security)
• Adrian Martinez, QB – Kansas State (3.55 GPA - Management)
• Peter Oliver, RB – Holy Cross (3.95 GPA - Chemistry & Spanish)
• Walter Rouse, OT – Stanford (3.52 GPA - Biomechanical Engineering)
• Austin Stidham, OL – Troy (3.92 GPA - Biomedical Sciences)
• Julius Wilkerson, LB – Wayne State [MI] (3.85 GPA - Psychology)
• Austin Williams, WR – Mississippi State (4.00 GPA - Business Administration)
• JR Woods, OL – Johns Hopkins [MD] (3.65 GPA - Economics)
• Michael Wozniak, DL – Saint John's [MN] (3.86 GPA - Accounting)

 
 
NFF Annual Awards Press Conference – December 6
 
The morning press conference will give media a chance to hear from the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class. The press conference will also include the announcement of the 2022 MEAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. Media and fans can watch the entire press conference live on ESPN3 via this link.
 
The press conference will feature:

• Press Conference Moderator: Kevin Trainor, University of Arkansas Senior Associate Athletics Director
• Comments on the State of the NFF: Steve Hatchell, NFF President & CEO
• Official welcome: Steve Hill, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO/President
• Comments from the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class
• Announcement of the MEAC Players of the Year: Sonja O. Stills, MEAC Commissioner

 
 
2022 NFF Chapter Leadership Award Recipients
 
The NFF will recognize the recipients of the 2022 NFF Chapter Leadership Awards during the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas. They will also be celebrated during a dinner held at Allegiant Stadium sponsored by Hellas Construction. The awards annually recognize five individuals, one from each region of the country, for their commitment, generosity and leadership at the local level.

• John Barbarotta – NFF DeSantis-McDougall/Fairfield County (CT) Chapter (Northeast Region)
• Tony Cocca – NFF Lehigh Valley (PA) Chapter (East Region)
• Ken Leach – NFF Tom Lombardo/St. Louis Chapter (Midwest Region)
• James Lofdahl – NFF San Fernando Valley (CA) Chapter (West Region)
• Freddie Sandel – NFF Miss/Lou Chapter (South Region)

 
 
NFF National Scholar-Athletes at the 2022 SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum – December 7
 
The NFF has once again partnered with the Sports Business Journal in helping promote the SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, which takes place Dec. 7-8 at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. This year, the NFF will again send two members of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments to speak at the forum as part of a panel discussing their life-changing experiences as high performing student-athletes. The panel will take place on Dec. 7 at 9:40 a.m. PT.

• Panel Moderator: Shannon Terry, On3 Sports Founder & CEO
• Participating 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athletes: Walter Rouse (Stanford) and Austin Williams (Mississippi State)

 
 
Corporate Partners
 
The NFF thanks its corporate partners, who support the organization and its mission all year as well as the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas and surrounding events:

• Catapult Sports
• Delta Air Lines
• Fidelity Investments
• Jostens
• Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
• New York Athletic Club
• The Pasadena Tournament of Roses
• Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation
• Sports Business Journal

 
 
Event Sponsors and Supporters
 
The following companies and organizations are helping support the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas and surrounding events:

• Hanold Associates LLC
• Hellas Construction
• iSix
• Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium
• Riddell
• Spielman Koenigsberg & Parker, LLP
• Transportation Management Services

 
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 in 47 states, NFF programs include the selection and induction of members of the College Football Hall of Fame; 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; the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award; 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, Jostens, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the New York Athletic Club, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.