IRVING, Texas – Seven Conference USA football student-athletes were tabbed semifinalists for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, as announced Wednesday by the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame.
 
The contingent of CUSA players includes Delaware’s Steven Demboski, FIU’s Shamir Sterlin, Kennesaw State’s Baron Hopson, Liberty’s Caleb Ryan, MTSU’s Ashton Logan, Missouri State’s Connor Lair and NM State’s James Jones.
 
Celebrating its 37th year, the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
 
The 206 semifinalists, each nominated as their school’s sole nominee and best all-around student-athlete on their respective teams, represent every NCAA division and the NAIA. The group is the largest in the history of the award, eclipsing the previous record of 204 set in 2024. Collectively, the semifinalists boast a 3.64 average GPA and include 130 team captains, 24 All-Americans and 98 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees.
 
In addition to being a Second Team All-CUSA center, Demboski owns a 3.77 GPA as a management major. Demboski leads Delaware football's UDance fundraising efforts, serves with the B+ Foundation and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and volunteers with local literacy, food pantry and youth football initiatives.
 
Sterlin earned Conference USA All-Freshman and All-CUSA Honorable Mention honors in 2025 after recording 60 tackles and two interceptions and helping FIU reach its first bowl game since 2019. Off the field, he volunteers with E.N.D. IT, Grace Way Village and Pick Up for Cancer, supporting youth, families and cancer research.
 
The reigning CUSA co-Defensive Player of the Year and 2026 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Hopson shattered the program record with 138 total tackles in 2025. He is a six-time member of the Dean’s List and serves on campus with organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers and the Black Student-Athlete Association.
 
Ryan has been a mainstay on Liberty’s special teams unit the past two seasons but has seen an uptick in offensive snaps in 2026. A three-time CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal recipient, he boasts a perfect 4.00 GPA in interdisciplinary studies. Ryan also serves on the Liberty Football Unity Council. 
 
Logan leads CUSA and ranks fifth nationally in punting (48.1) to begin the 2026 season after he posted the second-best average in program history in 2025 (44.7). In the classroom, he owns a 3.42 GPA in integrated studies. Over the summer, he assisted with many community programs, including the Boys and Girls Club, Possibility Place and Special Kids and Camp Ability.
 
Lair has appeared in 27 of a possible 28 games for the Bears over the past three seasons since returning from a battle with stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In October 2025, he received the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, and he made his first career start a month later in the regular-season finale. He sports a 3.53 GPA in general studies.
 
The leading rusher in CUSA through the first three weeks, Jones is averaging 81.0 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry with two touchdowns for the Aggies. He rushed for 137 yards and a score on 19 carries in NM State’s win over Mercyhurst and followed that up with 78 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries versus Hawaii. He owns a 3.55 GPA in interdisciplinary studies.