Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Barnett Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
9/24/2025 11:18:00 AM | Football
Finalists to be announced on October 22
Rice tight end Micah Barnett is one of 177 college football players who have been named semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy® which was announced on Wednesday by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF).
Now in its 36th year as college football's premier scholar-athlete award, 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.
Barnett came to Rice as a walk-on fullback in 2022 and found immediate playing time as a true freshman, making his debut in the season opener on the road at USC. He played in 34 games over his first three seasons, including five starts, at fullback before moving to tight end after the switch in offensive system with the arrival of new Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell.
He was named a co-captain before the season and has started the first four games this year as the Owls have started 3-1 for the first time since 2001. He has posted a 3.48 GPA while majoring in Sport Analytics and is a two-time American Conference All-Academic selection and was a Rice Honor Athlete in 2024.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared the winner of the 36th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines, and room rates at the Bellagio.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2025 season or a graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and is participating in the 2025 season; have a GPA 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 class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, NFF College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 67th year in 2025. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 938 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $13.2 million.
The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the program's prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and nine first-round NFL draft picks. Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the storied venue.
As part of its support of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, Fidelity Investments helped launch the NFF Faculty Salutes, which recognize the contributions of the faculty athletics representatives at each of the institutions with a finalist for the Campbell Trophy®. Once the finalists are selected, the NFF will present each of their faculty athletics representatives with a plaque, and Fidelity will donate $5,000 for the academic support services at each school. The salutes have recognized 184 FARs since the program's inception, and Fidelity has made a total of $990,000 in donations.
Barnett and the Owls will be back in action on the road this Saturday when they take on Navy at 2:30 (central) on CBS SN. Rice returns home to Rice Stadium on October 4 to host Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m.
Single-game tickets for Rice's Families Weekend game against FAU are still available. In addition to the option to purchase individual game tickets, Owl fans also have the option to create their own customized mini plan.
Now in its 36th year as college football's premier scholar-athlete award, 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.
Barnett came to Rice as a walk-on fullback in 2022 and found immediate playing time as a true freshman, making his debut in the season opener on the road at USC. He played in 34 games over his first three seasons, including five starts, at fullback before moving to tight end after the switch in offensive system with the arrival of new Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell.
He was named a co-captain before the season and has started the first four games this year as the Owls have started 3-1 for the first time since 2001. He has posted a 3.48 GPA while majoring in Sport Analytics and is a two-time American Conference All-Academic selection and was a Rice Honor Athlete in 2024.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared the winner of the 36th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines, and room rates at the Bellagio.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2025 season or a graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and is participating in the 2025 season; have a GPA 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 class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, NFF College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 67th year in 2025. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 938 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $13.2 million.
The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the program's prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and nine first-round NFL draft picks. Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the storied venue.
As part of its support of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, Fidelity Investments helped launch the NFF Faculty Salutes, which recognize the contributions of the faculty athletics representatives at each of the institutions with a finalist for the Campbell Trophy®. Once the finalists are selected, the NFF will present each of their faculty athletics representatives with a plaque, and Fidelity will donate $5,000 for the academic support services at each school. The salutes have recognized 184 FARs since the program's inception, and Fidelity has made a total of $990,000 in donations.
Barnett and the Owls will be back in action on the road this Saturday when they take on Navy at 2:30 (central) on CBS SN. Rice returns home to Rice Stadium on October 4 to host Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m.
Single-game tickets for Rice's Families Weekend game against FAU are still available. In addition to the option to purchase individual game tickets, Owl fans also have the option to create their own customized mini plan.
Players Mentioned
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