Indiana Tight End Trey Walker Named Semifinalist for 'Academic Heisman'

Indiana tight end Trey Walker has been named a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, handed out each season to the "Academic Heisman" of college football.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana football tight end Trey Walker was named a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy on Wednesday. 

The Academic Heisman@TreyWalker45 has been named a @NFFNetwork William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist. pic.twitter.com/FRwSjVexB2

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) September 27, 2023

Known as the "Academic Heisman" by some, the Campbell Trophy is the most prestigious academic award in college football. Each year, it is given to an individual who the National Football Foundation (NFF) finds to be the absolute best in the country for academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

Walker joined the Indiana football team as a walk-on in 2019 after starring as a hockey player at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill. The 6-foot-5 tight end spent four seasons in Bloomington as a walk-on before being awarded a scholarship by coach Tom Allen in August. Walker hauled in his first two career catches this past Saturday against Akron in Indiana's 29-27, four-overtime win. His two receptions accounted for 32 yards in total. 

The Campbell Trophy was first handed out in 1990, named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, who was the longest serving board member of the NFF. Following a successful career as a football player and as a coach, Campbell became an advertising executive and had another wildly successful career. 

Campbell also donated tens of millions of dollars to multiple charities throughout his life. He passed away on April 18, 2016, at the age of 75.

In order to be nominated for the Campbell Trophy, candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, 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. 

Walker himself is a graduate student, already owning an undergraduate degree in sport marketing and management.

In 2022, the William V. Campbell Trophy was awarded to Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. Other notable winners of the "Academic Heisman" from its 34 years of existence are Justin Herbert, Tim Tebow, Chad Pennington and Peyton Manning.

Related Stories on Indiana Football:

• MARYLAND Q&A PREVIEW: To prepare for Indiana's Saturday game against Maryland, we talked to Maryland football reporter Ahmed Ghafir, and asked him what IU fans should know about their Week 5 opponents. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA'S OFFENSIVE IDENTITY IS WHAT?: Offensive coordinator Walt Bell said Monday that Indiana's offensive identity is being a run-first team, which is concerning, given various statistics that say Indiana has one of the worst run games in the country. CLICK HERE
• IU-AKRON PODCAST RECAP: Coach Tom Allen and the Indiana Hoosiers barely survived on Saturday against Akron, and in retrospect, IU probably should have lost. On this episode of the Hoosier Roundtable Podcast, HoosiersNow.com reporters Daniel Olinger and Jack Ankony recap everything that happened in a very demoralizing game that Indiana won 29-27 in four overtimes. CLICK HERE
• STOCK UP, STOCK DOWN: The Indiana football team survived by the skin of its teeth on Saturday, escaping Memorial Stadium with a 29-27, four-overtime win against a below average MAC team in Akron. Here are the very few things IU fans can feel better about after the Week 4 game, and the many, many things that should have fans concerned heading into Week 5. CLICK HERE