Syracuse defensive end Kingsley Jonathan is a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist for the second-straight season.
The William V. Campbell Trophy, celebrating its 31st year, recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree in information management and technology from the iSchool at Syracuse, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in instructional design, development and education. He was a CoSIDA Academic All-American last year and was the recipient of the ACC’s Jim Tatum Award, presented to the top senior football student-athlete in the league. Jonathan decided to return for his additional year of eligibility this season after the NCAA granted eligibility relief to student-athletes whose seasons were impacted by COVID.
He is a member of the Syracuse Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Board and wrapped up a two-year term as one of the ACC’s three representatives with voting privileges under the Division I autonomy process in 2020-21. Most recently, he was selected to represent ACC student-athletes on the search advisory committee for the next league commissioner, Jim Phillips.
Jonathan’s community involvement includes participation in the 2019 Syracuse University OttoTHON Dance Marathon, which raised more than $200,000 for the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. He’s volunteered at the annual Boys & Girls Club Field Day at Manley Field House and he is the founder of Hoodie Drive, a program he started in 2019 to collect hooded sweatshirts for less fortunate members of the Central New York community during the winter.
On the field, he has appeared in 48 games for the Orange, with 11.0 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss and 83 total tackles in his career. He also has three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four pass deflections.
“These 176 impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “For more than 60 years, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards have honored more than 800 college football players who have been successful on the football field, in the classroom and as leaders in the community. And we are excited to celebrate the 32nd year of the Campbell Trophy®, which honors the best of the best. This year’s semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders.”
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 27, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas for the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 7, 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 as the winner of the 32nd Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].