Selected as the best and brightest from the college gridiron, The National Football  Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the 147 candidates for the 2012 NFF National  Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments®, a leading provider of not-for-profit workplace retirement savings plans in higher education. The 147 nominees also comprise the list of
semifinalists for the 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Peru State College senior running back Joel Woodhead of North Platte is among the semi-finalists, one of nine nominees from the NAIA level. Woodhead was pleased with being named a semi-finalist and said, “To be considered for this honor is outstanding just by itself. However, to be considered along with such outstanding players such as Rex Burkhead of Nebraska, Matt Barkley of USC, and other big names, is really an honor.”

Peru State nominated Woodhead because of his outstanding academic performance and his community  service commitments. Woodhead is an exercise science major with a business minor and has maintained a 3.83 cumulative grade point average at Peru State. Last fall, Woodhead was named a 2011 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete and will once again earn the same recognition this year. A dean’s list honoree for six semesters, Woodhead was selected this year to serve as a tutor for biomechanics and exercise physiology courses.

Woodhead’s community and campus involvement includes participation in PEAKS (Physical Education, Activity and Kinesiology Students), TeamMates mentor, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In addition, Woodhead has volunteered for a wide variety of events both in Peru and back in his hometown of North Platte.

Steve Schneider, Peru State’s athletic director and head football coach was pleased to learn Woodhead was a semi-finalist. Schneider

said, “Obviously, we know Joel is disappointed that his injuries have kept him from playing as much as he would like over the last two years. However, Joel still is there encouraging his teammates. In addition, he is a good role model for our younger players in all aspects, so it is great he is listed as a semi-finalist for this top honor.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of 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. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

— Ted Harshbarger, Peru State Sports Information