Miami punter among the 156 selections up for the prestigious honor
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced Wednesday the 156 semifinalists for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy, including University of Miami punter Lou Hedley.
The award, now in its 33rd year, is given to college football’s premier scholar-athlete. It recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his
combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
The impressive list of semifinal candidates boasts an impressive 3.62 average GPA, with more than half of them already owning a bachelor’s degree.
“These 156 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. “During the past seven decades, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards have recognized 891 college football players who excelled as the best our great sport has to offer. This year’s semifinalists build on the tradition, further illustrating the power of football in developing the next generation of influential leaders.”
A sixth-year redshirt senior, Hedley was a 2020 Ray Guy Award finalist and a 2021 semifinalist. In the former year, he was also an Associated Press Second Team All-American.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Mandurah, Australia, Hedley is a two-time Second Team All-ACC designee. He has averaged 45.2 yards per punt over his three seasons at Miami, tallying at least one 60-yarder each year and recording a high mark of 67. Last year, he sent 40.4 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard-line.
This year, the Preseason First Team All-ACC designee has been among the finest punters in the nation once again. He is averaging 46.0 yards per punt, with two of his six boots going 50-plus yards and two hitting inside the 20. None of have bounced into the end zone for a touchback.
Hedley is also a standout off the field, as he already owns his undergraduate degree from Miami and is heavily involved in community service.
-MiamiHurricanes.com-
