EIU's Callaway Named Semifinalist

IRVING, Texas – Eastern Illinois senior offensive lineman Aaron Callaway was one of 179 semifinalists for The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments.  The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
 
Callaway has been a four-year starter at offensive line having playing all three line positions during his Panther career.  This season he was slated to be the Panthers starting center but moved to right tackle following a preseason injury to another starter.  This season EIU’s offense is ranked 35th in the nation in total offense and 8th in the nation in passing offense.  Callaway is majoring in History with a teacher certification.  He holds a 3.41 grade point average.   
 
Callaway is one of two players from the Ohio Valley Conference that were named semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy.  The other OVC semifinalist was Ryan Rockensuess of Austin Peay.  A total of 40 players were selected from FCS programs.
 
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 31, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 4, 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 29th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
 
"These 179 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. "It is important for us to showcase their success on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. This year's semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders."