Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football's Travis Nissley Named Semifinalist for Campbell Trophy
10/26/2010 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 26, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior linebacker Travis Nissley (Mount Joy, Pa./Manheim Central) earlier this month was selected by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) as one of 121 semifinalists across all divisions of college football for the William W. Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Draddy Trophy). He is the fifth Bison in as many years to be a semifinalist, following David Frisbey (2006), Nick Mozal (2007), Kevin Mullen (2008) and Sam Nana-Sinkam (2009).
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists 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 award was renamed last fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal.
The NFF Awards Committee will select up to 16 finalists and announce the results via national press release on Thursday, Oct. 28. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2010 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Campbell Trophy winner, who will have his scholarship increased to $25,000 and receive a 25-pound bronze trophy, will be announced live at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 7 at the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
The 2009 Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Nissley owns a 3.96 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in mechanical engineering. He posted three perfect 4.0 GPAs in his first six semesters and has been a regular member of Bucknell's Dean's List and the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. Nissley was also elected to Tau Beta Pi, a National Engineering Honor Society, was a recipient of the Charles F. White Memorial Prize for scholar-athletes and is a member of the Bucknell Classics Club. Additionally, he has volunteered with Toys for Tots and the National Marrow Donor Program.
A 2010 Bison team captain, Nissley is a three-year starter at linebacker for Bucknell. He is fifth on the team with 35 tackles this season and his 226 career stops top all current Bison. Last year, Nissley was second on the squad with a career-high 93 tackles.
Nissley, who has started 15 consecutive games, including all seven contests this year, now has 5 tackles for loss, one interception and six pass breakups in his four-year career.
Nissley is one of 28 semifinalists to come from FCS schools and is one of three from Patriot League teams, joining Greg Sullivan of Colgate and Holy Cross' Bill Edger.
