Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Bucknell's Alex Pechin Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
9/25/2019 11:00:00 AM | Football
IRVING, Texas – Bucknell's Alex Pechin was named a semifinalist for the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy®, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced Wednesday.
The All-American punter, one of only 11 Bison to serve as team captain more than once, was among 185 semifinalists, 39 of whom hailed from the FCS ranks. Pechin was also one of 18 All-Americans and one of three Patriot League student-athletes to be recognized as a semifinalist for this prestigious award, which is in its 30th year.
Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 14 years. Previous Bison honorees include David Frisbey (2006), Nick Mozal (2007), Kevin Mullen (2008), Sam Nana-Sinkam (2009), Travis Nissley (2010), Tim Bolte (2011), Samuel Oyekoya (2012), Tracey Smith (2013), Derek Maurer (2014), Matt DelMauro (2015), Cary Hess (2016), Mark Pyles (2017) and Bryan Marine (2018).
Pechin was named to the initial watch list for the 2020 Senior Bowl; one of seven punters included, he was the only one that hailed from the FCS ranks. In addition, he made the watch list for the inaugural FCS Punter of the Year Award and was recognized on the Preseason All-America Teams by STATS and Phil Steele.
Pechin returned in 2019 after being granted an extra year of eligibility due to a season-ending injury suffered in his sophomore season's second game. A year ago, he was the lone Patriot League student-athlete honored on Athlon Sports's All-America squad. It was his sixth All-America award of his senior campaign; he was also recognized on the STATS, Phil Steele and Hero Sports All-America First Teams and the AP and AFCA All-America Second Teams. He was Bucknell's first specialist to garner All-America laurels from the AFCA and AP.
Pechin's awards haul in the 2018 off-season was impressive. In addition to his six All-America awards, he earned All-Patriot League First Team accolades for the third time and All-ECAC First Team laurels for the second time. One of the finest punters in Bison history, he finished first in the FCS in punts (81) and punting yards (3,606) and fourth in punting average (44.5) that season.
Pechin owns the school record in career punting average (44.3) and the program's top-three single-season averages of 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); he also booted the third- (71) and fifth- (70) longest punts in school history over the course of the 2018 campaign. In 2017, he earned STATS Third Team All-America accolades on the strength of his 45.1 punting average, which ranked third in the FCS.
As successful in the classroom as on the field, Pechin was named the 2018-19 Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He became only the third football player to be tabbed as the Patriot League's top male scholar-athlete, joining fellow Bison David Berardinelli (1992-93) and Lehigh's Nick Martucci (1998-99). A Biomedical Engineering/Management for Engineers student currently in a five-year dual degree program, he was named the Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2018 and 2017. Both of those years, he was also a finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award and a member of the Academic All-Patriot League Team and Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's Academic All-Star Team.
Pechin interned for Orbit Biomedical, a start-up company dedicated to revolutionizing gene and cell therapy treatment for patients suffering from sight-threatening diseases, in the summers of 2019 and 2018. He has served as a football team peer tutor and a grader on campus for Physics 211 and 212. He is a member of the Bucknell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute Emerging Leaders participant.
In addition, Pechin has raised nearly $1,500 for Vs. Cancer as part of Bucknell's 2019 fundraising efforts. He was one of seven Bison who shaved their heads to raise pediatric cancer awareness. Bucknell's Vs. Cancer fundraiser benefits Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the NFF awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing 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.
This Campbell Trophy is awarded to the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. The NFF will announce 12 to 14 finalists on Oct. 31, and each 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. 5. During the event, one member of the class will be declared the winner of the 30th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
The All-American punter, one of only 11 Bison to serve as team captain more than once, was among 185 semifinalists, 39 of whom hailed from the FCS ranks. Pechin was also one of 18 All-Americans and one of three Patriot League student-athletes to be recognized as a semifinalist for this prestigious award, which is in its 30th year.
Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 14 years. Previous Bison honorees include David Frisbey (2006), Nick Mozal (2007), Kevin Mullen (2008), Sam Nana-Sinkam (2009), Travis Nissley (2010), Tim Bolte (2011), Samuel Oyekoya (2012), Tracey Smith (2013), Derek Maurer (2014), Matt DelMauro (2015), Cary Hess (2016), Mark Pyles (2017) and Bryan Marine (2018).
Pechin is off to a strong start in 2019. Through three games, he boasts a 50.3 punting average, a figure that ranks first in the FCS and would stand second in the FBS. His 44.3 career punting average is good for first among active FCS punters and third among active punters from all divisions. In the season opener against Temple, he set a new career high with a 51.6 punting average, 0.4 shy of breaking a school record that has stood since 1962.A worthy semifinalist for the @NFFNetwork Campbell Trophy.
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 25, 2019
Congrats to Alex Pechin, a ⭐️ on the field, in the classroom and in our community.
Story: https://t.co/6xtNiEnl7b | #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/EzWcQMqlta
Pechin was named to the initial watch list for the 2020 Senior Bowl; one of seven punters included, he was the only one that hailed from the FCS ranks. In addition, he made the watch list for the inaugural FCS Punter of the Year Award and was recognized on the Preseason All-America Teams by STATS and Phil Steele.
Pechin returned in 2019 after being granted an extra year of eligibility due to a season-ending injury suffered in his sophomore season's second game. A year ago, he was the lone Patriot League student-athlete honored on Athlon Sports's All-America squad. It was his sixth All-America award of his senior campaign; he was also recognized on the STATS, Phil Steele and Hero Sports All-America First Teams and the AP and AFCA All-America Second Teams. He was Bucknell's first specialist to garner All-America laurels from the AFCA and AP.
Pechin's awards haul in the 2018 off-season was impressive. In addition to his six All-America awards, he earned All-Patriot League First Team accolades for the third time and All-ECAC First Team laurels for the second time. One of the finest punters in Bison history, he finished first in the FCS in punts (81) and punting yards (3,606) and fourth in punting average (44.5) that season.
Pechin owns the school record in career punting average (44.3) and the program's top-three single-season averages of 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); he also booted the third- (71) and fifth- (70) longest punts in school history over the course of the 2018 campaign. In 2017, he earned STATS Third Team All-America accolades on the strength of his 45.1 punting average, which ranked third in the FCS.
As successful in the classroom as on the field, Pechin was named the 2018-19 Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He became only the third football player to be tabbed as the Patriot League's top male scholar-athlete, joining fellow Bison David Berardinelli (1992-93) and Lehigh's Nick Martucci (1998-99). A Biomedical Engineering/Management for Engineers student currently in a five-year dual degree program, he was named the Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2018 and 2017. Both of those years, he was also a finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award and a member of the Academic All-Patriot League Team and Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's Academic All-Star Team.
Pechin interned for Orbit Biomedical, a start-up company dedicated to revolutionizing gene and cell therapy treatment for patients suffering from sight-threatening diseases, in the summers of 2019 and 2018. He has served as a football team peer tutor and a grader on campus for Physics 211 and 212. He is a member of the Bucknell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute Emerging Leaders participant.
In addition, Pechin has raised nearly $1,500 for Vs. Cancer as part of Bucknell's 2019 fundraising efforts. He was one of seven Bison who shaved their heads to raise pediatric cancer awareness. Bucknell's Vs. Cancer fundraiser benefits Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the NFF awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing 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.
This Campbell Trophy is awarded to the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. The NFF will announce 12 to 14 finalists on Oct. 31, and each 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. 5. During the event, one member of the class will be declared the winner of the 30th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
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