Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Bucknell's Rick Mottram Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
10/1/2020 11:00:00 AM | Football
IRVING, Texas – Bucknell's Rick Mottram was named a semifinalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy®, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced Thursday.
The 2019 CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American was among a record 199 semifinalists for this prestigious award, which is in its 31st year. Of the 199 semifinalists, 45 hail from the FCS ranks, including four from the Patriot League.
Mottram was voted as a team captain during the summer of 2020 and represents the Patriot League on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Connection Group.
A Mechanical Engineering major with a 3.97 grade point average, Mottram will work as a systems engineer at Lockheed Martin Space following his graduation from Bucknell.
Off the field, Mottram has worked as a research assistant in Bucknell's Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering departments; his projects involved developing a patented, open-source 3D printer and determining the viscoelastic properties of mineral oils and investigating whether the addition of nanocarriers had an effect on the viscosity. He was also helped recreate the curriculum of an engineering seminar called Engineering Athletics and worked as a tutor at Bucknell's Teaching & Learning Center.
Outside of Bucknell, Mottram served as a private equity summer analyst for Twin Bridge Capital Partners, a mechanical engineering intern for Princetel Inc. and a research and web design intern for Lohnpack Contract Filling.
In 2017, Mottram was chosen as one of five NFF Chapter Scholar-Athletes by the NFF & College Hall of Fame and represented Bucknell at the NFF Chapter Awards Banquet in New York City; the valedictorian of his high school class, he graduated with the top GPA in Allentown High School history, a weighted 4.549.
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.
The Campbell Trophy is awarded to the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. The NFF will announce 12 to 14 finalists in November, and each will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. One finalist will be declared the winner of the 31st William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
The 2019 CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American was among a record 199 semifinalists for this prestigious award, which is in its 31st year. Of the 199 semifinalists, 45 hail from the FCS ranks, including four from the Patriot League.
Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 15 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), Bryan Marine (2018) and Alex Pechin (2019).Congrats to Rick Mottram, a semifinalist for the 2020 @NFFNetwork Campbell Trophy!
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 1, 2020
Story: https://t.co/BtWNn23PNM | #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/jsfDIw2sRR
Mottram, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 and Academic All-Patriot League Team honoree, emerged as the quarterback of Bucknell's defense in 2019. With 102 tackles (64 solo), he became the first Bison to reach the century mark in a single campaign since Evan Byers (119) in 2014. He also totaled eight tackles for a loss, four sacks, two interceptions and one fumble return for a touchdown. He wrapped up his junior campaign with 147 tackles (93 solo), 18 tackles for a loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and one fumble return in 24 career games, 14 of which were starts in the past two seasons.#DYK: Bucknell is 1⃣ of 2⃣ DI programs to have a @NFFNetwork Campbell Trophy Semifinalist for 1⃣5⃣-straight years.#TBT | #BisonFamily pic.twitter.com/ZwaN1gmDAl
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 1, 2020
Mottram was voted as a team captain during the summer of 2020 and represents the Patriot League on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Connection Group.
A Mechanical Engineering major with a 3.97 grade point average, Mottram will work as a systems engineer at Lockheed Martin Space following his graduation from Bucknell.
Off the field, Mottram has worked as a research assistant in Bucknell's Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering departments; his projects involved developing a patented, open-source 3D printer and determining the viscoelastic properties of mineral oils and investigating whether the addition of nanocarriers had an effect on the viscosity. He was also helped recreate the curriculum of an engineering seminar called Engineering Athletics and worked as a tutor at Bucknell's Teaching & Learning Center.
Outside of Bucknell, Mottram served as a private equity summer analyst for Twin Bridge Capital Partners, a mechanical engineering intern for Princetel Inc. and a research and web design intern for Lohnpack Contract Filling.
In 2017, Mottram was chosen as one of five NFF Chapter Scholar-Athletes by the NFF & College Hall of Fame and represented Bucknell at the NFF Chapter Awards Banquet in New York City; the valedictorian of his high school class, he graduated with the top GPA in Allentown High School history, a weighted 4.549.
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.
The Campbell Trophy is awarded to the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. The NFF will announce 12 to 14 finalists in November, and each will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. One finalist will be declared the winner of the 31st William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Players Mentioned
Lafayette at Bucknell Baseball Game One Highlights 3-13-2026
Friday, March 13
In The Herd: Patriot League Home Opener Preview And John Young Feature
Thursday, March 12
Bucknell Wrestling - EIWAs Recap & NCAAs Preview
Tuesday, March 10
St. Joseph's at Bucknell Baseball Highlights 3-7-2026
Sunday, March 08