IRVING, Texas – Ouachita Baptist University graduate student and running back Kendel Givens has been selected as a semifinalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award.
The annual trophy is presented by the National Football Foundation to the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership. The 2024 semifinalist list features a record number of 203 student-athletes from all levels of college football.
Article by obutigers.com
Givens is one of 18 semifinalists from the NCAA Division II ranks and the only one on the list representing a member of the Great American Conference. Ouachita has now produced a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy in three consecutive seasons.
In his fifth year at Ouachita, Givens has earned All-America honors for his on-field performance as well as his success in the classroom. The Little Rock, Arkansas native graduated from Ouachita in May of 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and media and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.
He is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honoree, a three-time member of the GAC All-Academic Team, and a five-time selection to either the Ouachita President’s List or the Dean’s List.
Highlighting Givens’ decorated athletic career was his 2023 season, which yielded All-America honors from four different organizations. He is a three-time all-conference honoree, including being the only unanimous selection to the All-GAC first team in 2023.
Givens broke Ouachita records in 2023 in career rushing touchdowns and career scoring, records he continues to pad with eight games remaining in the 2024 regular season.
In the Tigers’ 56-2 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State in week two of this season, Givens eclipsed 3,000 career rushing yards, only the seventh back in program history to reach the milestone.
Heading into this Saturday’s game against Arkansas-Monticello, Givens sits at 3,168 career rushing yards on 531 carries with 61 rushing touchdowns. He has added 280 career receiving yards with another five touchdowns.
When he’s not padded up or in the classroom, Givens can be found giving back to his community, locally in Arkadelphia and across the region. He and his high school teammate and current member of the UNLV football team, Jackson Woodard, created a charity football camp for kids in central Arkansas this past summer, specifically catering to inner-city youth but open to all kids. Givens has also been a part of the leadership team for the Ouachita Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a participant and group leader for Tiger Serve Day, a life group leader and intern at his church in Little Rock, a volunteer for the Kids Across America summer camp, and a crew member for the Ouachita Sports Digital Network.
Givens was also a part of the leadership team for Ouachita’s campaign to spotlight first generation college students.
“What’s so powerful about Kendel Givens is the total man concept,” said Ouachita football coach Todd Knight. “He is gifted in so many different areas of life, and it’s obvious that he is leveraging those gifts for good. He’s a tremendous football player, yes, but he’s much more than that. He’s a true leader on and off the field. His consistent energy and enthusiasm are contagious. He’s very intentional about making others better, whether that’s a teammate, a friend, a classmate, or someone in his small group at church.”
“These 203 semifinalists reflect not only exceptional academic and athletic talent but also the deep-rooted leadership that shows a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, which is learned on the gridiron,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “The Campbell Trophy® continues to represent the pinnacle of what it means to be a scholar-athlete, and this year’s candidates exemplify how football builds future leaders who will undoubtedly shape tomorrow’s world.”
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 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 35th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
