Michigan State LB Sam Edwards named Campbell Trophy semifinalist

Michigan State sixth-year senior linebacker, special teams ace and team captain Sam Edwards has been named by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame as a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy on Wednesday.

Known as the "academic Heisman," and considered college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, the Campbell Trophy is awarded annually to the player who best combines "academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership."

The Campbell Trophy enters its 36th year in 2025. It is also the 67th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. The Campbell Trophy is open to all NCAA divisions, along with the NAIA. The 2025 candidates for the Campbell Trophy boast an impressive 3.60 average GPA. Additionally, more than half of the semifinalists have already earned their bachelor’s degrees.

"We are honored to celebrate such an extraordinary group of student-athletes as semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy," NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell said in a release. "Their accomplishments reflect the lasting impact of our game — building character, discipline, and leadership, extending far beyond football.”

As mentioned, Edwards was voted by his teammates as a team captain for the 2025 season. He is a key contributor on special teams, a leader in the locker room and active in the community. Edwards also excels academically.

Edwards is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree, a three-time recipient of the MSU's Scholar-Athlete Award and a two-time Academic All-District pick. He was also named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society in 2025.

Additionally, Edwards graduated with a double major in political theory and constitutional democracy/international relations in May of 2024. while completing his minor in political economy in December of 2024. He started a master’s program in marketing research in the 2025 spring semester.

In February 2025, Edwards was selected as the Big Ten representative for the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group. In the East Lansing community, Edwards has been involved with multiple events, initiatives and projects. These include a student-athlete food drive, the Beautiful Lives Project, working as a volunteer at the Jack Breslin/McLaren Golf Classic, celebrating March is Reading Month, working with Be the Match – Bone Marrow Registry, providing peer tutoring services, making visits to the Sparrow Hospital pediatric ward and participating in Teams for Toys.

Edwards has appeared in all four games for the Spartans in 2025 thus far, but has not recorded any statistics. Throughout his career, he has recorded six tackles and a kick return for 17 yards in 33 games played. He also assisted with long snapping on field goals and extra points for the Spartans in the past.

There are 177 semifinalists listed in total. There will be 12 to 16 finalists announced on Oct. 22. These finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 9. One winner will be announced as the 36th recipient of the Campbell Trophy. Each of the finalists will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, with the winner receiving an increase to $25,000.