TicketsOct. 24, 2007
CINCINNATI--University of Cincinnati senior Digger Bujnoch (Cincinnati, Ohio) was named a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy, presented annually to the National Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFF) and HealthSouth, the group announced on Thursday. He is one of 67 Football Bowl Subdivision student-athletes selected as a semifinalist for the prestigious award.
One of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, the Draddy Trophy, known in some circles as the Academic Heisman, recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.
"The NFF is extremely proud of this year's group of semifinalists," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "Their substantial commitment to academic excellence, athletic prowess and community service is commendable, and it is our responsibility to honor them for their dedication on and off the playing field. These players are the greatest illustration of how we hope to build leaders through football."
Nominated by their schools, 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, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.
2007 NATIONAL SCHOLAR- ATHLETE NOMINEES AND DRADDY TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS BOWL SUBDIVISION
Arizona -- Spencer Larsen
Arizona State -- Michael Marquardt
Arkansas -- Farod Jackson
Arkansas State -- Matthew Reibe
Army -- Connor Wicklund
Auburn -- Cole Bennett
Boise State -- Nick Schlekeway
Boston College -- Nicholas Larkin
Bowling Green -- Kory Lichtensteiger
Brigham Young -- Matthew Allen
Buffalo -- Jameson Richard
Central Florida -- Keith Shologan
Central Michigan -- Thomas Keith
Cincinnati -- Digger Bujnoch
Colorado -- Kevin Eberhart
Colorado State -- Jesse Nading
Duke -- Patrick Bailey
Eastern Michigan -- Kenneth Bohnet
Florida Atlantic -- Zachary Wichner
Fresno State -- Clint Stitser
Georgia Tech -- Kevin Tuminello
Illinois -- J Leman
Indiana -- Kevin Trulock
Iowa -- Mike Klinkenborg
Iowa State -- Bryce Braaksma
Kent State -- Matthew Muller
Kentucky -- Jacob Tamme
Louisiana-Lafayette -- Lamar Morgan
Louisville -- Daniel Barlowe
Memphis -- Jake Kasser
Middle Tenn. State -- Clinton Corder
Minnesota -- Anthony Brinkhaus
Mississippi State -- Dezmond Sherrod
Missouri -- Matthew Crossett
Navy -- Gregory Veteto
Nebraska -- James Phillips II
New Mexico -- Cody Kase
North Carolina -- Joseph Dailey
North Texas -- Raifu Durodoye, Jr.
Notre Dame -- John Carlson
Ohio -- Chidozie Nwokocha
Oregon -- Dennis Dixon
Purdue -- Jared Armstrong
Rice -- Robert Heos
Rutgers -- Brandon Renkart
SMU -- Benjamin Poynter
Southern Mississippi -- Jeremy Young
Syracuse -- Ryan Durand
TCU -- Chris Manfredini
Tennessee -- Erik Ainge
Texas -- Dallas Griffin
Texas A&M -- Cody Wallace
Texas Tech -- Alex Trilica
Toledo -- Brett Kern
Troy -- Gregory Whibbs, Jr.
Tulsa -- Paul Smith
UCLA -- Christopher Joseph
Utah -- Stephen Tate
Vanderbilt -- Hamilton Holliday
Virginia -- Michael Santi, Jr.
Wake Forest -- Zachary Selmon
Washington -- Cody Ellis
Washington State -- Alex Brink
West Virginia -- Bobby Hathaway
Western Kentucky -- Marion Rumph
Western Michigan -- Anthony Gebhart
Wisconsin -- Luke Swan