For his performance on the field, excellence in the classroom and service to the community, graduate student linebacker Jack Kiser has been named a finalist for the National Football Foundation’s prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Kiser is one of 16 finalists for the award, selected from a pool of 204 semifinalists. Each finalist for the award receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class.
He is the 20th Notre Dame Football student-athlete to be named a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, and the second Notre Dame finalist for the award in as many years, joining JD Bertrand, who was a finalist in 2023. Notre Dame is one of just two schools with back-to-back honorees this season.
“We are thrilled to announce this year’s finalists for the Campbell Trophy,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (a Campbell Trophy recipient) and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “These exceptional young men embody an unwavering commitment to excellence in all areas of their lives, from the classroom to the football field. They truly represent the best of college football, and we know they have only begun to reach their potential.”
Kiser has already been named to the 2024 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team and a semifinalist for the 2024 Wuerffel Trophy.
One of the most tenured players on Notre Dame’s roster and a team captain, Kiser is in his sixth season playing for the Irish and leads the linebacker room. A Butkus Award Watch List honoree, Kiser owns 219 career tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions (two pick-sixes), 10 pass defended, five forced fumbles and a blocked kick. His 65 tackles in 2023 placed him third among Irish defenders and his 58 tackles in 2022 ranked him second on the team. This year, he currently ranks second on the team with 34 tackles..
Kiser was Notre Dame’s 2023 Special Teams Player of the Year. Last season, he played in all 13 games, making three starts as a consistent contributor on special teams as well as consistent playing time at linebacker. Kiser finished third on the team with 62 tackles, and tied for the team-lead with 41 solo tackles. He added 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5…