Ezra Gray named William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist

Alabama State senior running back/kick returner Ezra Gray has been named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Mazda, announced by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.

This year’s group features a record 199 selections for the semifinalists, establishing an exciting new highwater mark for one of college football’s most sought-after and coveted awards.

Celebrating its 31st year, the award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership. The NFF will announce 12-to-14 finalists in November, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. Later this year, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 31st Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, having his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000 and receiving his own 25-pound-bronze version of the iconic statue.

Gray has played in 31 games and was a team captain during the 2019 season. He has rushed for 1,372 yards on 341 carries during his career and hauled in 37 receptions for 246 yards. Gray has also returned 44 kicks, for an average of 23.93 yards. He has been named preseason all-conference twice and earned all-conference honors as a kick returner two times.

This past season, the senior earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and was named the FCS ADA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, FCS ADA All-Academic team member, Coca-Cola Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the Magic City Classic. He earned his undergraduate degree from Alabama State.

Gray joins a list of former Hornets who have been a Campbell Trophy nominees including, Dylan Renekar (2018), Edward Mosley (2014), Bobby Wenzig (2013), Charles Parham (2005), and Eddie Robinson (1991).

He is the lone representative among the list of semifinalists from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), and one of just three members from an HBCU. He is also one of five from the state of Alabama represented on the list.

Candidates for the award 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, 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.