WMU quarterback Zach Terrell wins National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy

Contact: Deanne Puca

December 8, 2016

Photo of WMU football player Zach Terrell. — Terrell receives "academic Heisman" (Photo credit: WMU Intercollegiate Athletics)

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University quarterback Zach Terrell has been named the 2016 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete of the Year and recipient of the William Campbell Trophy. The three-year captain is the Bronco's second NFF National Scholar-Athlete in program history and first Campbell Trophy recipient.

Described by head coach P.J. Fleck as "the best young man I've ever been around," Terrell graduated cum laude in 3.5 years while leading one of the Mid-American Conference's best offenses.

Terrell is currently pursuing his master's degree after graduating with a 3.66 grade point average in finance last December. A two-time Academic All-MAC selection, he was twice named a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and is a six-time member of the Dean's List. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native was the 2015 recipient of the John Gill Scholar-Athlete Award.

The three-time All-MAC quarterback won the 2016 MAC Vern Smith Leadership Award. WMU's all-time leader in career completion percentage, Terrell has led the Broncos to a 13-0 regular season, including the team's first New Year's Six bowl berth at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Monday, Jan. 2, vs. Wisconsin. Terrell saw the Broncos win their first MAC Championship since 1988 when they defeated Ohio Dec. 2.

In his career, Terrell has led the Broncos to three consecutive bowl berths, including the first bowl victory in school history at the 2015 Bahamas Bowl. He boasts the top two single-season completion percentages in program history and owns the record for most career passing yards with 11,947 yards. He is second in passing touchdowns with 95.

Terrell has twice been named the MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week in 2016. An avid community volunteer, Terrell was named to the 2016 AFCA Good Works Team. He has received multiple awards for his service, including the 2014-15 WMU Community Service Award, 2014 Idaho Potato Bowl Humanitarian Award and 2014 WMU Coxswain Spring Leadership Award. Terrell led a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, serves as a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and mentors students at Tree of Life. A Special Olympics volunteer, he has volunteered for MLK day of service, visited children at Bronson Children's Hospital, and participated in the Project Incentive Christmas program. Terrell has also served food at shelters, volunteered at football camps, and donated his time as a guest speaker for various organizations.

William Campbell Trophy

The William Campbell Trophy is named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the former chairman of Intuit, a former player and head coach at Columbia University, and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, who passed away this year on April 18. The award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $7,000 increase in postgraduate funds for a total scholarship of $25,000. A total distribution of $223,000 in scholarships were awarded Dec. 6, pushing the program's all-time distributions to more than $11.1 million.

NFF National Scholar-Athlete Program

The NFF National Scholar-Athlete program, launched in 1959, became the first initiative in history to award scholar-athletes postgraduate scholarships for their combined athletic, academic and leadership abilities. Including the 2016 recipients, the NFF has honored 828 individuals with National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

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WMU News

WMU quarterback Zach Terrell wins National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy

William Campbell Trophy

NFF National Scholar-Athlete Program