Kansas State senior right tackle Dalton Risner is one of 64 FBS players and 180 from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA to be named a semifinalist for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame (NFF) announced Wednesday. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
Risner, a product of Wiggins, Colorado, is the fifth Wildcat semifinalist for the award in as many years, joining Tyler Lockett (2014), Stanton Weber (2015), Will Davis (2016) and Trent Tanking (2017). Both Lockett and Tysyn Hartman (2011) were named finalists for the award.
“These 180 impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “For 60 years, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete program has showcased more than 800 college football players who have been successful on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. This year’s semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders.”
In its 60th year of existence, the William V. Campbell Trophy criteria states a player must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2, have outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Risner checks all those boxes as the 2017 First Team All-American holds a 3.603 GPA as a mass communications major and has touched the lives both in the Manhattan community and across the nation.
Risner started the RiseUp Foundation, which has started in both a blog and v-log form to “encourage everyone to RISE above the evil and sin in this world and be a positive shining light in the lives of others.” The ultimate goal for the foundation is to motivate people through his words and actions, through his stories and his relationships.
He also visits Buttonwood Special Needs Home and has bonded with one member in particular, Mike, by going to movies, bowling and hanging out about once per week. He goes to the house to spend time for a while before taking Mike to places around town to spend time together.
Risner is also a Big Brother to Kayden, who was battling leukemia but is in remission. After originally meeting in April, Risner and Kayden have spent time together on multiple occasions, including a family barbeque, while Risner brought Kaden and his siblings Easter baskets. Kayden also ran out of the team tunnel with Risner prior to this year’s UTSA game.
Although he takes the time on his own to participate in community service, Risner also does work through the K-State football team’s initiatives, including Special Olympics, Senior Kats (spending time at all four local retirement communities), Cats in the Classroom (volunteering at local elementary schools), Cats 4 Cans (collection of food items for the Flint Hills Breadbasket) and Adopt-a-Family.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on October 31, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 60th NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 4, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 29th William V. Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Kansas State hosts 18th-ranked Texas on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m., will be shown nationally on FS1.
Risner, a product of Wiggins, Colorado, is the fifth Wildcat semifinalist for the award in as many years, joining Tyler Lockett (2014), Stanton Weber (2015), Will Davis (2016) and Trent Tanking (2017). Both Lockett and Tysyn Hartman (2011) were named finalists for the award.
“These 180 impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “For 60 years, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete program has showcased more than 800 college football players who have been successful on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. This year’s semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders.”
In its 60th year of existence, the William V. Campbell Trophy criteria states a player must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2, have outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Risner checks all those boxes as the 2017 First Team All-American holds a 3.603 GPA as a mass communications major and has touched the lives both in the Manhattan community and across the nation.
Risner started the RiseUp Foundation, which has started in both a blog and v-log form to “encourage everyone to RISE above the evil and sin in this world and be a positive shining light in the lives of others.” The ultimate goal for the foundation is to motivate people through his words and actions, through his stories and his relationships.
He also visits Buttonwood Special Needs Home and has bonded with one member in particular, Mike, by going to movies, bowling and hanging out about once per week. He goes to the house to spend time for a while before taking Mike to places around town to spend time together.
Risner is also a Big Brother to Kayden, who was battling leukemia but is in remission. After originally meeting in April, Risner and Kayden have spent time together on multiple occasions, including a family barbeque, while Risner brought Kaden and his siblings Easter baskets. Kayden also ran out of the team tunnel with Risner prior to this year’s UTSA game.
Although he takes the time on his own to participate in community service, Risner also does work through the K-State football team’s initiatives, including Special Olympics, Senior Kats (spending time at all four local retirement communities), Cats in the Classroom (volunteering at local elementary schools), Cats 4 Cans (collection of food items for the Flint Hills Breadbasket) and Adopt-a-Family.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on October 31, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 60th NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 4, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 29th William V. Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Kansas State hosts 18th-ranked Texas on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m., will be shown nationally on FS1.
