PISCATAWAY, N.J. – DL Mayan Ahanotu represents Rutgers football as a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation announced Wednesday. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

A two-time captain for the Scarlet Knights, Ahanotu earned his undergraduate degree in May as an information technology and informatics major and entrepreneurship minor. He is working towards a master's degree in labor studies and employment relations. The Tampa, Florida, native is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and claimed a spot on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team last year.

Ahanotu has played in each of the 38 games since arriving at Rutgers in 2020. The defensive lineman has started all four games so far in 2023, posting a tackle-for-loss in the opening win over Northwestern and four stops versus Temple. He earned the Douglas A. Smith Award in April as the most improved defensive player during spring practice.

To be eligible for the Campbell Trophy, a student-athlete 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 and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

Brian Leonard earned the award in 2006 when it was named the Vincent DePaul Draddy Trophy.

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