IRVING, Texas – Millsaps football senior defensive back Luke Bridges was recognized as a prestigious 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy® semifinalist, which was announced by the National Football Foundation on Wednesday.
 
Bridges is one of 178 semifinalists for college football's premier scholar-athlete award.
 
The impressive list of candidates, from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.60 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees.
 
Celebrating its 36th year, the Campbell Trophy^® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
 
2025 WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY® SEMIFINALISTS NOTES

• 36th year of the William V. Campbell Trophy®
• 67th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments
• 178 Semifinalists
• 3.60 Average GPA
• 92 Nominees who have already earned their bachelor's degrees (including one player with three bachelor's degrees)
• 5 Nominees who have earned a master's degree (including one player with two master's degrees)
• 5 Nominees with a perfect 4.0 GPA
• 56 Nominees with a 3.8 GPA or better
• 74 Nominees with a 3.7 GPA or better
• 14 Academic All-America selections
• 112 Captains
• 20 All-Americans
• 95 All-Conference picks

"This year's 178 semifinalists represent the very best of what it means to play college football," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "They have excelled in the classroom, distinguished themselves on the field, and proven to be leaders in their communities. The Campbell Trophy® stands as a reminder that football develops complete individuals, and these young men embody that tradition at the highest level."
 
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 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 36th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines and room rates at the Bellagio.
 
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2025 season or a graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and is participating in the 2025 season; 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. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, NFF College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
 
"We are honored to celebrate such an extraordinary group of student-athletes as semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy®," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Their accomplishments reflect the lasting impact of our game — building character, discipline, and leadership, extending far beyond football. Selecting finalists from this outstanding class will be a tremendous challenge, but it's a challenge that underscores the unique prestige of this award."
 
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 67th year in 2025. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 938 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $13.2 million.
 
The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the program's prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and nine first-round NFL draft picks. Click here for a list of the past winners of the trophy.
 
Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the storied venue.
 
Fidelity Investments became the presenting sponsor of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards in 2011, marking its 15th year of support in 2025. As part of its commitment to the NFF and higher education nationwide, Fidelity helped launch the NFF Faculty Salutes, which honor the faculty athletics representative (FAR) at each institution with a Campbell Trophy® finalist. Following the selection of the finalists, the NFF presents each school's FAR with a commemorative plaque, and Fidelity contributes $5,000 to the school's academic support services. Since the program's inception, the Salutes have recognized 198 FARs, with Fidelity providing a total of $990,000 in donations.
 
2025 Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists by Division and Position

• 79 Nominees from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
• 44 Nominees from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
• 15 Nominees from NCAA Division II
• 33 Nominees from NCAA Division III
• 7 Nominees from the NAIA
• 88 Offensive Players
• 76 Defensive Players
• 14 Special Teams Players

Bridges is a business administration major and currently holds a 3.375 cumulative GPA. The Walnut Hill, Fla., native is a one-time member of the Fall SAA Academic Honor Roll and has also made the Dean's List.

Bridges spends his time on campus leading Bible study for the Millsaps football team, where he has also conducted a research paper on American musician and songwriter Bob Dylan. He is also a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, a Presidential Ambassador and conducts play-by-play of Millsaps College Athletics events.

Last season, the talented defensive back made six starts for the Majors and appeared in all nine games. He helped Millsaps conclude its 2024 campaign with the most overall and conference wins since 2019.

In 20 career games in his third season, Bridges has 91 tackles, 58 solo tackles, four TFLs, one interception and one forced fumble.

After graduation Bridges plans to attend graduate school to continue his academic studies in the pursuit of an MBA.
 
Millsaps enters its bye week and returns to face Centre College in Danville, Ky., on Saturday, Oct. 4, beginning at 12 p.m. CT. Live video and live stats will be be provided at gomajors.com.
 
 
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College football program follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook and visit gomajors.com.   
 
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.