IRVING, Texas – Recognized for his effort in the classroom, in the community, and on the gridiron, senior defensive back Julian Talley of the University of Pennsylvania football team was named a semifinalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation (NFF) on Wednesday evening.
 
Celebrating its 35th 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.
 
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 2024 season or graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and participating in the 2024 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, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
 
Talley was one of 203 semifinalists in the pool of FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA student-athletes.
 
A neuroscience major in Penn's College of Arts and Sciences, Talley was a research assistant at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) the last two summers and has been a student facilitator for the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy.
 
On the field, he's a two-year starter at defensive back and played all 10 games in 2023, making five starts at safety to close the year. He registered 35 total tackles with 14 solo stops and had one pass breakup. In the Quakers' opener Saturday at Delaware, Talley made six total tackles to pace the defense.
 
In the community, Talley is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was one of Penn Athletics' select attendees at the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angeles during the summer, and over four years he has participated in several food drives for the homeless in Philadelphia.
 
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 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 35th 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.
 
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