DALLAS, Texas – Senior football player Patrick Ford was named a semifinalist for the 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy today as announced by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). The trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the award must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of 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. 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.

The 147 semifinalists include football players from NCAA Division I FBS and FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA. Ford, a native of Richmond, Ky., is one of just two OVC players on the distinguished list.

Ford is now in his third year as a starter on the EKU offensive line. He has lined up at both guard and tackle in his time with the Colonels, but has spent the majority of the 2011 and 2012 seasons at left tackle. A preseason third team All-America selection by The Sports Network, Ford earned his bachelor’s degree this past May in construction management with a 3.9 GPA. He is now pursuing a master’s degree in applied engineering and technical management.

The NFF Awards Committee will select up to 16 finalists, and the results will be announced via a national press release on Thursday, Oct. 25. Each finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and they will then vie for the 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy. All 16 members of the 2012 National Scholar-Athlete Class will also travel to New York City to be honored Dec. 4 during the 55th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. One member of the class will also be announced live at the event as the winner of the Campbell Trophy.

For more information on the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF), and to find the complete semifinalist list, please visit www.footballfoundation.org.

No. 19 Eastern Kentucky (3-1, 1-0 OVC) is on the road this Saturday in a conference battle against UT Martin. The game will be televised by FOX College Sports beginning at 12 p.m. ET.