PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Navy offensive guard E.K. Binns has been chosen as one of 12 finalists for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the top scholar-athlete in college football. The announcement was made Thursday by the National Football Foundation.
As a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, Binns will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. One of the 12 members of the Scholar-Athlete Class will receive the Campbell Trophy and have his scholarship increased to $25,000.
Binns was selected from a national pool of 135 semifinalists, spanning all three NCAA divisions as well as the NAIA.
Binns, who carries a 3.43 grade-point average as an economics major, was a 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and is a key component of Navy’s offense, which ranks fifth nationally in rushing this season and was second nationally in 2013 and 2014.
Binns is the ninth NFF Scholar-Athlete Class selection from Navy.
The other members of the NFF Scholar-Athlete Class are Ohio State center Jacoby Boren, UCLA center Jake Brendel, Mississippi State defensive back Taveze Calhoun, Montana defensive end Derek Crittenden, Oklahoma center Ty Darlington, Nevada linebacker Jordan Dobrich, Baylor offensive tackle Spencer Drango, Massachusetts quarterback Blake Frohnapfel, Kent State safety Jordan Italiano, Mount Union linebacker Hank Spencer, and Ferris State quarterback Jason Vander Laan.
Binns and the other member of the Scholar-Athlete Class will be recognized Dec. 8 in New York at the 58th NFF Annual Awards Dinner.