COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland senior defensive back
Dante Trader Jr. has been named to both the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List as well as a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist.
The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year watchlist includes 52 of the nation's top leaders in college football. The student-athletes have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. The Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership, announced a record number of 203 semifinalists.
On the field, Trader Jr. has gotten off to a fast start this season, leading the team in total tackles (21) and solo tackles (12), and passes defended (three). In a 27-13 win over Virginia on Sept. 14, Trader Jr. led the defensive efforts in a second-half comeback with a career-high tying 11 tackles and an interception. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16 for his efforts.
The Delmar, DE native is a leader both on his team and in the community. He co-hosts the One Speed Podcast which tackles topics beyond football, organized a backpack drive last summer supplying over 200 fully-loaded backpacks for J.C. Nalle Elementary School in Washington, D.C, and frequently takes part in community service events where he works with underprivileged youth in the DMV area. Trader Jr. also excels in the classroom and was named 2023 CSC Academic All-District honoree.
Trader Jr. was also selected to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and was an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee.
Twenty semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will be announced on October 22. Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, December 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 12, 2025. The award is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund.
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.
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