DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University senior offensive tackle
Jordan Steckler has been named a semifinalist for the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy, which annually recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation and is selected from across every division of college football. The National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame announced the 185 semifinalists for the award on Wednesday.
"I'm extremely proud of Jordan and his work not only as a leader on our football team but a leader on our campus and in the community," said NIU head coach
Thomas Hammock. "He exemplifies everything we look for in a student-athlete and what we are pushing each member of our team to become."
Steckler, who has started 34 games of his 38-game NIU career, is a 2017 third-team All-MAC selection. A versatile lineman, he has played both guard and tackle and helped lead the way to 19 100-yard rushing games by Huskie backs over the last four seasons as a starter.
A three-time Academic All-MAC honoree, Steckler carries a 3.62 grade point average and is pursuing his degree in management with an emphasis on leadership. Steckler, who was on the NIU College of Business Dean's List the last two semesters, will earn his bachelor's degree in December.
One of 12 players selected by teammates to the 2019 NIU Football Leadership Council, Steckler has volunteered at many community service events in the DeKalb-Sycamore area. He assisted in numerous elementary school fun fairs, a tornado clean up in an adjacent town in 2015 and helped lead the NIU Football Women's Clinic. Steckler is also active with the Kishwaukee Special Recreation Association, which works with people with disabilities and helps them during recreational programs.
A native of Two Rivers, Wis., Steckler is one of 71 semifinalists from the Football Subdivision and one of eight MAC players on the semifinalist list.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 30, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2019 NFF Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists will travel to New York for the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 10, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front 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 30th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000
The Huskies (1-2) return to action Saturday, Sept. 28 when NIU travels to Vanderbilt to face the Commodores. Kickoff is set for 11 p.m. CT and will be televised on the SEC Network. Fans can also listen via radio on the Huskie Sports Network. The Huskies return home Saturday, Oct. 5 when they open MAC play against Ball State. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and tickets are available now online at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).
-NIU-
