Jake Sell selected as semifinalist for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy®

IRVING, Texas – Jake Sell has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy®. Sell is a senior offensive lineman from Greeneville, Tenn. Sell is a Physical Education major with a 3.53 GPA and plans to graduate in May, 2019. He is a member of Mars Hill's Dean's List and was a member of the Academic All-District Super Region 2 team in 2017.

Sell is one of 179 semifinalists from all three NCAA divisions and the NAIA recognized as semifinalists by the NFF. Each student-athlete must be in his final year of eligibility, have a GPA of 3.2 or higher, have outstanding football ability, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

Sell also excels on the field. He is a team captain and has started on the offensive line for the Lions in 27 of 28 games in his career. The last two seasons he has starting at center. In 2017, Sell had an 85% overall blocking grade, 87% pass blocking grade and an 83% run blocking grade. The team averaged 413.5 yards of total offense in 2017, 410.5 yards of total offense in 2016 and 408.6 yards of total offense in 2015. This season, Mars Hill is averaging 460.0 yards of total offense in four games played.

Sell is also active in the community. He is a Math assistant at Mars Hill University; Supplemental Instructor at MHU (he provides study hours for students outside of the class and helps students during basic English classes); and a tutor for several MHU athletes. He also worked with the football team helping remodel the sanctuary at Mars Hill Baptist Church.

Head Football Coach Tim Clifton stated, "Jake is not only a very good football player, he has impeccable character and leadership skills."

Recognizing one of the most impressive groups of scholar-athletes in the history of college football, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) proudly announced today the 179 semifinalists for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy®. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Fidelity Investments is a proud partner of the Campbell Trophy®.

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 31, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 60th NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 4, 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 29th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

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

Click here to view the full release by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame…