Billy Taylor named semifinalist for Campbell Trophy

The National Football Foundation named Rutgers’ Billy Taylor as a 2020 semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s top football scholar-athlete. He is the first player in the program to be named a semifinalist since Zack Heeman in 2018. Rutgers legend Brian Leonard won the prestigious award in 2006.

If Taylor is named a finalist for the Campbell Trophy (12-14 will be announced), he would be awarded an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The winner of the award would win a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship and would appear on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show (virtually) on ESPN at the end of season, along with taking home the bronze trophy.

The finance major is entering his fourth year at Rutgers. He has twice been named an Academic All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.

Taylor has been a consistent performer on special teams the previous three seasons and has played in 36 straight games. Last season, he was part of a unit that has set the program record for a second straight year with a net punt of 41.5 yards, which was tops in the Big Ten. During the preseason ahead of the 2020 campaign, Taylor was named to the Patrick Mannelly Award watch list and named a First Team All-Big Ten distinction by Phil Steele.