DALLAS – Auburn quarterback Barrett Trotter was one of 127 candidates for the NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame announced Thursday. The 127 nominees also comprise the list of semifinalists for the 2011 William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation.

Trotter is also one of three Southeastern Conference players nominated for the award, joining Georgia punter Drew Butler and Kentucky offensive lineman Stuart Hines.

“This year’s candidates truly embody the National Football Foundation’s mission of building leaders through football,“ said NFF Chairman Archie Manning whose sons Peyton (1997 Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “They are standouts in the classroom and on the field and have become leaders in their respective communities. Each school should take great pride in being represented by such well-rounded young men who will undoubtedly go on to do great things in life.“

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must 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.

“The NFF would like to personally congratulate each of the nominees for maintaining such high standards throughout their collegiate careers,“ said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “We are extremely proud to showcase their achievements, and there is no question that the NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the final group of honorees from among this esteemed group.“

Trotter, a Birmingham native, graduated from Auburn in August 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, finishing with a 3.34 GPA. He has since started work on a master’s degree in public administration.

He has twice been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and was named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll as a freshman. Trotter has also been named an Auburn Academic Top Tiger in each of his years on campus. He has been active in community service and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus, serving as the football team’s representative to FCA. After tornados ravaged Alabama on April 27, 2011, Trotter returned to his home area to assist in cleanup and help those that were in need. He has been active in speaking at local schools and churches, mentoring youth groups, and has contributed to the SEC’s We Can Food Drive and Auburn’s Toys for Tots program.

The NFF Awards Committee will select up to 16 recipients, and the results will be announced via a national press release on Wednesday, October 26. Each recipient will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and they will vie as finalists for the 2011 William V. Campbell Trophy. Each member of the 2011 National Scholar-Athlete Class will also travel to New York City be honored December 6 during the 54th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. One member of the class will also be announced live at the event as the winner of the Campbell Trophy.

Courtesy Auburn Athletic Media Relations