IRVING, Texas -- Bates senior captain linebacker Ryan Rozich has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award, as announced Wednesday by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.

On the field last year, Rozich (Cromwell, Conn.) became the first Bobcat in program history to be named first team All-Region by D3football.com. He was named to the Division II/III All-New England Team by the New England Football Writers and was first team All-NESCAC at linebacker. Rozich ranked first in the NESCAC and sixth in all of NCAA Division III last year with 12.1 tackles per game. He also tied for the team lead with 5.5 tackles for loss. Rozich was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week as well as the NESCAC Special Teams Player of the Week after he stepped in at long snapper (a position he hadn't played since high school) and recovered a fumble against Tufts. He also tallied 12 total tackles, with four solo stops in the 35-28 win over the Jumbos. 

Off the field, he is the leader of the Root Cellar Toy Drive, where Bates football players collect and deliver gifts for the non-profit community center that cultivates social, economic and spiritual wholeness for disadvantaged youth. Back home in Cromwell, he coaches and mentors youth football players, ages 6-12. The politics major and law & society minor maintains an impressive 3.96 grade point average. He was selected to the College Sports Communicators Football Academic All-District® Team in both 2024 and 2025, is a two-time NESCAC Fall All-Academic selection, and earned the Stephan B. Ritter Award in both 2024 and 2025 for having a top-10 GPA on the Bates football team.

"Ryan Rozich is one of the finest leaders and players I have had the privilege of coaching," head coach Matt Coyne said. "As a two-year captain and multi-year all-conference player, Ryan has consistently demonstrated what it means to lead by example. His work ethic in the classroom, on the field, and within the community is truly outstanding. He approaches every aspect of his life with dedication, discipline, and a commitment to excellence. Ryan's impact extends far beyond his accomplishments as an athlete—he is the type of person teammates look up to, coaches can depend on, and communities are better because of. He is not only one of the best players I have had the pleasure to coach, but also one of the best leaders I have been around." 

Celebrating its 37th year, the Campbell Trophy^® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted. During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.