Central Michigan University Athletics
Ostman Named Semifinalist For Prestigious Award
9/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan's Joe Ostman is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
Ostman is the third Chippewa in the 60-year history of the award to be named a semifinalist. The others are quarterback Cooper Rush (2016) and tight end Bob Stebbins (1987).
"It's a great honor to be recognized and to be one of the semifinalists," CMU coach John Bonamego said. "It shows that, truly, you can accomplish anything here at Central Michigan. To excel at an extremely high level both academically and on the football field is an incredible accomplishment. I'm very proud of Joe and, hopefully, we'll have other guys in the future who qualify."
Ostman, a senior defensive end from Mackinaw City, is one of 181 semifinalists. The award is presented by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.
The organization will announce 12 to 14 finalists on Nov. 1. Each finalist receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class.
Ostman, a general management major who carries a 3.68 grade point average, has recorded 20 tackles including three sacks this season. He has made 17 sacks in his career, which ties him for sixth in program history.
He is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection, a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete, and last season earned Second Team All-MAC honors and was named CMU's Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
The finalists will attend the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York on Dec. 5 where their respective accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Rush attended the dinner last year as a finalist. One member of the class will be declared as the winner of the Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
