We love celebrating athletes whose on-the-field success is matched with their off-the-field success, so we’re excited to write about Benedict College defensive end Loobert Denelus and North Carolina Central University quarterback Davius Richard.
On Wednesday, the star HBCU football players were named as finalists for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, which is “college football’s premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.”
The two players were among 14 other standout student-athletes from across the country to be honored by The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame. The 16 students will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and the winner will have his scholarship increased to $25,000.
Denelus, a senior, is a two-year captain, 2022 SIAC Champion and the 2022 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year who has dominated DII offenses during his career. Off the field, Denelus is active in the community, is a psychology major and maintains a 3.96 GPA, the second-highest of the 16 finalists.
He’s also the only player representing DII.
“I was definitely surprised,” said Denelus after receiving the news. “I was very grateful for the way it was presented to me. To have all my teammates and coaches there, and to see their smiles on their faces, meant a lot to me.”
The other HBCU player from the list of 16 exemplary athletes is NCCU QB, Davius Richard.
A senior hailing from Belle Glade, Florida, Richard, according to NCCU’s website, becomes the first the Eagles’ first NFF National Scholar-Athlete in school history.
On the field, Davius is a three-time captain, the 2022 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, a 2022 Celebration Bowl Champion, a 2022 MEAC champion, a 2x All-MEAC selection and one of the greatest QBs in Eagles’ history.
And his off-the-field resume is just as impressive.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude last December and is working toward his MBA. He maintains a 3.59 GPA and is the 2023 FCS Athletics Directors Association (ADA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year, made the FCS ADA Academic All-Star and the CSC Academic All-District teams in 2022, and was a member of the 2023 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
Loobert and Davius will join the 14 other finalists selected from a record 201 semifinalists at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 65th annual NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 5th where the winner will be announced.
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