AUBURN, Ala. – AUBURN, Ala. – Recognized for his academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership, Auburn's Anders Carlson has been named one of 15 finalists for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's top scholar-athlete award.
Carlson will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2022 National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments, the College Hall of Fame and NFF announced Wednesday.
"It's a huge honor," the fifth-year kicker said. "On the field, it's a credit to my teammates: long snappers, holders and the O-line. Off the field, it's surrounding myself with good people and doing what I was taught to do and feel called to do."
Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin shared the good news with the Tigers after Tuesday's practice, using Carlson's award to reinforce his coaching principle that hard work does not go unnoticed.
"Anders exemplifies everything that's great about college football," Harsin said. "He's an outstanding football player, academically he's off the charts, he's an excellent leader and he gives back enthusiastically to our community."
Carlson becomes only the fifth NFF scholar-athlete award recipient in Auburn history, joining Ed Dyas (1960), John Cochran (1965), Greg Carr (1985) and Dontarrious Thomas (2003).
Just the second two-time Academic All-American in Auburn football history, Carlson has already earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Auburn University while excelling as an All-America kicker. The Colorado Springs, Colorado, native becomes the Tigers' fifth NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
After graduating summa cum laude with a 3.92 GPA in professional flight management in 2020, Carlson earned his MBA in December 2021 with a perfect 4.0 GPA while also earning a graduate certificate in cybersecurity management. A two-time First Team Academic All-American, he is also a two-time First Team Academic All-District honoree. The 1A FAR Academic Excellence Award recipient was an Academic Top Tiger and a member of the SEC Academic honor roll.
Anders graduated in 2020 with a 3.92 GPA in professional flight management, then earned an MBA
This season, Carlson leads the team in scoring with 42 points after connecting on 80% (8-10) of his field goals and 100% of his PATs (18-18). The game captain also handles kickoffs for the Tigers, averaging 63.1 yards per kick with 12 touchbacks.
In 2020, Carlson was named a Second Team All-American and a First Team All-SEC selection after connecting on 90% of his field goals. He helped the Tigers to a No. 14 national ranking in 2019 as well as four straight postseason appearances, including a win in the 2018 Music City Bowl. Carlson ranks second all-time at Auburn in scoring (394) and made field goals (75), sitting behind his brother Daniel, a 2017 Campbell Trophy semifinalist. Those marks are also good for sixth and eighth in SEC history, respectively.
With plans to be a full-time pilot, Carlson was accepted into the Delta Propel program, which provides an accelerated path to achieve the necessary qualifications to become a Delta Air Lines pilot. The 2022 AFCA Good Works Team member has volunteered with numerous organizations, including Mercy Me Medical, Bridge Builders and Church of the Highlands Dream Center, a mobile recreation center for low-income neighborhoods. He also went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The finalists will travel to Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 6, providing Anders a chance to visit Daniel, who's in his fifth season kicking for the Raiders and has made 39 consecutive field goals, the fifth longest streak in NFL history.
During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 33rd Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
"We are extremely proud to announce the finalists for this year's Campbell Trophy," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy recipient) and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "These young men have an unrelenting commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, and they represent all that is right in college football. As strong leaders in the vein of the trophy's namesake Bill Campbell, they all serve as living examples that the future for football is bright. We are excited to honor their hard work and outstanding leadership with postgraduate scholarships."
The trophy is named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, an All-Ivy League player and the captain of Columbia's 1961 Ivy League championship team who found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from Columbia football coach to advertising executive. His ability to recruit, develop and manage talented executives – all lessons learned on the gridiron – proved to be a critical component of his ability to inspire his business teams to the highest levels of success.
Time for a Carlson brother reunion in Las Vegas for the #NFFDinner!@DanielCarlson38 🤝 @_anderscarlson_ https://t.co/7bJYqEtIL8 pic.twitter.com/ZSx76O3bRv
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) October 26, 2022
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer