Contact: Mike Wajerski, Lake Forest College Sports Information Director, wajerski@lakeforest.edu

LAKE FOREST, Illinois -- The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced Wednesday the 178 semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy®, including Lake Forest College senior safety Thomas DeChesaro.

The Campbell Trophy® is college football's premier scholar-athlete award. The impressive list of candidates boasts an impressive 3.60 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees.
 
Celebrating its 36th 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.

DeChesaro was a Second Team All-Midwest Conference selection last fall and has twice been named MWC Defensive Performer of the Week. He has seven career interceptions, including one he returned 41 yards for a touchdown in the 2023 season finale. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native has been a starter throughout his time as a Forester and also has 142 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and fumble recovery, and a blocked kick on his career stat line. He has helped lead Lake Forest to a pair of conference championships and NCAA Division III Playoff appearances and is in his second season as a team captain.

A business major, Esposito is a three-time Academic All-MWC honoree and two-time Academic All-District® selection by College Sports Communicators. He has participated in Best Buddies Program and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, coached youth baseball, and had three internships during his time at the College.

"Thomas is everything we want in our players," began Lake Forest College Head Football and Assistant Vice President for Athletics Coach Jim Catanzaro. "He is a scholar who is excellent on and off the field, as well as a top 1% leader during my career with a passion for advancing his teammates and team success over his own accolades. His drive to be a part of something bigger than himself is an example for our entire athletic department."

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on October 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on December 9, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports.
 
Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 36th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. 
 
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, 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.