Sleva named semifinalist for Campbell Trophy

9/25/2025 4:50:00 PM

IRVING, Texas--The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) named Westminster College senior Dylan Sleva (McDonald, Pa., Moon) one of its 33 Division III semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy^®, the organization announced Wednesday morning.

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.

This year, a remarkable list of 178 semifinalists were nominated for the Campbell Trophy^®from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA. Nominated by their schools, candidates must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2025 season or graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and participating in the 2025 season; have a grade-point average (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.

"This year's 178 semifinalists represent the very best of what it means to play college football," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy^® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "They have excelled in the classroom, distinguished themselves on the field, and proven to be leaders in their communities. The Campbell Trophy^® stands as a reminder that football develops complete individuals, and these young men embody that tradition at the highest level."

Sleva, a biology major, is also pursuing a minor in secondary education. He currently owns a 3.26 cumulative GPA. After completing his undergraduate degree and certifications related to the secondary education minor, he plans on pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Sleva was also named a nominee for the 2025 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team^® on July 15.

A linebacker, Sleva was recognized as a Second Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) selection for the second-straight year last fall. A starter in all 11 games as a junior, his 105 tackles (61 solo) were the second-most in the league. He added 10.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. Sleva finished the year with double-digit tackles in six games, including a season-high 16 stops (10 solo) in a 27-13 win over Marietta in the Opendorse Bowl Series' Extra Points Bowl on Nov. 23 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Sleva was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Sept. 23 after registering his fifth-straight game with a dozen or more tackles in last Saturday's 28-23 victory over Case Western Reserve at DiSanto Field, finishing with 15 stops (10 solo). He added a sack in the opening quarter. Sleva currently leads all Division III players in total tackles, with 53 (24-29). He finished with a career-high 25 tackles (9 solo) Sept. 4 against Marietta, the most by a Division III player since Grinnell's Hugh Werner had 26 (7 solo) in a 14-7 loss to Knox on Oct. 21, 2023. It's also the fourth-most in PAC history and highest total since Grove City's Scott Fraser made 28 stops against Carnegie Mellon on Oct. 31, 1992.

Sleva has served as a volunteer with the College's Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) program and Special Olympics Lawrence County, assisting with initial visitor registration for an annual spring event on campus that welcomes hundreds of Special Olympics athletes from seven local counties for a basketball tournament, swim meet and, for the first time, a track and field event in 2025. He has volunteered at Wilmington Field Day, Wilmington Area Elementary School's annual visit to campus, where Westminster student-athletes run basketball, track, football, golf, volleyball, soccer, tennis and lacrosse activities that keep the visiting students and College student-athletes engaged. Sleva has helped lead the football program's participation in the annual Toys for Tots campaign while assisting the United States Marine Corps with its annual toy drive and distribution and worked with other members of the football program to clean up local parks around the New Wilmington community.

The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each 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 Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 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.

"We are honored to celebrate such an extraordinary group of student-athletes as semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy®," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Their accomplishments reflect the lasting impact of our game — building character, discipline, and leadership, extending far beyond football. Selecting finalists from this outstanding class will be a tremendous challenge, but it's a challenge that underscores the unique prestige of this award."

Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 67th year in 2025. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 938 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $13.2 million.

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