Markgraf Named a Semifinalist for William V. Campbell Trophy
IRVING, Texas – University of Utah senior long snapper Keegan Markgraf has been named a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy, as announced on Wednesday by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame. Now in its 32nd season, the award is presented annually to the top scholar-athlete across all of college football.
Markgraf is one of 176 semifinalists nationally, and one of 17 specialists. Nominees must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2, have outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
The NFF will announce between 12 and 14 finalists for the award on Oct. 27, each of whom will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments.
Markgraf, an economics major from Hamilton, Ontario, has been named to the University of Utah Dean's List three times and to the Athletics Director's Honor Roll six times. He is a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic pick, and was tabbed CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team in 2019.
The former walk-on earned a scholarship in Fall 2019 and ultimately went on to be named a Patrick Mannelly Award semifinalist (2020) and special teams captain (2021). He has appeared in 37 games as a Ute since 2018 and was named Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention last season. In his Utah career, Markgraf has provided 197 snaps (81 punt, 31 FG, 85 PAT).
Among his 37 snaps in the current season, Markgraf's aid has set up two made field goals of 43 and 47 yards, with placekicker Jadon Redding's 47-yarder (Sept. 11 at BYU) coming in the pouring rain. At the time, it was the longest make in the Pac-12 this year. Markgraf also has snapped for freshman punter Cameron Peasley, who is averaging 42.9 yards per punt along with three 50-plus yard attempts, four fair catches and a touchback. Four of Peasley's punts have been downed to date.
Off the field, Markgraf is incredibly active in the community. On campus, he participates in the Ute Academy, a program designed to help student-athletes become well-rounded as they transition from the U into the next chapter of their lives. Markgraf additionally contributes to Utah Athletics' "Trunk or Treat" event each year, providing local families and children a safe environment to trick-or-treat.
Across Salt Lake City and beyond, Markgraf is a leading ambassador for Utah football and the greater university. He has partnered with Backman Elementary School in the Fairpark neighborhood of SLC, making appearances to read to students. He has volunteered annually with the Spina Bifida Walk, and during the 2020-21 academic year, Markgraf also led a Zoom Q&A session with youth football teams across his native Canada.