Rutgers' Quron Pratt, of Palmyra, Named Semifinalist for National Award

Rutgers University wide receiver Quron Pratt, a senior from Palmyra, has been named a semifinalist for a national award that recognizes both athletic ability and excellence in the classroom.

Pratt was named a semifinalist for the 2013 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced Tuesday morning.

The award requires a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 and status as a first-team football player or significant contributor, as well as strong leadership and community service, according to the University.

The committee that selects the class of 170 students from across the nation is made up of members of the media and the College Football Hall of Fame, and athletics administrators.

Pratt earned his undergraduate degree as a sociology and labor and employment relations double major. He is currently studying sociology as a graduate student, according to the University.

He’s started all six games this season, and has 14 catches for 179 yards, according to scarletknights.com.

His kickoff return for a touchdown against Eastern Michigan earlier this season earned him American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

He was named to the Big East All-Academic Team in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and made the Dean’s List twice. He’s played 41 total games in his college career.

“We are extremely proud to highlight each semifinalist’s achievements, which show that football players can balance between academics and athletics at the highest level,” NFF President and CEO Steven J. Hatchell said in a prepared statement. “There is no question that the NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from among this esteemed group.”

The class of 170 is the largest in the history of the award, which was launched in 1959, according to footballfoundation.org. 

Players at all levels of college football are recognized.

The committee will select 16 recipients, to be announced on Oct. 31. Each recipient will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and compete for the William V. Campbell Trophy, to be awarded in New York on Dec. 10 during an awards dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria.

Pratt is attempting to become the second Scarlet Knight to win the award. Brian Leonard won the award in 2006. Duron Harmon was a nominee for the trophy, named for Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF’s Gold Medal.

The Gold Medal is a 25-pound bronze trophy that increases the amount of the recipient’s grant by $7,000 for a total post-graduate scholarship of $25,000.