KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Tennessee linebacker, Keenan Pili, has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy.

He is among 203 semifinalists, a record-breaking number for the National Football Foundation.

The Campbell Trophy is celebrating its 35th year of recognizing the best football scholar athlete in the nation.

Players are chosen based on their football performance, academic success, and exemplary leadership.

“We are incredibly proud of this year’s semifinalists, who embody the true spirit of the Campbell Trophy,” said Steve Hatchell, NFF President and CEO. “

The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates.”

Pili is a Red-shirt Senior here at the university who was unable to compete during the 2023-24 season due to a season-opening injury against the Virginia Cavaliers. So far this season, he has made 14 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss for a Tennessee Defense that’s holding opponents to just seven points per game.

Against Oklahoma, Pili hurried the quarterback two times to return the ball to the Tennessee offense.