Josh Kattus Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Kentucky senior tight end Josh Kattus has been named one of the 177 semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, announced today by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF).
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2025 season or a graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and is participating in the 2025 season; 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, NFF College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
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.
Kattus, a native of Cincinnati, is a senior communication major who is on track to graduate in December of ’25. He boasts a 3.789 grade point average and is also set to receive an undergraduate certificate in business from UK.
The three-year letterwinner has become a role model on and off the field through his unwavering commitment to service, humility and leadership by example.
In three games, he has been selected a game captain twice, vs. Toledo and Ole Miss, and currently leads the team in receptions (8) and receiving yards (112).
But his leadership extends far beyond the field, where he actively represents his teammates and fellow student-athletes at the highest levels. He currently represents UK Football on UK’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), is a member of the SEC Football Leadership Council and represents the SEC on the NCAA Football Oversight Committee’s Student-Athlete Connection Group.
He also leads the team in community service efforts, volunteering each week at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital, spearheading a shoe drive for Camp Horsin’ Around, participating the last two years in Dancing with the Lexington Stars, helping raise nearly $50K for various non-profit organizations.
For his outreach efforts, Kattus has been named to the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and is a current semifinalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 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 & 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 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.
The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the program’s prestige. Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the storied venue.
