NEW YORK – Duke University senior David Helton was named the 2014 William V. Campbell Trophy recipient on Tuesday
evening as part of the 57th annual National Football Foundation (NFF) Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The award recognizes an individual who is deemed the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Helton becomes the first Duke student-athlete to receive the Campbell Trophy and is awarded a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship. He was the third straight Blue Devil to be named an NFF Scholar-Athlete, joining Sean Renfree (2012) and Perry Simmons (2013).

“First and foremost, congratulations to David and his family for this incredible honor,” said head coach David Cutcliffe, who also mentored 1997 Campbell Trophy recipient Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee. “David’s personality, work ethic and drive to be successful combine for achievements like this one, and it all starts with his parents. I couldn’t be happier for Keith and Mary to watch their son experience this great journey.”

Helton is just the second ACC student-athlete to be honored, joining Virginia’s Thomas D. Burns (1993).

Last week, Helton was named to the Atlantic Sports Media Association All-ACC first team and a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. The Chattanooga, Tenn., product owns a 3.63 grade point average as a psychology major and was a Capital One/CoSIDA First Team Academic All-America selection and is a three-time Academic All-ACC Football Team honoree.

Helton is the eighth Duke player to earn first team Academic All-America honors and the fourth to receive Academic All-America and All-ACC honors in the same season, joining Simmons (2012-13), Shawn Johnson (2002) and Bill Jones (1965).

On the field, Helton leads the ACC and ranks 15th nationally in tackles per game (10.42). In total tackles, he tops the league (125) and stands 11th nationally. He owns six games with double figure tackles in 2014 and is now tied for 10th in Duke history with 338 career tackles.

William V. Campbell Trophy Winners
2014 David Helton Duke University
2013 John Urschel Penn State University
2012 Barrett Jones University of Alabama
2011 Andrew Rodriguez United States Military Academy
2010 Sam Acho University of Texas
2009 Tim Tebow University of Florida
2008 Alex Mack University of California-Berkeley
2007 Dallas Griffin University of Texas
2006 Brian Leonard Rutgers University
2005 Rudy Niswanger Louisiana State University
2004 Michael Munoz University of Tennessee
2003 Craig Krenzel Ohio State University
2002 Brandon Roberts Washington University in St. Louis
2001 Joaquin Gonzalez University of Miami
2000 Kyle Vanden Bosch University of Nebraska
1999 Chad Pennington Marshall University
1998 Matt Stinchcomb University of Georgia
1997 Peyton Manning University of Tennessee
1996 Danny Wuerffel University of Florida
1995 Bobby Hoying Ohio State University
1994 Robert B. Zatechka University of Nebraska
1993 Thomas D. Burns University of Virginia
1992 Jim Hansen University of Colorado
1991 Brad Culpepper University of Florida
1990 Chris Howard United States Air Force Academy