Sherrod named Semifinalist for Campbell Trophy

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State senior offensive lineman Derek Sherrod was named a semifinalist for the 2010 William V. Campbell Trophy, The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced on Thursday. Sherrod, seeking his Master's in Sports Administration after earning his Bachelor's Degree in Business, is one of 121 semifinalists for the award. The NFF Awards Committee will select 15 finalists as part of the 2010 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, and each finalist will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship.

Sherrod is a three-year starter at left tackle, and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference team following the 2009 season. A preseason all-SEC selection prior to his senior campaign, Sherrod was the conference's Offensive Lineman of the Week following the Bulldogs' win over Georgia last Saturday. Last season, the Columbus, Miss., native helped pave the way for Mississippi State to the lead the SEC and finish ninth in the nation in rushing.

Named twice to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Sherrod graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business with a focus on financial risk management, insurance and financial planning. He finished his undergraduate studies with a 3.54 grade point average, and has a 4.0 mark in graduate school.

Each semifinalist is nominated by their school, which is limited to one nominee. Each must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and has demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

The NFF Awards Committee will announce the finalists on Thursday, Oct. 28, with the winner named at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 7.