Already a decorated player for the Hillsdale College football team, Shea Ruddy added another honor that ranks among the most prestigious he's earned on Wednesday.

Ruddy was announced as one of 206 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy® in a press release by the National Football Foundation. The list is a who's who of the best student-athletes college football has to offer, and Ruddy gives the Chargers a player who has made the cut four years in a row.

The Campbell Trophy®, awarded annually by the National Football Foundation, is considered by many to be the "Academic" Heisman and one of the most prestigious honors a college football player can receive. Celebrating its 37th year, the Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

Ruddy is one of a record-setting 206 semifinalists from all divisions of college football. Collectively, the semifinalists boast a 3.64 average GPA and include 130 team captains, 24 All-Americans and 98 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees.

"Every year, I'm amazed by what these young men are able to accomplish," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "Playing college football takes an enormous commitment, and to perform at a high level on the field while also excelling in the classroom and serving as a leader on campus is something special. These 206 semifinalists have a lot to be proud of, and it's a privilege to recognize their accomplishments."

Ruddy is one of those 130 team captains and among the 24 players to have received All-American honors in his career, making him an excellent fit for the award alongside his superior academic performance, leadership and commitment to community service. 

On the field, Ruddy has been one of college football's most versatile players and most electric return men at any level of the game. A 2025 consensus NCAA DII All-American, including receiving first-team honors from the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association, Ruddy led all levels of college football with 960 kickoff return yards and three return touchdowns last season. In three games in 2026, Ruddy's only been kicked to three times as teams look to try and keep the ball out of his hands, but one of those three attempts he returned to the house for a 96-yard score against McKendree. For his career, his 1,812 return yards and six return touchdowns are both Hillsdale College and Great Midwest Athletic Conference records, and he's twice been named the G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.

Ruddy is more than just a returner though, ranking in the top 10 all-time at Hillsdale in both career receiving yards (1,877) and touchdowns (22) while adding another 577 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He was the only player in NCAA DII in 2025 and one of just a few in history to record a passing, rushing, receiving and kickoff return touchdown in the same season. He's also a leader on the field for the Chargers, being named a team captain for the 2026 campaign. 

Off the field, Ruddy also has excelled in the classroom at Hillsdale, earning back-to-back CSC Academic All-American honors in 2024 and 2025 while pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. He's on track to graduate from Hillsdale with high honors and is planning to attend medical school to become a doctor after graduation. He's also been very active in community service, becoming just the second Hillsdale player to make the prestigious AFCA Allstate Good Works Team for his volunteer work, including assisting emergency room and surgical staff at local Hillsdale hospital, and serving as the chair of the Hillsdale College football program's Be The Match bone marrow registry drive, as well as a host for Hillsdale's annual Victory Day program for local residents with special needs. Along with those initiatives, he's also volunteered at youth football camps, assisted with the Hillsdale football team's annual Military Appreciation Day dinner and the Wreaths Across America program, and also spent time reading to children in Hillsdale County elementary schools.

"Shea is someone that lives his life the way he plays the game of football -- he goes above and beyond what is expected and he's always trying to make the biggest positive impact he can on the people around him," Hillsdale football coach Nate Shreffler said. "He works extremely hard to make a difference at everything he does, and that's what sets him apart.

"He's a great person and a great representative of our team and this institution. I'm very happy to see him receive this honor."

The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.