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USC’s Hank Pepper Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
September 26, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES — USC redshirt senior long snapper Hank Pepper has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.
Throughout his five-year career (3 seasons at Michigan State and 2 seasons at USC), Pepper, a Patrick Mannelly Award candidate, has seen action in in 39 games. He has recorded 12 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries.
As a redshirt junior in 2024, Pepper saw action in all 13 games as USC's starting long snapper. He tallied 9 fair catches forced, 6 downed punts and 3 tackles. He also recorded a crucial play against Wisconsin by recovering a muffed punt at the Badgers' 30-yard line. This play by Pepper gave the Trojans a short field which ultimately resulted in a USC score. He was double teamed or blocked in coverage multiple times throughout the season showing his impact on punt coverage. He recorded 1 tackle against LSU and 2 tackles against Nebraska. He was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team.
This season, he continues to see action as the Trojans' starting long snapper and remains a leader in the locker room.
"Hank exemplifies the culture of the USC Football program," said USC head coach Lincoln Riley. "He's a team leader on and off the field, he succeeds in the classroom and his work ethic is second to none. As one of the nation's top long snappers, Hank impacts the game with his outstanding execution as well as his exceptional punt coverage. He's relentlessly committed to excellence. Hank's energy is palpable, and he brings out the best in his teammates."
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.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive a $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 all of 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.
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.
Throughout his five-year career (3 seasons at Michigan State and 2 seasons at USC), Pepper, a Patrick Mannelly Award candidate, has seen action in in 39 games. He has recorded 12 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries.
As a redshirt junior in 2024, Pepper saw action in all 13 games as USC's starting long snapper. He tallied 9 fair catches forced, 6 downed punts and 3 tackles. He also recorded a crucial play against Wisconsin by recovering a muffed punt at the Badgers' 30-yard line. This play by Pepper gave the Trojans a short field which ultimately resulted in a USC score. He was double teamed or blocked in coverage multiple times throughout the season showing his impact on punt coverage. He recorded 1 tackle against LSU and 2 tackles against Nebraska. He was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team.
This season, he continues to see action as the Trojans' starting long snapper and remains a leader in the locker room.
"Hank exemplifies the culture of the USC Football program," said USC head coach Lincoln Riley. "He's a team leader on and off the field, he succeeds in the classroom and his work ethic is second to none. As one of the nation's top long snappers, Hank impacts the game with his outstanding execution as well as his exceptional punt coverage. He's relentlessly committed to excellence. Hank's energy is palpable, and he brings out the best in his teammates."
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.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive a $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 all of 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.
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.
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