IRVING, TX – Johns Hopkins senior tackle JR Woods is one of 15 finalists for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy it was announced today by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame.  The 15 finalists will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®.
 
Woods becomes the second finalist in Johns Hopkins history as he joins John Arena '14 on the distinguished list of Blue Jays to be honored.  Among the 15 finalists, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 33rd Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
 
The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 6, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports.  There, the 2022 Campbell Trophy® winner will be announced.
 
"We are extremely proud to announce the finalists for this year's Campbell Trophy®," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® recipient) and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "These young men have an unrelenting commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, and they represent all that is right in college football. As strong leaders in the vein of the trophy's namesake Bill Campbell, they all serve as living examples that the Future for Football is bright. We are excited to honor their hard work and outstanding leadership with postgraduate scholarships."
 
Woods, one of just three finalists from an NCAA Division III program, is in his second year as a starter on the offensive line for the Blue Jays.  After transferring to Johns Hopkins after his freshman year, the 2020 season was promptly canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Since stepping on the field in 2021, Woods has been a key figure of a Blue Jay team that has won 16-of-18 games, claimed a share of the 2021 Centennial Conference title and advanced the second round of the NCAA Playoffs last season.  Currently, the Blue Jays are 7-0 and ranked sixth in the latest AFCA rankings and seventh by D3football.com.
 
Last season, Woods earned First Team AP All-America, Second Team D3football.com All-America, First Team D3football.com All-Region and First Team All-Centennial Conference honors.  He was also the Centennial Conference Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year after anchoring an offensive line that paved the way for the Blue Jays to set school records for points (46.5) and passing yards (346.8) per game.  In addition to his conference and national honors, Woods was also named Johns Hopkins' Outstanding Junior Male Athlete.
 
Woods is majoring in economics and carries a 3.65 cumulative GPA.  He worked over the summer as an investment banking analyst at Stifel Financial, and he previously worked as a real estate investment analyst for Clearview Real Estate Partners. Woods has volunteered at the Johns Hopkins Food Pantry, participated in the Be the Match Bone Marrow registration drive and aided special needs adults through the Best Buddies Club. During the COVID pandemic, Woods was an assistant factory manager at AJ Siris Products Corporation, helping manufacture and distribute more than one million masks.
 
Following the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, the recipient of the 2022 Campbell Trophy® will be honored at several other prestigious events. On Thursday, Dec. 8, he will be interviewed live during the "The Home Depot College Football Awards" on ESPN. Then on Monday, Dec. 12, a reception will be held in his honor at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), the official home of the trophy since 2013. Finally, he will travel to Los Angeles to be honored on the field during the College Football Playoff National Championship at SoFi Stadium on Jan. 9.
 
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 64th year in 2022. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments.
 
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the Campbell Trophy® must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, 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.