Founded in 1959 , the award is presented each season to the nation 's top scholar-athletes for excellence in academics , athletics and leadership . Fifteen to seventeen scholar-athletes are chosen from the NCAA Divisions I ( both I-A/FBS and I-AA/FCS ) , II and III and the NAIA and awarded a $ 18,000 scholarship . One of the recipients is chosen and awarded the William V. Campbell Trophy ( formerly the Draddy Trophy )
William V. Campbell Trophy
William V. Campbell Trophy
National Football Foundation