FAYETTEVILLE - With a University of Arkansas bachelor’s and masters diplomas already on his wall, a football 2020 Second-Team All-American/First-Team All-SEC on his resume and the middle linebacker defensive spearhead helping the Razorbacks to a stunning 4-0 start and No. 8 national ranking, Grant Morgan was named among the 176 semifinalists Wednesday morning considered for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

The Campbell Trophy, which also involves football prowess, has been called college football’s academic version of the Heisman Trophy.

A sixth-year senior and originally a Razorbacks walk-on from Greenwood, Morgan took advantage of the NCAA rule allowing 2020 eligibility to be restored to 2021 because covid so disrupted and altered the 2020 season. He was named a team captain for the second consecutive season.

I 2020 Morgan posted a team-leading 111 tackles, 7.5 for losses including two sacks, intercepted a pass he returned for a touchdown, broke up five passes and was credited with one quarterback hurry.

Going into Arkansas’ 11 a.m. ESPN televised SEC game at nationally No. 2 Georgia Morgan, despite missing the bulk of three quarters of the season opener against Rice because of a targeting penalty, this season has made 25 tackles, 3.5 for lost yardage, picked up right where he left off. Through four games in 2021, he is fourth on the Hogs in tackles (25) and third in tackles for loss (3.5) with 0.5 sacks and two pass breakups. He was credited with hurrying Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada into three incompletions in last Saturday’s 20-10 SEC victory over the then nationally seventh ranked Aggies