DALLAS -- Tusculum College's Jarrell NeSmith has been named one of the 16 national finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, announced the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) on Thursday. NeSmith becomes the first Tusculum student-athlete to earn this prestigious honor.

NeSmith, a senior tight end from Russellville, Ala., is the only NCAA Division II representative on the 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Team, which includes Heisman Trophy candidates Tim Tebow (Florida) and Colt McCoy (Texas).

Each finalist, including NeSmith, will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship, and one of the 16 will be announced as the recipient of the 20th Anniversary William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation. The award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.

NeSmith is closing out one of the most decorated football careers in Tusculum history, both on and off the field. The Pre-Medicine major has a 3.86 cumulative grade point average and is a member of the Tusculum President's List, Dean's List, Charles Oliver Gray List, South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and the TC Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

"We are all excited for Jarrell for this tremendous honor," said Tusculum head coach Frankie DeBusk. "He is the leader of our football team that every player respects and appreciates. He is an outstanding representative of Tusculum College, but also collegiate athletics in general. He leads by example and is the type of student-athlete that we hope all of our players will emulate. I'm very proud of him."

On the field, he earned All-America honors in 2008 from three organizations and was a consensus All-America pick this year. He has 42 catches this season for 489 yards and a touchdown.

He has been named the SAC Scholar Athlete for Football the past two years (2007, 2008) and was selected as the 2008-09 recipient SAC Presidents Award, becoming only the second football player in the history of the award to earn the conference's most prestigious honor.

NeSmith enters this Saturday's home finale fourth in school history in career receptions (144) and fifth in receiving yards (1,481).