Kicker Ian McGarvey was named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy on Thursday.
The award is given to a senior football player with a minimum 3.2 grade-point average who is also a significant contributor on the field. Schools are allowed to nominate one player, and McGarvey is one of three players from the Mid-American Conference to be named a semifinalist, joining Mike Krause of Northern Illinois and Phil Swanson of Western Michigan.
McGarvey is a two-time Academic All-MAC kicker and holds Ball State's record for consecutive extra points made with 81. The streak began in 2008 and ended last season.
Up to 15 finalists will be selected later in the month to receive a $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The winner will receive a $25,000 scholarship and will be recognized at the National Football Foundation's annual award dinner Dec. 7.
Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won last year's Campbell Trophy. Other previous winners include Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel and Peyton Manning.
Leading linebackers
Coach Stan Parrish expects he will be seeing Ball State's future Saturday when he looks across the field at Central Michigan linebackers Nick Bellore and Matt Berning.
The pair of seniors leads the Chippewas' defense and are the team's top two leading tacklers this season.
Parrish said sophomore linebackers Travis Freeman and Tony Martin will be just as important to the Cardinals in two years as Bellore and Berning are to the Chippewas.
"Two years from now when Freeman and Martin are lining up, you'll go ‘Golly, we've got those guys around for a long time and those guys are really, really good players,'" Parrish said. "[Central Michigan coach Dan Enos'] got two of those right now that have won three of the last four championships."
Martin and Freeman already play big roles for Ball State, ranking second and third in tackles.
"Those two linebackers, everyone on this team knows what they're all about," Parrish said. "I told them both [Monday], ‘Hey, don't be afraid to be vocal just because you're not a vocal guy.'"
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