They won’t take home the Heisman Trophy, but that hasn’t stopped Oklahoma from bringing home some serious hardware. Quarterback Baker Mayfield won the Burlsworth Trophy on Monday as the nation’s top former walk-on, offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley on Tuesday won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach, and on Tuesday night center Ty Darlington took home the Campbell Trophy, given to college football’s top scholar. Awarded by the National Football Foundation, the Campbell Trophy is known as the academic Heisman.
Already the winner of the Wuerffel Trophy for community service, Darlington holds a number of significant leadership posts, both within and without his locker room. The Apopka, Fla., native is a team captain, the president of the Big 12 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and OU’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, and sits as one of 15 Division I athletes on the NCAA’s autonomy legislation committee.
He’s also started 24 of the last 25 games at center, anchoring an offense that ranked third nationally in scoring, seventh in total offense and ninth in yards per play, helping the Sooners win the Big 12 championship and reach the College Football Playoff.
Oh, and he did all that while graduating in two-and-a-half years with a 3.91 GPA.
“It’s an honor to be considered for such an incredible award,” Darlington said in October upon his appointment as a finalist. “Thank you to the National Football Foundation Awards Committee, and also to all of my family, coaches, teachers and staff who made this possible. Glory to God, and Boomer Sooner.”
Darlington beat out a group of finalists that includes Ohio State center Jacoby Boren, Baylor offensive tackle Spencer Drango and Massachusetts quarterback Blake Frohnapfel.
He’ll take home a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship and join a fraternity boasting the likes of Peyton Manning, Chad Pennington, Tim Tebow and Barrett Jones.