IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame announced that Augustana senior all-purpose back Alek Jacobs (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. This award is given to the best football scholar-athletes in the nation based on academic excellence, final year of playing eligibility, outstanding football ability, and strong leadership.
 
Along with his many accomplishments on the field, Jacobs excels in the classroom and holds a 3.95 grade point average with a double major in economics and political science. He is one of a record 199 Campbell semifinalists announced this week by the N.F.F.
 
Jacobs was a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All District selection in 2018 as a sophomore and again in 2019 as a junior for his work as  a special teams player. He holds the Augustana record in kickoff return yards (1,193) and total kickoff returns (52). He is also in the top 10 in several career categories, including sixth in kickoff return average (22.94) and eighth in completion percentage (53.3). In 2018, Jacobs put up the third best kickoff return average (24.4) and ninth in all-purpose yards per game (83.9). In 2019, he ranked second on the team in all-purpose yards with an average of 82.4 per game and third in total offense at 57.4 yards per contact.
 
Jacobs also ranked high at the conference and national level in terms of his statistics. In 2019 he led the conference in individual kickoff return yards (439) and was fourth in kickoff return average (20.9). In 2018, he was first in kickoff return average (24.6) and second in all-purpose yards per game (124.8). At the national lever he was eighth in kickoff return yards and 40^th in kickoff return average in NCAA Division III.
 
For his career, Jacobs has rushed the ball 248 times for 1,189 yards and 13 touchdowns. In his role as a quarterback he has complete 64 of 121 (52.9%) passing attempts for 545 yards and three scores. He has 15 receptions for 69 yards and one touchdown.
 
A year ago, when the Vikings went 6-4, he was the team's second leading rusher with 334 yards and 5 touchdowns on 61 carries, and completed 19 of 31 (61.3%) passes for 183 yards and two scores.
 
Release written by Jordan Dryfhout, student assistant in sports information office