Chambana Sun

The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) has named Illinois linebacker Ryan Meed as a semifinalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, the organization announced Wednesday.

The Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership. This year, a record 203 semifinalists were nominated across all levels of play in the NCAA and NAIA. Each nominee must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility during the 2024 season or a graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and will participate during the 2024 season; have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; have outstanding football ability as a first-team player or significant contributor; and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

Ryan Meed has played in 44 games in his Illini career with 22 total tackles (13 solo), one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one blocked kick. He is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was awarded a scholarship in 2021 after beginning his career as a walk-on. Meed graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in May 2023 and has earned a post-graduate certificate in strategic leadership & management in May 2024.

Meed has primarily contributed as a leader on special teams for the Fighting Illini, where he has been a mainstay on the Orange and Blue's kickoff, kick return, punt, and punt return units. This season, he has recorded seven tackles (three solo), including three total tackles (two solo) in his second-career start in the Illini's 23-17 win over No. 19-ranked Kansas on September 7, 2024.

He made his Illinois debut on special teams against Michigan State in 2019 to help Illinois to a 37-34 win in the biggest comeback in program history. He started his first game at linebacker for the Fighting Illini as a junior in 2023, his fifth year in the program. In Illinois' win at Minnesota on November 4, 2023, Meed forced the first fumble of his career on the opening kickoff which led to an Illini touchdown on the ensuing drive.

Meed contributed to Illinois' berth in the Redbox Bowl during his first season with the program by playing in the final three contests of the regular season along with the bowl game. He also helped Illinois return to bowl contention for the second time during his career by playing all thirteen games of their ReliaQuest Bowl season—the program's first January bowl game since their appearance at Rose Bowl in January of 2008.

In recent seasons under Meed’s contribution, Illinois reached top-25 rankings twice within three years: In 2022 they were ranked AP Top-25 for five consecutive weeks reaching up to No.14 while being listed two weeks within College Football Playoff rankings—marking school's historical feat—this current ongoing season too seeing them rank #19 AP Poll over past fortnight period.