IRVING, Texas – Rising senior running back Bryon Sauvy has been selected as the St. Olaf College football program's nominee for the 2026 National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy ®.

A sociology/anthropology major with a concentration in business and management studies, Sauvy was nominated for the award, which is given annually to the nation's top football scholar-athlete. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be in their final year of playing eligibility or a graduate player, must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.2, must be a starter or significant contributor, and must show exemplary leadership in the classroom, on campus, and within their community.

"Bryon has been a selfless leader for our team and has shown tremendous character and toughness during his time on the Hill," said St. Olaf Head Football Coach James Kilian. "He treats everyone with respect and is willing to lend a hand and help anywhere he is needed. Bryon is everything the Campbell Trophy represents."

On the field, Sauvy has played in 13 games in his career as an Ole, rushing for 761 yards on 124 carries (6.1 yards per rush) with four rushing touchdowns. As a junior, he carried the ball 88 times for 546 yards (6.2 yards per rush) and a pair of touchdowns, including a 231-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 44-41 victory over the College of St. Scholastica on Oct. 25, leading to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Football Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Off the field, Sauvy has been active on campus through the Ole Leadership Academy (OLA), the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). With the NMDP, he recruited students to participate in a drive on campus and assisted the organization's workers during the drive. Sauvy has been a member of the sophomore and junior cohorts for OLA, attending near-monthly meetings centered around leadership development with other student-athletes.

Semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy ® will be announced on Sept. 23, followed by finalists on Oct. 21. The winner will be recognized at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas on Dec. 8. Finalists will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and the winner's scholarship will be increased to $25,000.