Ethan Wesloski’s Recognition Goes Beyond Football With Campbell Trophy Nomination

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Earlier this week, we talked about Ethan Wesloski entering the season as one of the highest-rated linebackers in the Big 12. Turns out his résumé goes well beyond making tackles.

Oklahoma State linebacker Ethan Wesloski is a nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy, an award recognizing the college football player with the best combination of academic success, football performance and community leadership. It's often referred to as the “Academic Heisman.”

For a player Oklahoma State is counting on to become a leader of its rebuilt defense, it's another impressive piece of recognition before Wesloski has even played his first game in orange and black.

This One Is About More Than Football

Most preseason honors are pretty straightforward. Play well. Put up numbers. Get recognized.

The Campbell Trophy is different. Presented by the National Football Foundation, the award evaluates the complete student-athlete, with candidates needing to excel academically while also demonstrating significant football ability and leadership.

That makes Wesloski's nomination particularly interesting. We've already established his football résumé.

Last season at North Texas, Wesloski recorded 113 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception. PFF gave him a 90.6 defensive grade, making him the highest-graded returning linebacker in the Big 12 entering this season.

Now he's being recognized for what he's accomplished away from the field, too.

Another Leader Morris Brought With Him

We've spent a lot of time discussing the talent Eric Morris brought from North Texas.

Drew Mestemaker can sling it. Caleb Hawkins scores touchdowns. Wyatt Young and Miles Coleman provide weapons on the outside.

But rebuilding a program after a 1-11 season requires more than collecting talented players.

You need leaders. Guys who understand what the coaching staff expects. Guys who know the standard Morris is trying to establish. And guys who can help dozens of newcomers become one team.

Wesloski fits that mold. He's already familiar with the staff and its expectations after playing at North Texas.

Now the Campbell Trophy nomination provides another example of the type of player Oklahoma State added during its massive roster overhaul.

OSU Has Some History With This Award

The Campbell Trophy has also previously found its way to Stillwater.

Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius was a finalist for the award in 2018, while several Cowboys over the years have received recognition from the National Football Foundation for their combination of academics and athletics.

Becoming the actual Campbell Trophy winner is extraordinarily difficult. The NFF selects a small group of finalists who each receive postgraduate scholarships before ultimately naming one winner.

So there's still a long way to go for Wesloski. But simply being Oklahoma State's nominee says something about what he brings to the program.

Now He Gets to Lead the Defense

Of course, Oklahoma State fans are going to be most interested in what Wesloski does on Saturdays. And expectations there are growing, too.

The Cowboys need significant defensive improvement if they're going to make the type of Year one turnaround many are beginning to predict.

Having one of the Big 12's highest-rated returning linebackers in the middle certainly helps.

Having that player also recognized for his academics, leadership and community involvement? Even better.

Final Thoughts

Ethan Wesloski came to Oklahoma State with plenty of football credentials.

113 tackles. A 90.6 PFF grade. The highest-rated returning linebacker in the Big 12.

Now add Campbell Trophy nominee to the résumé. It's an honor designed to recognize far more than what happens between the sidelines.

As Eric Morris tries to establish an entirely new culture in Stillwater, having players who represent what you're looking for both on and off the field certainly isn't a bad place to start.

Wesloski was already expected to be one of the leaders of Oklahoma State's defense.

His latest recognition shows why that leadership extends well beyond football.

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