IRVING, Texas (September 24, 2026) – UT Permian Basin senior offensive lineman Torbyn Eakins has been announced as a semifinalist for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.

The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame proudly announce a record 206 semifinalists for the award. Celebrating its 37th year, the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

In addition, Eakins is one of 19 nominees for the Campbell Trophy® from NCAA Division II schools and is the only player nominated from the Lone Star Conference.

The 206 semifinalists, each nominated as their school's sole nominee and best all-around student-athlete on their respective teams, represent every NCAA division and the NAIA. The group is the largest in the history of the award, eclipsing the previous record of 204 set in 2024. Collectively, the semifinalists boast a 3.64 average GPA and include 130 team captains, 24 All-Americans and 98 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees.

A native of New Oxford, Pennsylvania, Eakins is an Information Systems major (3.67 cumulative GPA) graduating in Spring 2027. His anticipated field of postgraduate study is Communications and Media Management, with an emphasis on digital media, branding, strategic communication, and organizational leadership. Eakins' list of scholastic honor and accomplishments includes: Being named to the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Football Team, being named to the Fall 2025 Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, and earning a spot on the 2023 and 2024 Pioneer Football League Honor Roll.

"Torbyn has demonstrated versatility, adaptability and perseverance throughout his collegiate career," said current UTPB Head Coach Chris Softley. "He entered college as a tight end and transitioned to the offensive line, developing into an all-conference-caliber starter with experience at right tackle, left tackle, and left guard. In today's college football landscape, student-athletes are constantly asked to adapt – to new teams, new coaches, new systems, and new academic environments. Torbyn has embraced every challenge with an unwavering workmanlike approach. He has maintained a 3.67 GPA while continuing to develop into the kind of dependable, selfless, man of consistency that represents our program well. Congratulations, Torbyn."

Coming into the current 2026 season, Eakins had played in 26 games with 22 starts in his career. Most of his starts have come at right or left tackle, but during the 2025 season at UTPB, he also started and appeared in multiple games at left guard when the Falcons needed him there. He was a 2025 All-Lone Star Conference Honorable Mention selection on the offensive line, starting games at both left tackle and left guard for a team that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs. That season, he was a member of a Falcons' team that finished the season ranked No. 3 nationally. Eakins was a key contributor to one of the most successful seasons in program history, helping the Falcons earn postseason victories over CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado and helping UTPB produce one of NCAA Division II's highest-ranked offenses. In 2025, UTPB ranked 21st in the country for third-down conversion percentage, ninth for fourth-down conversion percentage, 20th in completion percentage, second in first downs, third in passing offense, 16th in scoring offense, and eighth in total offense. He also helped the UTPB offense average 330.1 passing yards per game, 461.9 total yards per game, and 37.1 points per game.

Outside of his playing career, Eakins has been an active participant in church and community-service projects throughout his life.

In addition, Eakins has taken an entrepreneurial approach to helping younger athletes through "X1 Sports", which has evolved into something bigger. Right now, with his entrepreneurial skills, he is working with his father to help create a big part of the platform that connects professional and college athletes with youth and their parents. It is still in its infant stages of production, but is something Eakins is proud of. Eakins also provides individual and small-group offensive-line instruction, film review, goal setting, and mentorship. His work has helped developing players improve their technique, confidence, preparation, and understanding of the game. One freshman offensive tackle he trained went on to earn a varsity starting position. Through these efforts, Eakins has also gained experience communicating with athletes and families, promoting training opportunities, and developing his presence and reputation as an offensive-line trainer.

Following the death of his mother, Missy, in March 2026, Eakins began developing Miss E's Cookies in her honor. He hopes to eventually grow the idea into a business that preserves her legacy and contributes a portion of its future proceeds to endometriosis research.

Eakins was born in Idaho, spent part of his childhood in Maryland, and graduated from high school in Pennsylvania. His education and football career have since taken him across several states and collegiate programs. Those experiences have required him to repeatedly adapt to unfamiliar environments, build relationships with new teammates and communities, and remain focused through significant personal and professional transitions.

In addition to football and academics, Eakins has balanced employment, service, athlete mentorship, and entrepreneurial interests while preparing for his final collegiate season. His experiences reflect independence, resilience, initiative, and a desire to use the opportunities he has received to positively influence others.

ABOUT THE WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL® TROPHY
Now in its 68th year, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments have recognized 954 individuals, with this year's scholarships pushing the program's all-time distribution above $13.5 million. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on a player's academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments.

The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, each candidate must be competing in the 2026 season as a senior in his final year of eligibility or a graduate student/graduate transfer who has already earned a degree; have a cumulative undergraduate 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. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is composed of a nationally recognized group of media, NFF College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the prestige of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Past Campbell Trophy® recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and ten first-round NFL Draft picks. Click here for a list of the past winners of the trophy.

Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the storied venue.

Fidelity Investments became the presenting sponsor of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards in 2011, marking its 16th year of support in 2026. As part of its commitment to the NFF and higher education nationwide, Fidelity helped launch the NFF Faculty Salutes, which honor the faculty athletics representative (FAR) at each institution with a Campbell Trophy® finalist. Following the selection of the finalists, the NFF presents each school's FAR with a commemorative plaque, and Fidelity contributes $5,000 to the school's academic support services. Since the program's inception, the Salutes have recognized 214 FARs, with Fidelity providing a total of $1.07 million in donations.