Mullen Named Semifinalist for Prestigious Campbell Trophy

HANOVER, N.H. — Dartmouth football senior Braden Mullen has been named one of 203 semifinalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, which recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation. Mullen is a team captain, who has a strong GPA in the classroom as a government and economics (modified) major, and as an All-Ivy performer on the field.

"Braden exemplifies what you look for in a football player, in an individual and in a leader," said Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach Sammy McCorkle. "He does everything the right way, he does everything 100 percent, just the way he conducts himself on and off the football field. He's a leader, but at the same time, he practices what he preaches all the time. His ceiling is high and he hasn't even scraped off the top of it"

Celebrating its 35th 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.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2024 season or graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and participating in 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. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

Last season as a junior, Mullen was fourth in the Ivy League (second on the team) with 5.5 sacks, despite missing the second half of the season due to injury. He added 19 tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, helping him earn honorable mention All-Ivy recognition. Mullen added a sack to his resume in the 2024 season opener against Fordham.

Mullen received the team's Doten Award following his second year, given to the sophomore who made a significant contribution to the success of the team. In his time, the Big Green have won Ivy League Championships in 2021 and 2023. Last year, Mullen was part of a defense that finished 14th nationally in scoring defense (allowing just 19.30 points per game).

In the community, Mullen has done plenty of volunteer work within the Upper Valley, most often jumping on any opportunity to work a Dartmouth sports camp and coach youth. In his three summers in Hanover, he hasn't missed a single Dartmouth football summer camp or Football 101 (community event). Mullen has been on campus, taking classes every team, except his sophomore winter, which has allowed to hop on these opportunities. He also completed the DRIVE leadership program during his sophomore summer.

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 35th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

Six Dartmouth players have been chosen as finalists for the NFF Scholar-Athlete Class — Alan Rozycki (1960), Willie Bogan (1970), Fred Radke (1972), Pat Sullivan (1976), Paul Sorensen (1988) and Josh Bloom (1994).

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