IRVING, Texas – Stony Brook football graduate student Aidan Kaler earned a semifinalist selection for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced on Wednesday.
 
Kaler was part of a record-breaking 201 football student-athletes named by the foundation as semifinalists, one of 39 from the Football Championship Subdivision and one of six from the Coastal Athletic Association.
 
College football's most prestigious academic award, the trophy recognizes the best football student-athletes across academic success, performance on the football field and leadership both on and off the field. Each student-athlete must hold at least a 3.2 GPA, be a starter or significant reserve and show exemplary leadership.
 
With his semifinalist selection, Kaler is eligible to be named among 12-14 finalists, each of whom will receive a postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments and will travel to the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 5.
 
Kaler has made the CAA Commissioner's Honor Roll six times at Stony Brook while also being named as part of the Stony Brook Society of Distinguish Scholar-Athletes. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology in May 2023 and is pursuing a Master's degree in higher education administration.
 
In the community, Kaler is part of several outreach initiatives, including going on elementary school visits and being a part of the Be the Match Bone Marrow Drive.
 
In 2023, Kaler was a Fourth Team Preseason All-CAA selection by Phil Steele and also took an Honorable Mention All-CAA pick from the league. He was also named team captain through a vote of his fellow teammates in 2023.
 
Thus far, Kaler has recorded 36 total tackles – 24 solo and 12 assisted, ranking fourth in the CAA in tackles and third in solo stops. He's added 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack this season. The Sayville, N.Y. native made a career high 14 stops, adding 0.5 TFL and a QB hurry last time out against Richmond in Week 4.
 
Stony Brook will face Maine in Orono for Week 5 on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 3:30 p.m.
 
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