NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt football student-athlete Nick Rinaldi has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy®, the nation’s premier scholar-athlete award, it was announced by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame on Wednesday. As a finalist, he is also a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments and will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship.
Rinaldi becomes Vanderbilt's sixth NFF National Scholar-Athlete, joining his teammate Eli Stowers who won the Campbell Trophy® last year. The finalists will be honored on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
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. To be eligible for the award, candidates must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2026 season or a graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and is participating in the 2026 season; have an undergraduate grade-point average 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.
Rinaldi completed his undergraduate studies magna cum laude in May 2025, earning a degree in economics with a 3.97 GPA, and went on to receive his master’s degree in finance in May 2026. His academic achievements earned him recognition as the 2025 SEC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, making him the first Vanderbilt football player to receive the award. He is also a three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and was selected to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll in 2022. In addition, Rinaldi was named to the 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
On the field, Rinaldi is a three-year letterman who was selected as a team captain for the 2026 season. He began the year with 123 career tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, while also contributing an interception and two fumble recoveries. During the 2025 campaign, he registered 47 tackles and paced the Commodores with nine quarterback hurries. Through the first seven games of 2026, Rinaldi has recorded 42 tackles, ranking third on the team, while his 5.5 tackles for loss rank second and his 3.5 sacks lead Vanderbilt.
Additionally, Rinaldi’s impact extends into the community. This season, Rinaldi has partnered with the Tennessee Special Olympics, providing athletes with once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including attending team walk-throughs, team meals and having the opportunity to participate in Star Walk on game days. Earlier this season, Rinaldi hosted over 200 guests from the Tennessee Special Olympics, athletes and their families, along with staff, for the Commodores’ matchup against Delaware.
Through the Clarksville Hospital Opening and Staff Appreciation initiative, he has helped welcome and recognize healthcare professionals. He has used a Special Olympics podcast to highlight the experiences and stories of athletes, coaches and advocates, while dedicating four years to organizing school supply drives. Rinaldi is also a regular visitor to a local children’s hospital and has supported fundraising efforts for the Dancing Dores Miracle Network Dance Marathon.
The Dores return to action Saturday, visiting Kentucky. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.