ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State fifth year senior defensive tackle Shaq'ke Robinson was named a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) on Thursday.

Celebrating its 34th 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. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and eight first-round NFL draft picks. 

A native of Jacksonville, Arkansas, Robinson is a five-year member of the Reddie football program and has started every game he's played in since the beginning of the 2022 season. In his career, Robinson has played in 26 games and compiled 52 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks. He has 14 tackles and a sack so far this fall. Robinson is one of just 15 players from the NCAA Division II level to be named a Campbell Trophy semifinalist and one of 201 overall.

Robinson, who is deaf and communicates using American Sign Language through an interpreter at games and practices, is currently the only deaf college football player at any level of NCAA competition. In the spring semester of 2022, he was the only deaf graduate student in the entire state of Arkansas. 

A beloved figure on campus, Robinson was named the 2023 Duke Wells Inspirational Award winner in April, which recognizes a male student-athlete who has demonstrated tremendous inspiration, attitude, leadership and sportsmanship. It is the highest award that can be given to a male student-athlete at the university. 

In addition to his success on the field, Robinson has excelled off of it. He is one of three members of the Reddie football team that has earned Academic All-GAC recognition three times and graduated with his bachelor's degree in Recreation Sport Management in the fall of 2022 with a 3.619 GPA. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sports Administration.

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 25, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 5, 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 34th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.