Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina fifth-year wide receiver
AJ Colombo was nominated for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy, awarded by the National Football Foundation (NFF) to the best college football player in the country combining academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
First awarded in 1990 and often referenced as the "Academic Heisman," the winner of the Campbell Trophy receives a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. Eligible nominees must be seniors or graduate students playing their final season of collegiate football in 2026 with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.2.
Returning from an injury that sidelined him after his first-team All-Southern Conference season in 2024, Colombo graduated from Western Carolina University summa cum laude in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in finance. He boasted a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.946. He is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and project management certificate.
Originally from Waxhaw, N.C., Colombo is a four-time SoCon Academic Honor Roll recipient and received three SoCon Commissioner's Medals as an undergrad. He was also named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team and garnered WCU's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor.
On the field, Colombo has played 32 games with 13 starts dating to 2022. He recorded a SoCon-best 61 of his 97 career receptions in 2024 and enters 2026 with 1,064 career yards and 10 receiving touchdowns, scoring five in both 2023 and 2024. Following his 2024 season, Colombo was named WCU's Male Athlete of the Year at the year-ending awards program honoring student-athletes from the 2024-25 season.
Western Carolina has had 15 student-athletes nominated for the Campbell Trophy, or its predecessor, the Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy, all-time dating back to 1992.
Among some of the most notable winners of the William V. Campbell Trophy are Danny Wuerffel (1996), Peyton Manning (1997), Chad Pennington (1999), Tim Tebow (2009), Bo Nix (2023), Jalen Milroe (2024), and Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers last year. Of the 36 recipients since 1990, 25 have been on offense and 11 on defense. Eleven different quarterbacks and 11 offensive linemen have taken home the award, followed by seven linebackers as the most successful nominees.
Colombo vies to become the first-ever wide receiver to earn the academic award, while also carrying the torch for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). On average, roughly a quarter of all annual Campbell Trophy nominees hail from the FCS. Colombo looks to be the first-ever FCS winner of the award, as there's only been one non-FBS player to win as Brandon Roberts of NCAA Division III Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., captured the trophy in 2002.
Last year, Catamount fifth-year graduate student
Micah Nelson advanced to the semifinals for the national academic achievement award. The school's only two-time nominee (2024, 2025) for the Campbell Trophy, Nelson also represented the Southern Conference among the finalists for the Doris Robinson Award, which honors the top academic football student-athlete at the NCAA FCS level.
Western Carolina's Previous Campbell Trophy Nominees:
2026 –
AJ Colombo, WR
2025 –
Micah Nelson, DE (semifinalist)
2024 –
Micah Nelson, DE
2023 – Richard McCollum, PK (semifinalist)
2022 – Brandon Dickerson, P
2020 – Grady Thomas, OL (semifinalist)
2018 – Zach Weeks, OL (semifinalist)
2017 – AJ Newman, LB
2016 – Fred Payne, DB (semifinalist)
2015 – Darius Ramsey, RB (semifinalist)
2014 – Richard Sigmon, PK (semifinalist)
2013 – Clark Sechrest, PK (semifinalist)
2008 – Blake Bostic, PK
2003 – Jason Whaley, OL (finalist)
2000 – Caesar Campana, WR (semifinalist)
1992 – Thomas Jackson, OL
Following Friday's helmet-only practice in Cullowhee, the Catamounts return to the turf on Saturday morning for the first scrimmage of the preseason beginning at 9 a.m. at Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field.
Western Carolina looks to 'Blackout Whitmire' as the Catamounts open the 2026 season under the new lights against Eastern Kentucky, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. In addition to the first 3,500 fans receiving FREE black WCU T-shirts, Catamount Athletics marketing will pass out 4,000 Blackout thunder sticks,
courtesy of The Everson. Before the game, one of the best FCS football traditions returns as we celebrate the 15th Annual Freshmen Run, as WCU's Class of 2030 runs through the pregame tunnel to lead out the Catamount football team.
Also highlighting the jam-packed home opener, Catamount Athletics and
Vannoy Construction present a special drone light show,
produced by SkyElements, that will light up the western North Carolina sky as part of the festivities.
The home-opener is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3. Catamount Nation is encouraged to wear black to the game, and the team will wear its new all-black Nike 'Night Cat' uniform. Fans are encouraged to wear their black WCU gear to the game.
Both season and single-game tickets and gameday parking for all six home dates in #CatamountCountry are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com.
2026 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Sat., Aug. 8 – Practice #8 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am (scrimmage, full pads)
Sun., Aug. 9 – Team Photo Day – 2 pm; Practice #9 – 3 pm – 5 pm (helmets only)
Mon., Aug. 10 – Practice #10 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Tues., Aug. 11 – Practice #11 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 12 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 13 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 14 – Practice #13 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Fri., Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Student Convocation
Sat., Aug. 15 – Practice #14 – 7 pm – 9 pm (scrimmage, full – student day)
Sun., Aug 16 – Athletics Welcome Back Event at Catamount Soccer – 12:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 17 – First Day of Classes at WCU – No Practice (Off-Day)
Tues., Aug. 18 – Begins in-season practice schedule – 4:30 pm
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Practice times are subject to change.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Saturday, Aug. 8 –
Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Wright State (CAC, 2 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 13 –
Women's Soccer Season-Opener – vs. Winthrop (CAC, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Convocation (Ramsey Center)
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Friday, Aug. 21 – Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Anderson (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Catamount Shootout Golf Tournament (Marion Lake Club, Nebo, N.C.)
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Catamount Football season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Volleyball Home Opener – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sept. 13-15 – Men's Golf – JT Poston Invitational – (Waynesville Inn & Golf Club)
Friday, Oct. 2 – Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – (Sequoyah National, Cherokee)
