President's Blog: From the Heart

By Eric F. Spina

Flyer running back Jake Chisholm, who scored the winning touchdown with 18 seconds left on the clock in Saturday’s game against Valparaiso, is in the running for the Heisman.

The academic Heisman, that is.

About 80,000 student-athletes are playing football at American colleges and universities this fall. Only 15 of them (that is 0.02% for the statistically oriented) are such extraordinary students *and* such fabulous football players that they are finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy. It’s college football’s premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual “as the absolute best in the nation” for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.

In my book, Jake’s already a winner. A pre-med major, he holds a near-perfect GPA of 3.98 and a record as UD’s career leader in all-purpose yards. He fits what is widely seen as the Flyer football model: a hard-nosed competitor on the field who works as hard in the classroom — and succeeds in both.

It’s no wonder head coach Rick Chamberlin describes the two-year team captain as “everything you would want in a college football player.”

Professor Conny Pope, a lecturer in biology and Jake’s adviser, calls him a standout student. “He is always prepared and engaged. He knows what he wants to do and how to accomplish it,” she says. “He is focused on excellence in academia as well as on the football field. 

“Most importantly, he is one of the friendliest students I have advised. He always comes to meetings with a smile and is excited to talk about his future. He possesses a warm sense of humor and works hard to make UD shine and be a welcoming place for all.”

Those are traits that will carry the Union, Kentucky, native far in life and it is why all of Flyer Nation is thrilled that he’s on the short list for the William V. Campbell Trophy. As one of 15 finalists, Jake will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. If selected as the winner during the National Football Foundation’s annual awards dinner on Dec. 6, Jake’s check will balloon to $25,000.

Let’s look at his stats.

Of the 15 exceptional finalists, he holds the second-highest GPA. A three-time Academic All-American, Jake earned First Team honors in 2020 and 2021 after receiving Second Team laurels in 2019. He was the only junior to earn First Team Academic All-America honors in 2021.

This season, Jake ranks first on the team in rushing attempts (156), rushing yards per game (76.1), all-purpose yards per game (100.1), and scoring (54). He is also second on the team with 17 catches for 175 receiving yards, and he leads the Flyers with three receiving touchdowns. He is the school record holder in career all-purpose yardage (rushing, receiving, returns) with 5,066 yards, and ranks fifth in school history with 2,807 rushing yards — and that’s after losing a season to the pandemic. His 786 career receiving yards are the second-most by a Flyer running back.

Those are impressive accomplishments, but, like so many of UD’s student-athletes, he’s also a servant-leader. Jake has logged 99 volunteer hours with the Hospital Elder Life Program, participated in “Rebuilding Together Dayton” clean-up efforts, and is a volunteer and registered donor with the Be the Match bone marrow registry.

As I said, Jake Chisholm is already a winner in all the ways that matter.