Barnes selected as a semifinalist for the 2008 Draddy Trophy

DALLAS - Salisbury University senior linebacker Matt Barnes is a semifinalist for the 2008 Draddy Trophy as announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame. Barnes is also now a candidate for the 2008 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

The Draddy Trophy is presented to a student-athlete that has shown outstanding football ability and demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The Draddy Trophy was first awarded in 1990. The NFF scholar-athlete program began in 1959 as the first initiative to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. Barnes is one of 164 semifinalists from Divisions I, II, III and NAIA. He is one of only 37 student-athletes from Division III and joins the elite company of Heisman Trophy hopeful, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel.

"The Draddy Trophy is one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning whose sons Peyton (Draddy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "It recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership."

Barnes was nominated by SU for his outstanding performance on the gridiron but also for his strong leadership, citizenship and classroom successes. Nominees must be in their final year of eligibility and hold at least a 3.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

The Ijamsville, Md., native leads the Sea Gull defense with 35 total tackles (18 solo, 17 assists) in four games this season. Barnes is a defensive team captain and in his three seasons with the Gulls has recorded 147 tackles, two sacks and one interception. Barnes is one of 102 team captains among the semifinalist group.

"The Draddy semifinalists represent everything good about college football," said NFF President and CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "They are another fine example of how football builds leaders, and it is the NFF's duty to promote their accomplishments while encouraging future generations of gridiron standouts to aim high on and off the football field."

Barnes, an Urbana High School graduate, is one of three players from the state of Maryland to be named a national semifinalist. He joins Daniel Gronkowski of the University of Maryland and Mark Bencivengo of Towson University. Among the Division III semifinalist he is the only representative from the Atlantic Central Football Conference and only one team that SU faces this year has a player on the semifinalist list (St. John Fisher's Daniel Polloch).

A brief look at the field of semifinalists speaks to the success Barnes has accomplished as the 164 student-athletes average a 3.56 GPA with 67 all-conference honorees and 10 first team Academic All-America selections from 2007. Last season, Barnes was named to the All-ACFC Academic team and was a second team all-conference selection on defense.

The NFF Awards Committee will narrow the field and announce up to 15 finalists on October 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2008 National Scholar-Athlete Class.