By Trent Shadid

Brady White spent his three years at the University of Memphis as an ideal representative of what it means to be a student-athlete.

He was a winner on the field, setting multiple school records while leading the Tigers during one of the most successful eras in program history. 

He was an active member of the community, generously donating his time and becoming a role model for local youth. 

He earned a master’s degree in sports commerce and is in the process of completing a PhD as he pursues dreams of playing in the National Football League. 

During his final season at Memphis in 2020, White’s impressive résumé caught the attention of the William V. Campbell Trophy selection committee. The Campbell Trophy — commonly known as the Academic Heisman — is presented annually by the National Football Foundation (NFF) to the college football player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance.

“We got to our 12 finalists, and this is not to diminish in any way the accomplishments of the others, but Brady immediately rose to the top,” said NFF vice-chairman Jack Ford. “Very quickly, we all looked at ourselves and said, ‘Brady White is our Campbell Trophy winner this year.’ ”

White was officially announced as the 31st Campbell Trophy winner in January, receiving the honor among a record pool of 199 candidates. He joins a list of recipients that includes Danny Wuerffel, Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow, Justin Herbert and many other accomplished athletes and professionals. 

“I’m extremely proud to be the recipient of this amazing award,” said White, who received a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship as the Campbell Trophy winner. “It means everything to me. It’s something that, in my opinion, carries more weight than almost any football award because it represents athletics, academics and what you do within your community. It’s a privilege to be joining such an incredible fraternity of people that have won this award.”

During the 2020 season, White set career Memphis records in wins as a starting quarterback (28), passing yards (10,690) and passing touchdowns (90). He finished No. 5 nationally in passing touchdowns (31) and No. 6 nationally in passing yards (3,380) as he led the Tigers to an 8-3 record. In his final game, he was named MVP of the Montgomery Bowl as Memphis earned its first bowl victory since 2014. 

As a junior, White helped lead the Tigers to a 12-2 record, American Athletic Conference championship and Cotton Bowl appearance in one of the greatest seasons in program history.

“Brady White has meant so much to me and everyone here,” said Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield. “He has been an incredible leader and an ideal representative of not only our football program but the entire University. An award as prestigious and meaningful as the Campbell Trophy is the perfect honor for him. If I ever have a son, I hope he's like Brady White. I think that's one of the best things you can ever say about a young man. He's done it the right way, he's a legend and I know he's going to continue to be successful as he goes forward.” 

Academically, White is a PhD candidate in liberal studies. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Arizona State University and a master's degree in sports commerce at the UofM. 

A native of Santa Clarita, Calif., White was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in 2018-19 and 2019-20, and CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2019. He was a Dean's List student at the UofM for the 2018 fall and 2019 spring semesters while earning his master's degree in addition to being a Tiger 3.0 Club member for three consecutive semesters. At Arizona State, White was named to the 2016 PAC-12 Conference All-Academic first team. 

“A doctoral student who ranks as Memphis' all-time leading passer, Brady White is the epitome of what the Campbell Trophy represents,” said NFF chairman Archie Manning. “Working towards one's PhD is a daunting challenge by itself. To do it while excelling at the highest level of college football is truly exceptional. Brady embodies the scholar-athlete ideal, and we are proud to have him as a member of this elite fraternity.” 

White was also a leader in community service during his time as a student-athlete at the UofM. He participated in many visits to local children's hospitals, speaking engagements at local elementary schools and much more over his three years at Memphis. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, White participated in Zoom calls with the Memphis Youth Detention Center to speak with recently released juveniles to help them navigate the transition from the center. He also helped form and create a plan for the Memphis football All-In Gratitude program, an initiative focused on 30 days of giving thanks during the month of November. 

“Brady is among the most impressive student-athletes I have had the privilege to be around,” said Laird Veatch, UofM athletic director. “We can't wait to see what he accomplishes in the future. Memphis Athletics is very appreciative of the Campbell Trophy selection committee for recognizing Brady's remarkable accomplishments as a student-athlete and a person.” 

By Brady White

My decision to come to Memphis was a leap of faith. I had never been to the city and didn’t know much about this place. 

What I did know is this football program was on the rise and on a solid foundation. It was a privilege and a blessing to be given the opportunity to step in and become a part of that.

I’m a Southern California kid and a West Coast kid until I die, and part of that is having a very go-with-the-flow attitude. Coming here with that background, I feel like I was able to become a part of Memphis and adapt to this environment. 

We ended up making a lot of history together.

In the 2019 offseason, I was able to build a strong connection and bond with my teammates. That was the biggest thing for me. That deeper connection translated to our on-the-field play. We hit the ground running on what was a special year.

When College GameDay came for the SMU game, I felt the magnitude and importance of that entire week. Everything surrounding that game showcased the best of Memphis. It wasn’t just the game and the importance of us winning. It was about the great things Memphis has to offer and all those awesome fans out early in the morning to be on TV. Our city showed out. 

In the Liberty Bowl that night, with all that Tiger Blue, you couldn’t squeeze one more person in there. Seeing that on the field and then seeing the aerial view of the stadium afterward is enough to make your jaw drop.

I’m extremely proud we were able to go on and win the conference championship that year. We finally captured it, which put us in place to go to our first New Year’s Six Bowl. What an incredible experience.

We didn’t get the win in the Cotton Bowl, which still hurts, but Memphis again showed out. We were by far the louder, more present fanbase. For our team to claw and fight the way we did, I’m very proud of that. I walked away with my head held high despite the result. I hope our program, team and city did the same. 

In the offseason that followed, I remember there being a lot of speculation about what I was going to do. I considered leaving for the NFL, but my decision to come back to Memphis is one I have never doubted for a second despite all the crazy stuff that was thrown our way in 2020. 

I viewed last season as a huge feather in everyone’s cap. It wasn’t a championship year, which was the ultimate goal, but it still felt just as good and just as impressive as any season. I wish the people outside looking in knew the daily struggles and adversity we dealt with.

I appreciate my teammates and my coaches for hanging in there and fighting through it all. It would’ve been really easy to tap-out in 2020, but we didn’t do that. I love them to death for that.

The grind, the work ethic, the resiliency, the feeling that you’re never out of the fight … that’s Memphis. I love that attitude. My time here has been so special. The football accomplishments speak for themselves, but I also hope I am walking out of here having positively impacted people in this city by giving them hope, excitement and joy. I hope I helped establish what the culture is on this team, and I can't wait to see that carried out over many years to come. 

I'll bleed blue as a Memphis Tiger for the rest of my life.

It’s been my pleasure,