HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Hampden-Sydney College senior wide receiver Manning Lasso (Raleigh, NC) has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award, as announced today by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). Manning is among a record 206 semifinalists from all divisions, while the only one from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and among the 44 selected from NCAA Division III.

Celebrating its 37th 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. Manning is the College's seventh consecutive semifinalist, following Tyler Howerton '21, Kaleb Smith '22, Michael Harris '23, George Langhammer '24, Will Thomas '25 and Robert Clarke '26—Howerton went on to become one of 12 finalists for the prestigious award in 2020.

Manning Lasso is a three-time Dean's List honoree majoring in Economics and Business with a minor in Rhetoric and has attained a 3.44 GPA. He received the Hampden-Sydney Rhetoric 210 Speaker of the Year Award and is a two-time ODAC All-Academic Team (2024-25, 2025-26) honoree. Lasso serves as a Rhetoric Studio Consultant and is a member of the College Activities Council (CAC) and Athletes United in Christ (H-SC and Longwood U. Bible Study), participated in the Beyond the Hill Project (Spring Break Trip) and served as an Offseason Spring Football Captain (2026).

"Manning Lasso embodies what it means to be a Hampden-Sydney man," said third-year head coach Vince Luvara. "He excels on the field and in the classroom, but it's his leadership, character and commitment to making those around him better that truly set him apart. Manning represents everything the Campbell Trophy stands for, and we're proud of the young man he continues to become."

Manning has missed the first three games this season while completing rehabilitation from a late-season injury last year when he had 28 receptions for 528 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, including one 100-yard receiving game with a season-high 109 yards on four receptions and two touchdowns at Averett on October 18, 2025 with a season long reception of 45 yards for a touchdown at Averett. He has 68 career receptions for 1,045 career receiving yards and 13 career receiving touchdowns, including three career 100-yard receiving games and a career-high 121 receiving yards, adding a career long reception of 50 yards for a touchdown and one career two-point PAT receiving conversion. A two-time Second Team All-ODAC selection (2024, 2025), Manning is the son of Scott and Sarah Lasso.

The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on October 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on December 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.