'I’m so excited for the school': Holy Cross linebacker Jacob Dobbs proud of honor as Campbell Trophy finalist
WORCESTER — Since linebacker Jacob Dobbs’ 2019 Holy Cross freshman season, when he helped lead the Crusaders to their first Patriot League championship in a decade and intercepted a pair of passes in the title clinching win over Georgetown, he has set the standard for HC’s dynastic run over the last five years.
Dobbs, who is a two-time All-American and currently leads the nation in total tackles, has established the program’s level of excellence on the field with his talent and tenacity, and off it, with his academic accomplishments and community involvement, and as an esteemed representative of the program.
Dobbs is one of 16 finalists for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, 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.
Dobbs is just the second four-year captain in Holy Cross football history.
“Jake is not just a great football player,” HC coach Bob Chesney said before Wednesday’s practice. “He’s a great man, who helped change the course of this entire program, not only by what he did on the field, but what he did in the classroom, what he did in the community and what he did as a leader, which is exactly what the award is about.”
This marks the first time in program history that Holy Cross has had a finalist for the Campbell Trophy in consecutive years. Running back Peter Oliver of Auburn and St. John’s High was a finalist in 2022.
“I’m so excited for the school to have back-to-back finalists,” Dobbs said. “It speaks to the type of kids Coach Chesney and the staff recruit, and the type of young men at this school.”
Dobbs, who has a 3.76 grade point average as an economics and religious studies double major, is a four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection, and a 2021 Academic All-District and Academic All-Patriot League honoree.
Dobbs leads all FCS players with 101 tackles this season, and he continues to climb the Holy Cross all-time charts in tackles (fourth), sacks (fourth) and tackles for loss (third).
“Every single day I come out here, I try to represent myself and my family’s name the best way possible,” Dobbs said. “When you’re surrounded by such great people, there is a standard you want to live up to. Especially being named a leader with a title at such a young age, I wanted to be the best version of myself every single day.
"I owe it to the guys I’m with on a daily basis to be the best version of myself and to set the best example for others, because at the end of the day, a legacy is about how you make people feel, not about any plays you make. It goes much further than football in my head, and that’s how I try to impact other people.”
As a junior in 2021, Dobbs was the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, and he ranked in the top 10 nationally in solo tackles and total tackles.
Dobbs missed most of last year with an elbow injury, and he came back more motivated than ever this season. He opened 2023 with a career-best 21 tackles in a win over Merrimack, and he has posted double-digit tackles in every game. Dobbs leads the team with three forced fumbles and 11 quarterback hits.
The National Football Foundation will present the 2023 Campbell Award at its annual awards dinner Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.
“To be able to represent my family,” Dobbs said, “and to show what my parents have done raising me and the kind of values they represent and the kind of ideals we have as a family, it means a lot to me to be able to bring recognition to a lot of great people who have helped contribute to this. You don’t do this alone. I’m very blessed to be able to give recognition to those people.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Holy Cross linebacker Jacob Dobbs proud of honor as Campbell Trophy finalist
