The trophy is named for William Campbell, a business executive and former player, captain and head coach at Columbia University.

The trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his academic success, football performance, and exemplary community leadership.

A scholar-athlete himself at Manhattan College, Draddy passionately believed in the premise that excellence on the football field could, and should, be consistent with academic distinction and the highest standards of civic leadership.

The Campbell Trophy is one of two such awards that has been won by a player at a lower level—Brandon Roberts of Washington University in St. Louis, an NCAA Division III school, in 2002.

The other is the Ted Hendricks Award, which was won by Caleb Murphy of NCAA Division II Ferris State University in 2022.