Spring Grove Native Flood Named Semifinalist for National Honor at UW-Whitewater

2016 Sep 28

John Flood, a native of Spring Grove, Ill., and senior on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team, is one of 156 semifinalists in all of college football for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation and is presented by Fidelity Investments.

Flood, a defensive lineman and graduate of Richmond-Burton Community High School, is one of only 33 nominees from NCAA Division III and one of three from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The NFF will announce the 12-14 finalists for the award on Nov. 1. Each of the finalists will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, membership in the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments and an invitation to attend the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 9 in New York City. The winner of the award will be announced that night and receive another $7,000 in postgraduate scholarship money for a total of $25,000.

Flood, who is majoring in mathematics and physics, entered the 2016-17 academic year with a 3.72 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. He is a three-time member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Honor Roll and has been honored on the Dean's List during each of his semesters at UW-Whitewater.

A three-year starter and four-year contributor, Flood has been a part of two WIAC championships, two national championships and an appearance in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. He enters this Saturday's game at No. 8 UW-Platteville with 76 career tackles, including 24 for a loss and 12 sacks, as well as five forced fumbles and four fumbles recovered.

Flood has also been active on campus and in the community during his career. He has visited senior citizens at Fairhaven Senior Home, worked with Special Olympics athletes and participated in the team's annual food drive. Flood currently serves as a Veteran Warhawk in the Warhawk Leadership Academy.