Bill Petraiuolo, a redshirt senior center for the University of Dayton football team, was surprised to hear last week that he was up for a big award in college football.

But his coaches and teammates weren’t.

Petraiuolo was named a semifinalist on Sept. 27 for the National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually by the NFF to the college football player who best exemplifies “academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership,” according to the foundation’s website.

It is the seventh consecutive year that the Dayton program has had a semifinalist for college football’s “academic Heisman,” making UD one of 10 programs in the country to do so.

“I actually found out when everyone else did in the press release,” Petraiuolo said. “It’s definitely a big honor and something I didn’t expect. … I’m happy to get as far as I did and I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope something good comes from it.”

Last spring, Petraiuolo graduated from UD with a bachelor’s degree in premedicine. His father is a surgeon in the Cleveland area.

Rather than go on to med school, he decided to stay at UD another year and use his fifth year of eligibility. The Highland Heights, Ohio native is taking graduate courses in education.

He said part of his graduate studies includes spending time in the classroom at Belmont High School.

“The students really seem to like me and I feel like I’m really impacting them even though I’m not really teaching or anything,” Petraiuolo said. “Just being able to be there and to help them is cool.”

“I think that speaks about the type of young men that are attracted to the University of Dayton,” UD coach Rick Chamberlin said. “They can just see it’s a great fit for them when you can combine your academic with your athletic ability.”

Petraiuolo said teaching has always been a profession he’s thought about because it allows him to share his love for science and could lead to a football coaching job.

First-year offensive coordinator Chris Ochs, who served as UD’s offensive line coach for 12 seasons prior to this year, recruited Petraiuolo out of Mayfield High School.

As the man who recruited him, Ochs said Petraiuolo’s recognition is a rewarding experience.

“It means that what I thought he could be four or five years ago is coming to fruition,” Ochs said. “He’s just a good kid from a good family who has worked hard and I’m just glad to see some of his efforts come to fruition here in the last couple years.”

Chamberlin said Petraiuolo would be great at whatever he does because of his even-keeled personality.

“If he was a doctor, I would feel comfortable going to him and letting him help me,” Chamberlin said. “And if he’s a teacher, I would feel comfortable sending my child to his class.”