Duke linebacker David Helton carries the American flag as the Blue Devils come onto the field before their home game against Virginia. The Baylor graduate ends his award-winning college career Saturday.Over the past month David Helton has become an expert on air travel, logging trips to Orlando, Charlotte, New York and California.
The baggage tickets likely will end up in a scrapbook or as part of a framed memento. They represent a whirlwind of awards programs for one of Duke University’s most celebrated football players.
The ultimate award presented to the former Baylor School standout is the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the academic Heisman, which is presented annually to the nation’s top combination of student, football player and community servant. Helton was proclaimed the 25th recipient of the award on Dec. 9 at the 57th National Football Foundation annual awards dinner in New York.
“David Helton’s exceptional accomplishments rank him among the best student-athletes in the history of our sport, making him the ideal Campbell Trophy recipient,” NFF president Steven J. Hatchell said in the announcement release. “He truly embodies the NFF’s mission of building leaders through football, and we look forward to watching the future unfold for this incredible young man.”
The son of Dr. Keith and Mary Helton, the former Best of Preps pick by the Times Free Press earned a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.