PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame has announced that five BIG EAST Conference football players have been chosen as semifinalists for the 2007 Draddy Trophy.

The Draddy Trophy is presented to one college football player each season in recognition of performance on the playing field, in academics and in service to the community. The BIG EAST has had two winners of the award, including former Rutgers running back Brian Leonard, who won last season. Joaquin Gonzalez of Miami was the 2001 winner.

The five BIG EAST players in contention for the 2007 award are Cincinnati offensive tackle Digger Bujnoch, Louisville offensive guard Daniel Barlowe, Rutgers linebacker Brandon Renkart, Syracuse offensive guard Ryan Durand, and West Virginia linebacker Bobby Hathaway.

Bujnoch has been a three-year starter on the offensive line and is a two-time selection to the BIG EAST All-Academic team for Cincinnati, which is ranked No. 23 in this week's national polls. He is majoring in finance.

Barlowe is in his second year as a starter on the Louisville offensive line and his fourth year as a varsity contributor. He is a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic selection and is majoring in exercise science and sports medicine.

Renkart, who looks to become the second straight Rutgers player to win the Draddy Trophy, is a civil engineering major who is a member of the Alpha Sigma and Tau Beta Pi honor societies. He is a two-year starter at linebacker for the Scarlet Knights and a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic selection.

Durand is in his second year as a starter at offensive guard for Syracuse and is a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic selection. He is majoring in health and exercise science.

Hathaway is a finance major who is a second-year starter at strong-side linebacker for West Virginia, which is ranked in the top 10 of both national polls this week. He has twice been named to the BIG EAST All-Academic team.

The 15 finalists for the Draddy Trophy will be announced Oct. 25. Each finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and will be named to the NFF National Scholar Athlete Class. The winner will be announced at the NFF annual awards dinner Dec. 4 and will receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.