Josh Kristoff, a semifinalist for the "Academic Heisman," has had the drive to succeed in the classroom since he can remember.
There aren’t many better examples of a student-athlete than Josh Kristoff.
Kristoff, a redshirt senior, is devoted to giving 100 percent focus to academics, which has made him a well-rounded individual and placed him on track to complete a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in four-and-a-half years.
His accomplishments on and off the field have qualified him to become one of 167 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is also known as the “Academic Heisman.”
Former college stars Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning have won the award, which recognizes a college football player who excels in the classroom and on the field. All recipients must be a senior with a 3.2-4.0 GPA.
It’s an honor for Kristoff to be nominated, but not unexpected.
“It’s something that I prided myself when I got to college, that I wanted to get as much education as possible and do as well as I could in the classroom,” Kristoff said. “I wanted to be more than just a football player when I came here and I feel like I’ve done that.”
Kristoff has made a difference to the community as well as the football team. The Pickerington native has coached a little league baseball team in Athens, as well as tutored numerous students — including his teammates.
He has already finished his undergraduate studies in integrated mathematics and is scheduled to finish a Master’s degree in coaching education this semester.
Kristoff’s plan has an already-created pathway, as he has a job lined up just outside of his hometown of Pickerington, where he will become a teacher at Reynoldsburg High School in Columbus. He also plans to coach football and baseball.
Kristoff says he stays on top of a packed schedule through punctual time management.
“If you’re not organized, there’s no way you’re going to accomplish the things you want to get done,” Kristoff said.
This strive to be who he has become started when he was a junior in high school, when he realized the importance football has had on his life.
“Football uses your body, so you need to use it back,” Kristoff said. “I really try to harp on that with all my younger teammates.”
The guidance of others doesn’t halt when the Bobcats hit the field. Kristoff’s teammates described him as filling a ‘big brother’ role in the secondary.
Redshirt senior defensive back C.J. Anderson described Kristoff as being a leader.
“(He’s) always willing to help us learn new plays and learn the defense,” Anderson said. “Off the field, if we ever need help in math classes, he’ll be the first one to ask if we need a tutor and he’ll tutor us by himself.”
Kristoff always lends a hand to others, but he has made sure to help mold the minds of younger players in a positive way by demonstrating the importance of being committed to all aspects of being a student-athlete.
Whenever something gets tough, he tries to make sure his teammates stay in good spirits.
Defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow said Kristoff exemplifies exactly what Ohio looks for in a recruit, adding that he has a bright future ahead of him. He explained that Kristoff will spend hours by himself watching film and reading scouting reports on Ohio’s opponents — something that has helped on the field, including his contribution of 17 tackles in just four games played this year.
“When you combine the academic part of it, you have exactly what you’re looking for in a recruit: a student-athlete,” Burrow said. “If I had a young man who had an opportunity to play football for Josh Kristoff as coach, he’d be one of my top choices.”
“When we put up on the board a guy we’d like to recruit, that’s Josh Kristoff.”
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