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A fringe Heisman Trophy candidate in 2013 before he suffered a season-ending leg injury in the fifth game against Utah State, BYU quarterback Taysom Hill got to visit New York City on Tuesday for the presentation of what many in college football believe to be the next best thing: The William V. Campbell Trophy.

The Campbell Trophy, sometimes called the "Academic Heisman," goes to the nation's best scholar athlete and is presented by the National Football Foundation Football Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes an individual who is the best in the country for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.

Hill, a senior who won't play in the Poinsettia Bowl against Wyoming on Dec. 21 because he has an elbow injury, was one of 12 finalists for the award. It went to Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell on Tuesday night.

Hill graduated last spring with a 3.45 GPA in Finance and has been doing graduate school work at BYU. He won 23 games as BYU's starting quarterback and accounted for 9,744 total yards of offense, which ranks him No. 4 in school history.

Hill was accompanied by former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, his offensive coordinator at BYU. In the press conference before the awards dinner, Hill was asked where he would place himself among the great BYU QBs of the past.

"Oh, that's a tough question," Hill said. "I grew up really close to BYU. I grew up idolizing, watching those guys play, wanting to meet them. And then I had the opportunity to play for one of them, Ty Detmer, who is now our offensive coordinator, who will be here this evening.

I don't think that's for me to say. I think that's for the fans, and as analysts look at the numbers, they can say what it is. But one thing I do want to be known for is someone who competed in everything that I did and who loved the game and left it all out there."

Hill was also asked about what it was like to play for Detmer after idolizing him growing up. Hill referred to former BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae, although the transcriber was obviously unfamiliar with Anae and I thought Hill said 'and I.'

"I knew TY before he accepted the job," he said. "And when coach [Robert Anae] went to Virginia with coach [Bronco] Mendenhall, I actually had a conversation with Ty about the position. And so I knew that he was in the running for it, and we had spoken before and someone who I had already called a friend."

Hill continued on about Detmer, saying it was impressive that the former BYU great wanted to give back to the program.

"I think the greatest thing about having Ty there this year is, as a quarterback, he has been through it all. He's thrown many pick-sixes. He's thrown for a lot of touchdowns. He's thrown a lot of interceptions. And in every situation, we would have a conversation about a particular play. He would have a story to go with it. So he knew exactly what I was going through. And it was such an honor to be coached by Ty for his accomplishments and for the person that he is."