DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis football student-athlete Jayce Smalley was named a National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete by the Sacramento Valley Chapter at the organization's annual banquet.

The award recognizes the combination of football performance, academic achievement, and school leadership. Smalley was named a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist by the NFF during the season.

 

The UCLA graduate transfer, earned his degree in just three years in Westwood, has already etched his name on an MBA degree in Davis and is working on another graduate degree in professional accountancy. Smalley boasted a 3.82 GPA in his MBA program.

On the field, the Kaneohe, Hawai'i native bided his time, and it paid off for the Aggies during his final season on the collegiate gridiron. Smalley started in all 11 games for UC Davis in 2022, ranking third on the team with 48 total tackles, including 28 solo stops. The linebacker added four tackles for loss that included two sacks. He also chipped in with two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Against Causeway rival Sacramento State, Smalley registered a career-high 14 tackles. Against Montana State, the linebacker posted six tackles, a sack and broke up a pass.

In the classroom, Smalley also received the Robert H. Smiley Award during his time in the MBA program, that recognized outstanding leadership. He was also named the Director of Health and Wellness for the MBA program and is a UC Davis Program Ambassador.