NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Announces 2025 Scholar-Athlete Honorees

Chapter will honor four collegiate and 31 high school scholar-athletes during the chapter’s 16th Annual Awards Banquet on March 30

Pictured: 2024 NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Scholar-Athletes including president of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, Adam Hochfelder (bottom center) and award-winning sportscaster, Scott Murray (middle left).

DALLAS, Texas (Mar. 27, 2025) – The NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas, the north Texas chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc., announced today the honorees who will be recognized for their accomplishments during the chapter's 16th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet this Sunday, March 30, at the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria.

The chapter will honor four collegiate and 31 high school scholar-athletes from the north Texas region. Four high school students will be recognized with special awards and scholarships including one who will be named as the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Scholar-Athlete of the Year. This student will also receive national recognition as a member of the NFF Team of Distinction. The 2024 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Cooper Peach, and Head Football Coach, Scott Peach, of Arlington High School, will be on hand to present this prestigious award.

NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell will present the 2025 Distinguished Texan Award to Dallas Cowboys legend, Bob Lilly. This award is presented to someone who has exhibited a lifetime of interest in the game of football and made significant contributions to the betterment of sport in Texas. Award-winning sportscaster Scott Murray, who was the recipient of the chapter's 2021 Distinguished Texan Award, will emcee for the 16th consecutive year.

Tickets for the banquet are still available and may be purchased online.

"We have the privilege of honoring another group of remarkable high school and collegiate scholar-athletes who not only excel on the football field, but also in the classroom and in their communities," said NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter president Gerald Brence, a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor and current assistant football coach at McKinney Christian Academy. "We are also looking forward to honoring Bob Lilly and our other major award winners who have all made a lasting impact on the game and the area."

The college and high school candidates were selected based on their athletic accomplishments, academic performance, and leadership in the community. The high school honorees will enroll in the fall at a prestigious list of institutions, including Ivy League schools, state universities and the service academies, with many continuing to play football at the next level.

2025 Distinguished Texan Award

  • Bob Lilly, Super Bowl Champion player with the Dallas Cowboys over 14 seasons; member of the Pro Football and College Football Hall of Fames

Other Major Award Winners

  • Legends Award: Randy Allen, legendary Highland Park high school football coach with 460 wins and four state championships (2005, 2016, 2017, and 2018)

  • Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football: James Craft, founding member of the Clearview Foundation supporting the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas and other charities

  • Steve Storie Official of the Year: Robert “Scooter” Asel, former Texas high school football player and official

  • College Coach of the Year: Rhett Lashlee, Southern Methodist University head football coach

  • High School Coach of the Year (6A): Ray Gates, North Crowley High School head football coach and 2024 Conference 6A Division 1 state champion

  • High School Coach of the Year (4A): Bill Elliott, Celina High School head football coach and 2024 Conference 4A Division 1 state champion

  • High School Coach of the Year (3A): Jake Fieszel, Gunter High School head football coach and 2024 Conference 3A Division 2 state champion

  • High School Coach of the Year (TAPPS DII): Aaron Beck, All Saints’ Episcopal School (Fort Worth) head football coach and 2024 TAPPS Division II state champion

2025 Collegiate Scholar-Athletes

  • Chase Curtis - Texas Christian University

  • Brady Dygert – Austin College

  • Jayden Hill – University of North Texas

  • Jonathan McGill - Southern Methodist University

2025 High School Scholar-Athletes

  • Jayden Bahlman - H. Grady Spruce HS (DISD)

  • Alejandro Benitez - Thomas Jefferson HS (DISD)

  • Evan Bleecker - McKinney Christian Academy

  • Samuel Buckner - R.L. Turner HS (CFB-ISD)

  • Weston Chaney - Argyle HS

  • Tyreke Cockroft - Skyline HS (DISD)

  • Hudson Dalton - All Saints’ Episcopal School (Fort Worth)

  • Carter Devero - Nolan Catholic HS

  • Rushil Doshi - Plano Senior HS

  • Brycen Foster - Western Hills HS (FWISD)

  • Benjamin Golik - The Covenant School (Dallas)

  • Luke Graves - Colleyville Heritage HS (GC-ISD)

  • Jackson Heatherly - Anna HS

  • Kolson Hudson - Lake Ridge HS (Mansfield)

  • Ty Hughes - Celina HS

  • Javier Ipiña - Sunset HS (DISD)

  • Collin Macon - Sherman HS

  • Jackson McGinley - Highland Park HS

  • Hayden Meyer - Granbury HS

  • Colin Oates - Plano East Senior HS

  • Easton Pulliam - Lone Star HS (Frisco)

  • Will Robertson - Allen HS

  • Stone Soto - Arlington HS

  • Jayden Stinson - Wilmer-Hutchins HS (DISD)

  • Jorge Tandazo - Emmett J. Conrad HS (DISD)

  • Preston Tarpley - Gunter HS

  • Lincoln Taylor - Plano West Senior HS

  • Ryder Treadway - Dr. Justin Wakeland HS (Frisco)

  • TJ Tupou - Trinity HS (Euless)

  • Noah Urias - Bryan Adams HS Leadership Academy (DISD)

  • Luis Vergara - Moises E. Molina HS (DISD)

  • Nico Vitale - Woodrow Wilson HS (DISD)

  • Keaton Williams - Wilmer-Hutchins HS (DISD)

  • Jack Yeskie - Jesuit College Preparatory of Dallas

Click here to join the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas chapter. Along with providing a rebate that supports the chapter's initiatives, membership benefits include a vote in the annual College Football Hall of Fame election, an exclusive NFF branded t-shirt and a membership certificate. Those that opt for a three-year or lifetime membership will also receive an NFF travel mug.

About NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas

Founded in 2008, the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas (www.nffdallas.org) is one of 120 nationwide chapters of the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame (www.footballfoundation.org). The NFF is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship, and athletic achievement in young people. NFF programs include Future For Football, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. 

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Media Contact
Gary Peek
gpeek@nffdallas.org
972.465.0173

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NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Announces 2025 Major Award Winners