NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Announces 2024 Scholar-Athlete Honorees
Pictured: 2023 NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Scholar-Athletes including TCU head football coach, Sonny Dykes (top left), award-winning sportscaster, Scott Murray (bottom left), and award-winning sportscaster for KTVT/CBS DFW, Bill Jones (top right).
Chapter will honor five collegiate and 40 high school scholar-athletes during the chapter’s 15th Annual Awards Banquet on March 24.
DALLAS, Texas (Mar. 21, 2024) – 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 15th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet this Sunday, March 24, at the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria.
The chapter will honor five collegiate and 40 high school scholar-athletes from the north Texas region. Five 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 2023 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Cameron Hammond, and Head Football Coach, Jerry Edwards, of Colleyville Heritage High School, will be on hand to present this prestigious award.
NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell will present the 2024 Distinguished Texan Award to Adam Hochfelder of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. 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 15th 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 Adam Hochfelder 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.
2024 Distinguished Texan Award
Adam Hochfelder, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
Other Major Award Winners
Legends Award: Sam Harrell, long-time head coach at Ennis High School
Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football: Bill Hill, distinguished trial lawyer and former Dallas County District Attorney
Steve Storie Official of the Year: Anthony Flemming, long-time college and NFL referee
College Coach of the Year: Rhett Lashlee, Southern Methodist University head football coach
High School Coach of the Year (4A): Seth Parr, Anna High School head football coach
High School Coach of the Year (3A): Jake Fieszel, Gunter High School head football coach
2024 NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Collegiate Scholar-Athletes
Brent Matiscik – Texas Christian University
Jonathan McGill – Southern Methodist University
Jarrett Pleasant – Austin College
Petr Svoboda – Texas Wesleyan University
Ethan Wesloski – University of North Texas
2024 NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas High School Scholar-Athletes
Wilson Axley - Highland Park High School
Brandon Barnes, Jr - Dallas Skyline High School
Dobson Beaird – The Covenant School of Dallas
Collin Blackstock - Frisco Lone Star High School
Jayden Blevins - Dallas Lincoln High School
Jacob Breazeale - Richardson High School
Steven Cole - Colleyville Heritage High School
Juan de la Mora - Dallas Emmett J. Conrad High School
Evan Enderlin – Hebron High School
Andrew Erlenbusch - Carrollton Ranchview High School
Thomas Fitton - Dallas Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy
Ke’shawn Ford – Lewisville High School
Gibson Garrett - Plano Senior High School
Joe Gionfriddo - Sherman High School
Joey Glendenning - Mansfield Lake Ridge High School
Abdi Hernandez - West Mesquite High School
Landon Hickey - Flower Mound High School
Traelyn James - Mesquite Poteet High School
Michael Johnson - Mesquite High School
Justice Jones - Argyle High School
Tripp Marshall - Lake Highlands High School
Cam McGuire - Dallas Woodrow Wilson High School
Ford Morris - Dallas Hillcrest High School
Drew Noonan – Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas
Walker Overman - Gunter High School
Armando Padron - Dallas Franklin D. Roosevelt School of Innovation
Joshua Palma - Plano East High School
Cooper Peach - Arlington High School
Joseph Pilcher - Euless Trinity High School
Amos Rattler - Dallas Wilmer-Hutchins High School
Tye Renfro - Fort Worth Boswell High School
Xavier Richmond - Fort Worth Western Hills High School
Pierson Rougeau - Carrollton Newman Smith High School
Luke Seder - North Mesquite High School
Grayson Stewart – Anna High School
Cole Thompson - North Dallas High School
Parker Tinsley – Allen High School
Angel Torres - Dallas Thomas Jefferson High School
Colton Wilson – Ennis High School
Reid Wyss – Granbury High School
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