Thebr National Football Foundation (NFF) Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter celebrated seven Texas collegiate scholar-athletes and a record 81 North Texasbr high school scholar-athletes during the chapter’s ninth annual awards banquet April 2. Jackson Mitchell, former captain of the Carrollbr Dragon football team, and Ryan Miller were named to the prestigiousbr list. “We arebr incredibly proud of this year’s scholar-athletes,” said Gerald Brence, president of the NFFbr Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter and the athletics director for the Planobr Independent School District, via press release. “In the ninth year of ourbr chapter, we are honoring a record number of high school scholar-athletes andbr these athletes continue to impress, not only on the field competitively butbr also as scholars and young community leaders. It’s always an honor to meetbr these young men, showcasing the great stories in North Texas that willbr inspire future student-athletes to excel in the classroom and become morebr involved in their communities.” Selectedbr from a pool of candidates that covers the entire region, the seven collegiatebr and 81 high school players (listed below) earned NFF chapter scholar-athletebr recognition in 2017 after a rigorous review. The selection committee,br comprised of coaches, teachers, administrators and business leaders frombr North Texas, evaluated the college and high school candidates based on theirbr athletic accomplishments, academic performance and leadership in thebr community. The high school honorees will enroll in the fall at a prestigiousbr list of institutions, including Ivy League schools, state universities andbr the service academies. Congratulationsbr to the 2017 NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Collegiate Scholar-Athletes: Mattbr Boggs - TCU Andybr Flusche - Northbr Texas Kylebr Fuller - Baylor Brandenbr Hunt - Austinbr College Jacksonbr Mitchell - SMU Akoakoabr Paleka-Kennedy - Midwesternbr State Christianbr Rodriguez - Texasbr A&M-Commerce Congratulations to the 2017 NFF Gridiron Club ofbr Dallas High School Scholar-Athletes: Ramirobr Aguilar Jr. - Dallasbr Sunset Azeezbr Akande - Mesquite Rancebr Albert - Dallasbr Woodrow Wilson Coltbr Atkinson - Denton Brandonbr Bascue - Flowerbr Mound Treybr Bentley - Fort Worthbr Diamond Hill-Jarvis Katrellbr Blakely - Mesquitebr Horn Beaubr Blanton - Friscobr Wakeland Nicholasbr Bowen - Lakebr Highlands Johnbr Brannon - Prosper Isaiahbr Brown - Dallasbr Seagoville Octaviusbr Brown - Dallasbr Spruce Grantbr Buckholt - Rockwall-Heath Austinbr Buley - McKinneybr Boyd Kizmarionbr Burns - Dallasbr Carter Grantbr Buss - Friscobr Liberty Calebbr Carlile - Waxahachie Kendallbr Catalon - Mansfieldbr Legacy Ericbr Cato - Dallasbr Samuell Marquisbr Clark - Dallasbr Molina Dillonbr Davis - Aledo Michaelbr Dearman - Crandall Damianbr English - Dallasbr Life School Oak Cliff Kamronbr Fields - Garlandbr Lakeview Centennial Rockybr Fraid - Carrolltonbr Creekview Stephenbr Gibbs - Dallas Jamesbr Madison Jordanbr Gomez - Dallas W.T.br White Tatebr Heitmeier - Mansfieldbr Lake Ridge Jonathanbr Hobart - McKinney Dontebr Howell - Northbr Mesquite Noahbr Ingram - Mesquitebr Poteet Brycebr Jackson - Dentonbr Guyer Anthonybr Kantzabedian - Planobr West Hoganbr Keasler - Midlothianbr Heritage Ericbr Knight - Westbr Mesquite Tonybr Krasniqi - Sachse Zekebr Kuyawa - Mansfieldbr Timberview Khalilbr Lewis - McKinneybr North Ericbr Loop - Coppell Bradybr Marek - Keller Ianbr McIver - Kellerbr Central Calebbr McKee - Arlington Jaybr Mendenhall - Richardsonbr J.J. Pearce Ryanbr Miller - Southlakebr Carroll Ericbr Mills - Kellerbr Timber Creek Solomonbr Mitchell - Dallasbr Kimball Calebbr Moore - Frisco Lonebr Star Codybr Morris - Dallasbr Adamson Adinbr Morris-Barksdale - Dallasbr North Dallas Brandonbr Motes - Rowlett Michaelbr Mulholland - Granbury Josuebr Munoz - Mansfieldbr Summit Jacobbr Nordin - Carrolltonbr Newman Smith Dayobr Odeyingbo - Carrolltonbr Ranchview Mariobr Ortiz - Colleyvillebr Heritage Jacobbr Palisch - Dallasbr Jesuit Aaronbr Ragas Jr. - Planobr Senior Rubenbr Ramirez - Carrolltonbr R.L. Turner Eduardobr Ramos - Dallasbr Roosevelt Stonebr Ramsey - Dallasbr Bryan Adams Terreonbr Randolph - Dallasbr Skyline Brandonbr Reeves - Krum Idahosabr Robinson - Dallasbr Lincoln Jackbr Rouse - Richardsonbr Berkner Elijahbr Rusche - Trophy Clubbr Byron Nelson Samuelbr Schaefer - Fortbr Worth Paschal Noahbr Sims - Friscobr Centennial Miklobr Smalls - Plano East Iranbr Smith - Dallas Southbr Oak Cliff Antonbr Stewart - Dallasbr Hillcrest Georgebr Stewart - Highlandbr Park Tylerbr Sutton - Fort Worthbr Western Hills Travisbr Taylor - Garlandbr Naaman Forest Luisbr Trejo - Dallasbr Thomas Jefferson Jalanbr Veasley - Richardson Anthonybr Vogel - Lucasbr Lovejoy Cailonbr Washington - Northbr Crowley Drakebr Wayland - Midlothian Gregorybr Weather - Dallasbr Wilmer-Hutchins Joshbr Whitlock - Mansfield T.J.br Williams - Southbr Garland The eventbr also paid tribute to several outstanding individuals for theirbr contributions to the game and the North Texas region. Previously announcedbr honorees included NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell, who accepted the Distinguished Texan Award,br the chapter’s most prestigious honor. Other honoreesbr included Dallas businessman and former State Fair of Texas Chairman Pete Schenkel, who received thebr chapter's Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award, and formerbr Dallas Carter High School head football coach Freddie James, who received the Legends Award. The Stevebr Storie Official of the Year Award went to George Shoup, an official for the Big 12, Mountain West andbr Southland conferences, while the Media Person of the Year Award went to The Dallas Morning News’ Matt Wixon. Highbr school coach honorees included 6A Coach of the Year Todd Peterman (DeSoto), 5A Coach of the Year Randy Allen (Highland Park),br 3A Coach of the Year Jake Fieszel (Gunter)br and Assistant Coach of the Year Graysonbr Wells (Highland Park).
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