By TOMMY BRYAN
The Wilson Post

There is much more to being a successful football player than just times in the forty yard dash and how much iron you can lift.

The Middle Tennessee Champter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc., will recognize some 63 high school and college football players for their academic achievement, community service and leadership with their 43rd annual banquet Tuesday, March 19 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

By TOMMY BRYAN
The Wilson Post

There is much more to being a successful football player than just times in the forty yard dash and how much iron you can lift.

The Middle Tennessee Champter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc., will recognize some 63 high school and college football players for their academic achievement, community service and leadership with their 43rd annual banquet Tuesday, March 19 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

All six Wilson County high schools will be represented as will an athlete from Cumberland University and Trousdale County High School.

“This is a tremendous honor for these young men,” said Middle Tennessee NFF board member Wes Elrod.

“Each high school student-athlete will receive a $500 college scholarship and will be eligible for the Admiral William P. Lawrence Award”

The top university football scholar-athlete will be eligible for the C.R. Bickerstaff / Coach Bill Pace Award.

“We will also be recognizing outstanding community leaders and great Americans by awarding the Fred Russell Distinguished American Award and the Roy Kramer Contribution to Football Award,” Coach Elrod said.

Local honorees include: Jonathan Harrison of Watertown High, Trey Walker of Friendship Christian Schoo, Ross Strong of Wilson Central, Spenser Johnson of Mt. Juliet, Joseph Austin Dillon of Trousdale County High and Keenan Dye of Lebanon High.

Cumberland University’s Jared Fugate is the collegiate student-athlete nominee from Wilson County.Ironically, Fugate was an NFF student-athlete scholarship winner following his senior year of high school at Brentwood High School.

Corporate sponsors are a vital component of the scholarship program and the black-tie event.

Among the local sponsors are:

• Maggie Moos / Shoney’s Lebanon -- Kay Couch;
• Perma-Pipe -- Bill Erwin;
• UMC / Dr. Damon Petty;
• Extra Point Sports -- David Elrod.
   
  For more information, please check the website: www.nffnashville.com.

Sports Editor Tommy Bryan may  be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .