UConn Huskies senior wide receiver Nick Williams has been named a finalist for the Pop Warner Award.
Here's the release:
LANGHORNE, Pa. – University of Connecticut senior wide receiver and returner Nick Williams (East Windsor, N.J.) has been named one of four finalists for the third annual Pop Warner National College Football Award.
The award, established in 2010, recognizes a Pop Warner alumnus who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community. It is presented to a student-athlete who has taken the ideals of Pop Warner to the next level and serves as a role model to Pop Warner’s young scholar athletes.
Williams played Pop Warner football in Highstown, N.J., in sixth, seventh and eighth grade.
Williams is UConn’s all-time leader in return yardage (punt and kickoff) with 2,389 yards and this past week was named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week – the second time this year he has earned that honor.
He is an economics major who will graduate this December and was a member of the 2011 BIG EAST All-Academic team.
The 2012 finalists also include Duke quarterback Sean Renfree, Miami (Fla.) running back Mike James and Michigan offensive guard Patrick Omameh.
The Pop Warner National College Football Award is presented during the annual Pop Warner Super Bowl at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The inaugural award was presented to former Nebraska and current New York Giants’ defensive back Prince Amukamara. In 2011, the award was presented to former Virginia and current Washington Redskins' cornerback Chase Minnifield.
“To play Pop Warner football, we require our young athletes to perform in the classroom and ask that they represent their community in a positive light,” said Jon Butler, executive director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “We created the Pop Warner National College Football Award to honor a student-athlete who has continued to demonstrate those values at the next level, and who serves as a positive example for our young athletes both on and off the field. We considered hundreds of tremendous athletes this year, and found an exceptional group of finalists in Sean Renfree, Mike James, Patrick Omameh and Nick Williams.”
The winner of the Pop Warner National College Football Award will be announced on December 5 during the 56th annual Pop Warner Super Bowl.
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photo credit: patrick raycraft – hartford courant
