Army West Point Athletics
Football’s Ryan, Cooper Finalists for NFF Award
September 13, 2016 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point rookies David Cooper and Joe Ryan were both announced as finalists for 2016 NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Cooper and Ryan are among just 36 nominees nationwide for this honor that recognizes one young man from each of the country's five regions as the best and the brightest for their accomplishments as athletes, scholars and citizens at the high school level.
The finalists all graduated from high school in 2016 and are now playing college football. The five honorees, who are being recognized for their previous accomplishments in high school, will be announced the week of Oct. 3.
"The NFF Chapter Network continues to grow and excel, and their work this year has allowed us to identify these 36 exceptional high school scholar-athletes who have clearly established themselves among the best in the nation," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "It will be a difficult task to select one from each region as the absolute best. Each possesses incredible talent in all facets of their lives, and it is a tremendous honor for us to highlight their accomplishments."
Cooper, a Alexandria, Va., native lettered in football and soccer at Bishop Ireton High School. He holds the Bishop Ireton record for most field goals in a season, most points by a kicker and longest field goal. Cooper garnered All-State and All-Met recognition during his career, while also being named Athlete of the Month and Male Football Player of the Year by the Alexandria Sportsman Club. He was nominated by the NFF National Capital (D.C.) for the East region.
Ryan, joined the Black Knights from Tampa, Fla., where he earned three varsity letters in football at H.B. Plant High School. He captained the team during his senior season, while playing the linebacker position. Ryan was also named the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award Winner in the Tampa Charter. He garnered first Team All-County distinction twice and garnered First Team All-State 7A honors as a senior. He was nominated by the NFF Tampa (Fla.) Chapter for the South region.
A national committee will select five honorees, one from each region. The five honorees will travel to New York City to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. First bestowed in 1991, the NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards have become one of the most prestigious high school honors in the country. Criteria for the award include but are not limited to academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement.
To view the list of finalists, click here.
The Black Knights are back in action Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern time when they visit Texas-El Paso. The game can be seen live on the American Sports Network and also can be heard on the Army Sports Network.
About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame 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. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include FootballMatters.org, the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, annual scholarships of more than $1.3 million and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.
Cooper and Ryan are among just 36 nominees nationwide for this honor that recognizes one young man from each of the country's five regions as the best and the brightest for their accomplishments as athletes, scholars and citizens at the high school level.
The finalists all graduated from high school in 2016 and are now playing college football. The five honorees, who are being recognized for their previous accomplishments in high school, will be announced the week of Oct. 3.
"The NFF Chapter Network continues to grow and excel, and their work this year has allowed us to identify these 36 exceptional high school scholar-athletes who have clearly established themselves among the best in the nation," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "It will be a difficult task to select one from each region as the absolute best. Each possesses incredible talent in all facets of their lives, and it is a tremendous honor for us to highlight their accomplishments."
Cooper, a Alexandria, Va., native lettered in football and soccer at Bishop Ireton High School. He holds the Bishop Ireton record for most field goals in a season, most points by a kicker and longest field goal. Cooper garnered All-State and All-Met recognition during his career, while also being named Athlete of the Month and Male Football Player of the Year by the Alexandria Sportsman Club. He was nominated by the NFF National Capital (D.C.) for the East region.
Ryan, joined the Black Knights from Tampa, Fla., where he earned three varsity letters in football at H.B. Plant High School. He captained the team during his senior season, while playing the linebacker position. Ryan was also named the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award Winner in the Tampa Charter. He garnered first Team All-County distinction twice and garnered First Team All-State 7A honors as a senior. He was nominated by the NFF Tampa (Fla.) Chapter for the South region.
A national committee will select five honorees, one from each region. The five honorees will travel to New York City to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. First bestowed in 1991, the NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards have become one of the most prestigious high school honors in the country. Criteria for the award include but are not limited to academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement.
To view the list of finalists, click here.
The Black Knights are back in action Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern time when they visit Texas-El Paso. The game can be seen live on the American Sports Network and also can be heard on the Army Sports Network.
About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame 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. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include FootballMatters.org, the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, annual scholarships of more than $1.3 million and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.
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