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Villa Named a Semifinalist for NFF Award
October 12, 2007
DALLAS – Allegheny College senior linebacker Mateo Villa (Windsor, Ohio/Middlefield Cardinal) has been named one of 153 semifinalists for the National Football Foundation (NFF) Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth. The Draddy trophy is one of college football’s most sought-after and competitive awards, it recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.
This season Villa has been the leader of an Allegheny defense that has allowed an average of just 277 yards and 13.8 points per game. His 54 tackles lead the team, while he has also forced a fumble, recorded a pass breakup and had 2.5 tackles for loss.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent DePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.
Villa is one of 24 semifinalists from NCAA Division III, including one other member of the North Coast Athletic Conference, Brian Hilts of Wabash College.
The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on October 25. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2007 National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Draddy winner, who will receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship, will be announced at the NFF’s Annual Awards Dinner on December 4 at the prestigious Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.
Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The Draddy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program’s mystique. Past Draddy winners include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist and a Heisman winner. Among the notable former winners include last year’s winner and current St. Louis Rams running back Brian Leonard, former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, current New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, and current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
The Gators take to the gridiron on Saturday, October 13 when they travel to Gambier, Ohio to take on the Lords of Kenyon College with kickoff set for 2:00 p.m.