Cowboys' Trevon Diggs surprises local high school QB with national award
A talented high school quarterback from the Dallas-Fort Worth area is in the midst of what could be a third straight championship run with an eye toward joining the Alabama Crimson Tide next fall.
So when he was chosen this week to receive one of the country’s top honors, it was only fitting to have Trevon Diggs deliver the news.
The Cowboys cornerback and Alabama alum showed up in Duncanville on Tuesday to surprise Keelon Russell with the trophy naming him the 2024-25 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year.
Leading the Duncanville Panthers to a 13-0 mark so far this year, Russell has put up 3,874 passing yards and a staggering 54 touchdowns, but the National Honor Society member also carries a 3.4 GPA and is a regular volunteer in the community with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Now the 40th Gatorade Player of the Year, Russell’s name will be alongside legends like Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Emmitt Smith, who were also once honored with the prize. In all, six winners of the award have gone on to become first-round draft picks in the NFL.
Photo credit: Joe Greer/Gatorade
“The Gatorade Player of the Year Program has a 40-year history of recognizing young athletes on their journey to greatness,” said Gatorade’s Anuj Bhasin. “Russell’s accomplishments have earned him a spot on the trophy alongside so many iconic athletes, and we can’t wait to see the legacy he will leave behind.”
He may be the No. 2-ranked recruit in the nation, but Russell and Duncanville still have unfinished business to attend to.
The undefeated Panthers are set to play in the 6A Division I state semifinals on Saturday. Listed by MaxPreps as the No. 3 high school team in the country and the top-ranked team in Texas, they’ll square off against 14-0 North Crowley (ranked 9th in the nation) in a legitimate clash of titans.
Watch: Trevon Diggs present Keelon Russell with the Gatorade National Player of the Year: pic.twitter.com/DJGkauXZw7
— BamaHammer (@Bama_Hammer) December 11, 2024
“This is a great opportunity,” Diggs told the Panthers team after their practice on Tuesday. “You worked hard, for sure. Putting your head down, working hard, you see where it got you. I just want you to keep that same mindset, especially going into college.”
Diggs had words of encouragement for Russell, too, hinting that one Sunday in the not-too-distant future, he may be trying to intercept some of the youngster’s passes on an NFL field.
“You’re a great player, that’s a great award,” Diggs told him. “You’re going to go far. I’m going to see you soon.”
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