Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., the nation’s largest and oldest youth football, cheer and dance organization, presented the first-ever Pop Warner National College Football Award to University of Nebraska senior cornerback Prince Amukamara on Wednesday, December 8 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The award recognizes a Pop Warner alumnus who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community. Watch an Interview with Amukamara+

Pop Warner presented the award to Amukamara during the 54th Annual Pop Warner Super Bowl at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL.  The Pop Warner National College Football Award will be presented each year during the Super Bowl.

Amukamara was recently named Big 12 defensive player of the year. He is also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive back, which will be presented during the Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards on Thursday, December 9.

“To play Pop Warner football we require our young athletes to do well in school, and we 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 College Football Award to honor a student-athlete who has continued to demonstrate those values at the next level, and offer our current players a positive example on and off the field. We found a tremendous first time honoree. Beyond his exceptional skills as a defensive back, Prince Amukamara is a respected teammate, excellent student and an admirable young man. We think Prince is an inspiration to Pop Warner’s youth and a model for what our college award represents.”

Amukamara, who has established himself as one of the most respected defensive players in all of college football, has displayed an enduring commitment to sports, academics and the community throughout his career with the Huskers.  The Glendale, AZ native has made community service a personal priority, with regular visits to local hospitals, as well as outreach to veterans and children with Down’s Syndrome.

He is a political science major, and was named to the 2007 Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll. Amukamara was named to the 2010 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team, which annually honors Nebraska football players who have “consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty providing excellent leadership, involvement and service.”