LANGHORNE, PA – Pop Warner Little Scholars, the nation’s preeminent youth football organization, has announced four finalists for its 15th Annual Pop Warner College Football Award. The award was established in 2010 to recognize a senior who has made a positive impact on the field, in the classroom and in the community, and serves as a role model to Pop Warner’s young student-athletes.

This year’s finalists include:

• Fernando Mendoza, Cal, QB: The Golden Bears captain and starting quarterback from Miami has thrown for 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns this year. He coordinated the Columbus High School Turkey Drive in which 436 turkeys were given to families in need in Miami-Dade County, and is a founding member of They Can Too, a global organization dedicated to helping and spreading awareness for youth in need. He hosts The Daily Take podcast, and organized a Cuban Relief Service trip in which he and his grandfather Alberto Espino went to Cuba to give back to their native community, locals and family members. He is one of three hosts of the 2024 Golden Buddies Football Clinic for youth with and without disabilities along with Golden Bear teammates Jack Endries and Myles Williams.
  
  
• Jalen Milroe, Alabama, QB: Considered one of the most prolific players in college football, Jalen has thrown for 15 touchdowns and rushed for 20 as the starting quarterback for the 13th ranked Crimson Tide. He graduated cum laude with a degree in management – entrepreneurship concentration in only three years, finished with a 3.5 cumulative GPA in undergrad and is currently pursuing his master's degree in sport management. He is a President's List honoree and three time Dean's List honoree. He was 2023 CoSIDA Academic All-District IV and 2022 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll and consistently serves as one of the top contributors to the Crimson Tide's community service efforts since his arrival on campus.
  
  
• Connor Pay, BYU, OL: The Cougars senior captain is a semifinalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, three-time Rimington Trophy Watch List (2022, 2023, 2024), member of the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 (2024) team, and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. Connor is the current starting center and blocking scheme play caller on what was the College Football News Offensive Line of the Year in 2022. He is part of the BYU True Blue Hero program, recognizing people in the community who are dealing with life-changing illnesses, and is part of Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry, where he volunteers to help at the food bank on a regular basis. He is part of the Make a Wish Foundation and hosted lunch at the BYU football stadium for a young boy who is fighting a terminal disease. He regularly visits children who are struggling with illness and injuries.
  
  
• Josh Kattus, Kentucky, TE: Josh has appeared in 27 games for Kentucky, including 10 starts, with 19 receptions and touchdown catches against Texas and Tennessee this season. He made a pivotal play at No. 6 Ole Miss, recovering a fumble at the two-yard line and diving into the end zone for UK's game-winning touchdown. Academically, Kattus was named to the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll as a freshman and the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll as a sophomore. He is a three-time Dean's List honoree. Kattus participated in the 2024 Dancing with the Lexington Stars event, raising over $34,000 for the Lexington Rotary Club Endowment Fund and Surgery on Sunday, a nonprofit providing free outpatient procedures for those in need. He actively volunteers at Lexington's Ronald McDonald House and Scott County Humane Society.
  

The Pop Warner Little Scholars National College Football Award will be announced on December 9 as part of the 67th Pop Warner Super Bowl at Camping World Stadium, which is held on December 7-14. Last year’s winner was Texas Tech defensive lineman Tony Bradford Jr., two-time All-Big 12 honorable mention and a member of the AFCA Good Works Team, recognized for his leadership on and off the field, contributing significantly to discussions within the Big 12 Conference and serving as a driving force behind Texas Tech's community service initiatives.

Previous recipients have included, Prince Amukamara (Nebraska), Chase Minnifield (Virginia), Sean Renfree (Duke), Gary Bush (Purdue), Jordan Richards (Stanford), Brandon Chubb (Wake Forest), Evan Engram (Mississippi), Braxton Berrios (Miami), CJ Conrad (Kentucky), Michael Pittman, Jr. (USC), Ian Book (University of Notre Dame) and Elijah Hicks (University of California) and Kenneth Horsey (Kentucky).

From Red Raider to role model – Texas Tech defensive dynamo creates a legacy of leadership, performance and community impact, serving as inspiration for young student-athletes.

LANGHORNE, PA (December 5, 2023) – Pop Warner Little Scholars, the nation’s preeminent youth football organization, has announced Texas Tech defensive lineman Tony Bradford Jr. as the recipient of its 14th Pop Warner College Football Award. The award is given annually to a college football player who best exemplifies the Pop Warner ideals of character, leadership and community service.

Bradford is a leader on the defensive line for the Red Raiders and has been a key contributor to the team's success during his five-year tenure, recording 35 starts in 52 games and amassing 134 tackles, including 29 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, He is a three-time All-Big 12 selection and has helped the Red Raiders win back-to-back bowl games in the 2021 AutoZone Liberty Bowl and the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl. 

In the classroom, Bradford is a two-time graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's in interdisciplinary studies. This year, he is pursuing an additional graduate degree in public administration. His goal is to enter law enforcement following his playing career and, ultimately, rising to chief of police for a major metropolitan department.  

Bradford is a staple in the West Texas community through advocacy and volunteer work, especially in underserved areas of East Lubbock. Bradford has been actively involved in neighborhood cleanups as well as voter registration drives, peace walks and visits to local elementary schools and local non-profit organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House, the Texas Boys Ranch, South Plains Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Burgers and Badges and more. Bradford has regularly visited local school districts to demonstrate, as he puts it, that "kids who look just like me can achieve what I have, too." His impact on the local community has earned him the title of Lubbock’s "honorary mayor.” 

For the holidays, Bradford organized a turkey giveaway that benefited roughly 200 Lubbock families. He donated 100 turkeys through his NIL proceeds, which were matched locally by United Supermarkets Arena. 

Bradford serves as a longtime member of the Texas Tech Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was selected to represent the university as part of the Big 12 Champions for Life campaign, which recognizes stories of scholarship athletes who use their platforms and voices to promote change. His unwavering commitment to positive impact earned him a spot as a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award in 2023 and on the AFCA Good Works Team in 2022. 

"Tony’s on-field excellence is matched by his remarkable passion and dedication to giving back and inspiring others off of it. He embodies everything we aspire our young athletes to be – good students, hard workers and leaders in their community,” said Jon Butler, executive director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “We are proud to honor Tony with this award, and grateful  for the incredible example all of our nominees set for the next generation.” 

“I’m truly honored and blessed to be named the winner of the Pop Warner College Football Award,” said Bradford..” My hope is that through this award and the accomplishments we’ve been able to achieve during my time as a Red Raider, it will inspire other student-athletes to actively contribute to their local communities and strive to be an example for future generations. I’m grateful for the Pop Warner organization for not only this honor but for what it does for the future leaders of our sport on a daily basis.”

This year’s other award finalists included:

• Elijah McAllister, Auburn University linebacker

• Malik Washington, University of Virginia wide receiver

• Matthew Cindric, University of California, Berkeley offensive lineman

• Ja'Mion Franklin, Duke University defensive tackle

“Tony Bradford is everything we could ask for in a student-athlete. He’s not only a leader on our defense, but he’s a powerful voice within our athletics department and our community,” said Joey McGuire, Texas Tech head coach. “When people hear ‘The Mayor’ speak, they immediately listen. We appreciate the Pop Warner organization for choosing him as this year’s winner in recognition of his commitment to making the world around him a better place.”

About Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.

Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Langhorne, PA, Pop Warner Little Scholars is the nation’s oldest youth football, cheerleading and dance organization and the only youth sports organization that emphasizes academics as a prerequisite for participation. Pop Warner participants enjoy the opportunity to learn and compete in their sports in an atmosphere that emphasizes fun, safety, academics and character. For more information on Pop Warner and its programs visit www.popwarner.com or follow Pop Warner on Twitter. Instagram or Facebook.