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Elijah Hicks Named 12th Pop Warner College Football Award Winner

Cal captain makes significant impact on and off the field, serves as role model and inspiration for young student-athletes.

LANGHORNE, PA (February 1, 2022) – Pop Warner Little Scholars, the nation’s longest-serving and most prestigious youth football organization, today announced that California six-time game captain Elijah Hicks, a third team All-American, first team All-Pac-12 safety and active participant in fighting hunger and poverty in the community, has been named the 12th Pop Warner National College Football Award winner for embodying the ideals of a student-athlete.

Established in 2010, the Pop Warner College Football Award recognizes a senior who shows exceptional leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

On the field, Hicks built an impressive resume over the course of five seasons. He totaled 213 tackles with 14.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, five interceptions and six forced fumbles while playing in all 54 games possible with 46 starts. In his senior season, Hicks co-led the Pac-12 with four forced fumbles, while adding 72 tackles and three interceptions, all career highs.

Hicks is participating in the East-West Shrine Bowl on February 3, the longest running college all-star football game in the nation. He will be presented the Pop Warner College Football Player of the Year Award at a team ceremony February 2.

Off the field, Hicks’ resume becomes even more impressive. He earned an undergraduate degree in American Studies before adding two graduate certificates in entrepreneurship and business administration. His success in the classroom solidified him as a semifinalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy, also known as the Academic Heisman.

Outside the classroom, Hicks dedicated himself to making a meaningful impact in his community. Inspired by his own personal story, he established a non-profit, Intercept Poverty Foundation, aimed at combating poverty on college campuses by helping low income students overcome financial roadblocks.

Through his non-profit, Hicks has led a number of initiatives, including a partnership with No Kid Hungry that raised nearly $70,000 to feed children of families adversely affected by COVID-19 and an emergency grant program with Scholarship America that awards relief funds to Cal students in need of financial aid. Additionally, Hicks has spent many hours volunteering at the UC Berkeley Food Pantry in the school's Basic Needs Center.

Hicks’ dedication in the classroom and impact in the community has earned him a number of accolades including Cal's Jonathan and Judy Hoff Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, AFCA All-State Good Works Team® member, Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist and two-time Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award semifinalist.
 
“Elijah’s accomplishments on the field are enough for celebration, but his commitment to his studies, his team and his community make him a true embodiment of Pop Warner and a role model for the next generation of young student-athletes,” said Jon Butler, executive director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “Each year we are impressed by the nominations for this award and the stories about college football players whose exploits on the field are well known but who are also working diligently in the classroom and study hall to get great grades while giving back to others in the community. The balance exhibited on and off the field by our finalists this year is beyond impressive. Elijah is the definition of difference maker and we are honored to have him among our incredible list of Pop Warner College Football Award winners.”

"Elijah Hicks is very deserving of the Pop Warner College Football Award,” said Cal coach Justin Wilcox. “He takes a great deal of pride in everything he is involved with including football, academics and his work in the community. It has been a pleasure to coach and get to know Elijah over the past five years. He is a tremendous representative of our university and what college football is all about.”

Last year’s winner was former Notre Dame and current New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Ian Book.

The other 2021 finalists were:

  • Sean Clifford, Penn State quarterback
  • James Empey, BYU center
  • Pat Fields, Oklahoma safety
  • Joshua Paschal, Kentucky defensive end
  • Shea Pitts, UCLA defensive back

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 popwarner.com or follow Pop Warner on Twitter @Pop_Warner, Facebook @PopWarnerLittleScholars, Instagram @popwarnerlittlescholars and Snap @popwarner1929.

Elijah Hicks

About the Pop Warner College Football Award

The Pop Warner National College Football Award recognizes a college graduating senior who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community, and serves as a role model to Pop Warner’s young student athletes.

Pop Warner created the award in 2010 to honor a college player who has continued to demonstrate Pop Warner’s fundamental values of sportsmanship, academics and community service at the next level.

The award is presented annually.

About Pop Warner Little Scholars

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 at http://twitter.com/Pop_Warner.

2021 Pop Warner College Football Award Winner

NOTRE DAME QB IAN BOOK NAMED 2020 POP WARNER NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARD WINNER

LANGHORNE, PA – University of Notre Dame’s Ian Book, team captain and one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, today was named winner of the 2020 Pop Warner National College Football Award. 

Established in 2010, the award recognizes a senior who shows exceptional leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community. 
 
On the field, Book has captained Notre Dame to a perfect 10-0 record so far this season, making him the all-time winningest quarterback in Irish history with 30 career wins. As a dual-threat quarterback, he has completed 181 passes for 2,382 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 465 yards and eight touchdowns this season. 
 
Book earned his degree in marketing from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, one of the nation’s top-ranked business schools, and is now working toward a graduate degree.
 
Book has been an active volunteer, giving back to the community. For the past four years he has participated in the annual Shop With A Player Christmas event, hosting underserved youth from the local St. Joseph County to go holiday shopping. He has also volunteered with the Kelly Cares Foundation, running a football camp for women who survived breast cancer, and he joined the Notre Dame football team to play in a charity fundraiser softball game against local first responders.

In high school, Book served as a host for “Evening of Dreams,” a Senior Ball for local youth with disabilities, and was a regular volunteer at the local El Dorado County Foodbank, serving as the “Poster Boy” for the annual Fill The Bowl event. He was the top fundraiser for the Sacramento Shrine Bowl (Shriners Hospital) in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, and was a volunteer at St. Anthony’s Foundation food shelter in San Francisco.
 
“Playing college football has been a dream of mine since fourth grade when I started playing Pop Warner. It’s where I learned the importance of hard work, sacrifice and commitment to achieve a team goal,” said Book. “I want to thank Pop Warner for this amazing award. It is truly humbling to be representing Notre Dame and be honored by such an iconic organization. I would like to thank my teammates and coaches. I wouldn’t be here today without them. Go Irish!”
 
“Ian has led Notre Dame not only to a great season under the most trying circumstances but throughout an historic career as the school’s winningest QB. On top of that, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership on and off the field. What stands out the most is Ian's dedication to performing his best at the highest level of academics and athletics,” said Jon Butler, Executive Director of Pop Warner Little Scholars.

“Ian has shown our Pop Warner student-athletes the importance of hard work, perseverance, teamwork and a commitment to school, team and community. We’re honored to have him represent Pop Warner as our 2020 College Football Award winner.”
 
Last year’s winner was former USC wide receiver Michael Pittman, Jr. 
 
The other 2020 finalists were:
 
●    Baylor University Linebacker Terrel Bernard   
●    University of Utah Linebacker Devin Lloyd
●    Stanford University Safety Malik Antoine
●    University of Alabama Tight End Miller Forristall
●    University of Kentucky Tackle Landon Young
 
“This has been a difficult year for everyone and yet it’s been inspiring to see how so many student-athletes continue to shine on the field, in the community and in the classroom. In many ways, this year has required the values that so many of our recipients and Pop Warner athletes possess -- teamwork, perseverance and resilience,” said Butler. “We have once again been moved by an amazing group of nominees who have represented themselves, their universities and their communities with distinction.”

POP WARNER ANNOUNCES 12TH ANNUAL NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARD FINALISTS

Presented to a senior who leads on the field, in the classroom and in the community

LANGHORNE, PA (December 22, 2021) – Pop Warner Little Scholars, the nation’s oldest youth football organization, has announced six finalists for its 12th Annual Pop Warner College Football Award. The award was established in 2010 to recognize a senior who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community, and serves as a role model to Pop Warner’s young student athletes.

The 2021 finalists are:

  • Sean Clifford, Penn State quarterback
  • James Empey, BYU center
  • Pat Fields, University of Oklahoma safety
  • Elijah Hicks, University of California safety
  • Joshua Paschal, University of Kentucky defensive end
  • Shea Pitts, UCLA defensive back

The Pop Warner Little Scholars National College Football Award will be presented in January. Last year’s winner was former Notre Dame and current New Orleans Saints quarterback Ian Book.

“The college athletic landscape has changed significantly over the past year, from COVID to NIL, and more than ever athletes are being called on to be role models and leaders in their communities,”  said Jon Butler, executive director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “We believe athletes have a duty to lead on and off the field, and what they do off of it is often much more important and impactful. It’s inspiring to see so many college players who embody Pop Warner’s fundamental values of sportsmanship, academics and community service at the highest level and we are honored to have such an amazing group of finalists who have represented themselves, their universities and their communities with distinction.”

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) and Book.

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 popwarner.com or follow Pop Warner on Twitter @Pop_Warner, Facebook @PopWarnerLittleScholars, Instagram @popwarnerlittlescholars and Snap @popwarner1929.

2021 National College Football Award Finalists

     

     

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