Four outstanding young football players have been selected as recipients of the National High School Scholar-Athlete Award, given by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame.

The award recognizes high-school football student-athletes who exemplify the term scholar-athlete, successfully combining academics, athletics and citizenship during their high-school careers.

This year's winners are Jeremy Caudill of Prestonburg High School in Prestonburg, Kentucky; Timothy Kirby of Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California; Wesley McConnell of Ruston High School in Ruston, Louisiana; and Joe Weiss of Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey.

More than 3,000 high-school senior football student-athletes are honored each year by chapters of the National Football Foundation. From these, the NFF selects one student-athlete from each of its four regions to receive this recognition.

"To be selected as one of only four scholar-athletes in the entire nation is quite a tribute to these young men," said NFF chair Jon F. Hanson. "Each year, we are amazed by the achievements of the honorees, and this year's group is particularly extraordinary, with each recording a perfect grade-point average."<

Jeremy Caudill
University of Kentucky

A National Merit Scholar, Caudill earned perfect marks in high school and was ranked first in his class, winning the State of Kentucky Scholastic Achievement Honor and the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence. Caudill tutored physically and mentally challenged students and participated in numerous community service projects, serving as chair of the "Feed the Animals," fund drive at his local animal shelter.

A defensive lineman and fullback in high school, Caudill earned all-state recognition twice and was named a Parade Magazine all-American and a Street and Smith all-American pick. Caudill also starred in weight lifting and in track and field. Caudill plays football at Kentucky, where he is majoring in premedicine.

Timothy Kirby
Princeton University

Kirby was ranked first in his class in high school, earning perfect marks in honors courses and winning the Harvard Book Award and the Xerox Award for Humanities. A Life Scout, Kirby was student-body president his senior year, and he also served as a member of the San Mateo Youth Council.

A talented multisport athlete who competed in football, basketball and baseball, Kirby earned numerous honors as a two-way standout at inside linebacker and offensive guard. Kirby is an engineering major at Princeton University.

Wesley McConnell
Louisiana State University-Shreveport

McConnell's perfect marks in high school earned him recognition as a Louisiana Board of Regents Scholar, along with numerous other awards. A role model in the DARE program, a tutor and a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, McConnell was involved in numerous youth service projects.

McConnell excelled in four sports: football, soccer, track and tennis, earning nine varsity letters, three of which came as an offensive lineman. McConnell is an accounting major at Louisiana State-Shreveport, an NAIA institution.

Joe Weiss
Princeton University

A member of the National Honor Society, Weiss earned perfect marks in high school, where he also served on the student council and as a volunteer for the Junior Football League.

Weiss earned 10 varsity letters in three sports, serving as team captain and qualifying for the state championships in both track and field and wrestling. He also earned numerous state and conference accolades as a fullback and as a linebacker. Weiss is an economics major at Princeton University.