From a pool of 3,500 scholar-athletes identified by a nationwide Chapter Network, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced have announced the 84 members of the 2024 NFF Team of Distinction. As part of its mission to promote the scholar-athlete ideal, the initiative allows the NFF to honor the top high school scholar- athletes from around the country as the best and the brightest at the local level while highlighting the work of the NFF Chapter Network.
Related: 2023 High School Football America Academic All-Americans
The members of the team all played their final high school football season during the 2023-24 school year. Criteria to make the team include (but are not limited to) academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement. Each chapter is limited to one honoree, distinguishing them as the top scholar-athlete from all the high schools covered by the chapter.
“This initiative allows us to shine a national spotlight on some of the most deserving high school student-athletes honored at the local level by our expansive Chapter Network,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “This honor is one of the most prestigious national awards that a high school player can receive. We would like to congratulate all 84 honorees for their success on and off the field. We also want to salute all of our NFF Chapters who continue to play an important role in promoting football in their communities.”
Since 1954, the NFF Chapters have played an integral role in supporting and promoting the game of football at the amateur level while honoring the top scholar-athletes in their local areas. With more than 12,000 members, the nationwide NFF Chapter Network impacts more than 500,000 student-athletes at 5,000 high schools across the country each year.
The centerpiece of the Chapter Network’s efforts are the annual chapter awards banquets, which recognize more than 3,500 of the nation’s top scholar-athletes and distribute more than
$1 million in scholarships.
2024 NFF Team of Distinction Notes
- 84 Honorees
- 40 States Represented
- 4.18 Average GPA
- 70 Team Captains
- 37 All-State Selections
- 6 Valedictorians
- 55 National Honor Society Members
- 2 National Merit Finalists and Honorees
East Region Honorees
Alex Achenbach – RB/QB/S, Williams Valley High School in Tower City, Pennsylvania. Submitted by the NFF Schuylkill County-Pottsville Chapter.
- 3.91 GPA
- Three-year team captain and all-state RB
- Member of the National Honor Society and Student Council
Jacob Dell – OL/DL, Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge, Maryland. Submitted by the NFF Greater Baltimore Chapter.
- 4.56 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-county
- Valedictorian and Key Club President
Cole Denson – QB, Rye Country Day School in Rye, New York. Submitted by the NFF Westchester Chapter.
- 4.23 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-state
- National Merit Commended Student and AP Scholar with Honors
Cosmo Fusco – OT/DE, Mountain Lakes High School in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. Submitted by the NFF Greater Morris County Chapter.
- 4.30 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and AP Scholar
Ryan Hagg – DB/RB, Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Submitted by the NFF Central Pennsylvania Chapter.
- 95.00 average grade
- Team captain and all-county defense
- Member of the National Honor Society and Class President
Luke Hartman – QB/DB, Long Beach High School in Lido Beach, New York. Submitted by the NFF Nassau County Chapter.
- 105.00 average grade
- Two-year team captain and two-time all-county
- Jay Fiedler Top Scholar-Athlete Award and AP and IB Scholar
Nick Jamieson – OL/DL, Middlesex High School in Middlesex, New Jersey. Submitted by the NFF Bill Denny/Rutgers FB Letterwinners Chapter.
- 4.40 GPA
- Two-year team captain and First Team all-conference
- Member of the National Honor Society and AP Scholar
Robert Kelly – OL/LB, Cedar Grove High School in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. Submitted by the NFF Essex-Hudson County Chapter.
- 4.21 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-conference
- Member of the National Honor Society and Class President
Kyle Keyes – WR/CB, Lakeland Regional High School in Wanaque, New Jersey. Submitted by the NFF Passaic County Chapter.
- 4.25 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-county
- Member of the National Honor Society and the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
Alphonso Koukou – DL, Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Submitted by the NFF Philadelphia Chapter.
- 3.40 GPA
- Team captain and two-time all-league
- Four-year Honor Roll and member of the Black Student Union
Caden Lesiewicz – DB/K, William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, New York. Submitted by the NFF Suffolk County Chapter.
- 97.00 average grade
- Team captain and First Team all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and Student Government
Stephen Ordille – RB/S, Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey. Submitted by the NFF South Jersey Chapter.
- 4.96 GPA
- Two-year team captain and First Team all-state RB
- Member of the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Abdur Rahman – RB/CB, Brooklyn Technical High School in Brooklyn, New York. Submitted by the NFF New York City Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Team captain and semifinalist in the Public-School Athletic League (PSAL) playoffs
- High Honor Roll and Vice President of the Help the Homeless Club
Jack Rice – RB/LB, The Lawrenceville School in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Submitted by the NFF Delaware Valley Chapter.
- 4.09 GPA
- Team captain and two-time all-league
- Jack Stephan Award winner and member of the Cum Laude Society
Trey Tremba – RB/LB, Parkland High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Submitted by the NFF Lehigh Valley Chapter.
- 3.80 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-state RB
- Member of the National Honor Society and Student Leadership Council
Gabe Welsh – QB, Conrad Schools of Science in Wilmington, Delaware. Submitted by the NFF Delaware Chapter.
- 5.30 GPA
- Two-year team captain and two-time all-district honorable mention
- Member of the National Honor Society and Academic All-American
Midwest Region Honorees
Aiden Beadles – LB, South Putnam High School in Greencastle, Indiana. Submitted by the NFF Central Indiana Chapter.
- 4.20 GPA
- Two-year team captain and Putnam County Defensive Player of the Year
- Member of the National Honor Society and Senior Class President
Brodey Berg – RB/WR, Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Submitted by the NFF Greater Cincinnati Chapter.
- 3.70 GPA
- Two-year team captain and two-time First Team all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes
James Bohleber – OL, Evansville Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Indiana. Submitted by the NFF Southern Indiana Chapter.
- 3.99 GPA
- Team captain, Indianapolis Colts All-Star
- National Honor Society, four-year magna cum laude
Jace Borcherding – OL, Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Submitted by the NFF Iowa Chapter.
- 4.37 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-state
- Two-time Academic all-state and seven-time member of Distinguished Honor Roll
Tait Christensen – FB, Litchfield High School in Litchfield, Minnesota. Submitted by the NFF Minnesota Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- District Player of the Year and all-area
- Valedictorian and four-year member of A Honor Roll.
Ramsey Cummings – S, Little Rock Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Submitted by the NFF Arkansas Chapter.
- 3.80 GPA
- Team captain and all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and won the President’s Education Award
D.J. Dillon – OL/LB, Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, Missouri. Submitted by the NFF Tom Lombardo/St. Louis Chapter.
- 4.42 GPA
- Team Most Valuable Player and First Team all-metro
- Member of Honors List and scored a 32 on the ACT
Abrem Igwebuike – C/DT, Saint Charles Preparatory School in Bexley, Ohio. Submitted by the NFF Columbus, Ohio Chapter.
- 4.29 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-conference
- Member of the National Honor Society and four-year member of Honor Roll
Brayden Kunz – RB/LB, Conway Springs High School in Conway Springs, Kansas. Submitted by the NFF Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Two-year team captain and Kansas 1A Player of the Year
- Valedictorian and Class President
Christopher Piazza – OL, Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois. Submitted by the NFF Chicago Metro Chapter.
- 4.95 GPA
- Team captain and Catholic League all-conference
- Three-time All-Academic Scholar-Athlete and Student Council President
Anthony Rezac – QB, Omaha Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Submitted by the NFF Nebraska Chapter.
- 3.89 GPA
- Two-year team captain and Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year
- Two-time Academic all-state and member of the Student Council
Seth Russell – TE/LB, NorthWood High School in Nappanee, Indiana. Submitted by the NFF Moose Krause Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Team captain and all-area
- Valedictorian and member of the National Honor Society
Jack Simmers – QB/SS, Grand Forks Central High School in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Submitted by the NFF Roughrider State Chapter.
- 3.82 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-state QB
- Member of the National Honor Society and four-year member of Honor Roll
Owen Smith – QB, McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, Indiana. Submitted by the NFF Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Team captain and two-time First Team all-conference
- Member of the National Honor Society and Colts Academic All-Star
Andrew Wagner – WR/DB, Kettle Moraine High School in Wales, Wisconsin. Submitted by the NFF Wisconsin Chapter.
- 4.45 GPA
- Two-year team captain and two-time all-state WR
- Member of the National Honor Society and of Honor Roll
Jaylen Watson – WR/C, Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio. Submitted by the NFF Wistert-Toledo Chapter.
- 3.83 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-Ohio
- Member of the National Honor Society and of Honor Roll
Northeast Region Honorees
Ryder Aubin – QB/S, Dover High School in Dover, New Hampshire. Submitted by the NFF Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter.
- 4.71 GPA
- Two-year team captain and First Team all-state QB
- Member of the National Honor Society and ranked 15th in class of 355
Kieran Corr – K/P, Winchester High School in Winchester, Massachusetts. Submitted by the NFF Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter.
- 3.98 GPA
- First-Team all-conference and Football Coaches all-division team
- Member of the National Honor Society and Commended National Merit Scholar
Gianni Drab – OL/DL, Robert E. Fitch Senior High School in Groton, Connecticut. Submitted by the NFF Southeastern Connecticut Chapter.
- 4.87 GPA
- Two-year team captain and First Team all-conference
- Member of the National Honor Society and Principal’s Award winner
Will Gale – OL/DL, Falmouth High School in Falmouth, Maine. Submitted by the NFF Howie Vandersea/State of Maine Chapter.
- 96.20 average grade
- Two-year team captain and First Team all-state
- Member of Honor Roll and completed five AP courses
Connor Lane – WR, Darien High School in Darien, Connecticut. Submitted by the NFF DeSantis/McDougall Fairfield County Chapter.
- 4.25 GPA
- All-Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference honorable mention
- Member of the National Honor Society and High Honor Roll
Jack McCoy – QB/S, Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont. Submitted by the NFF Vermont Chapter.
- 4.12 GPA
- Two-year team captain and Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year
- Member of the Headmaster’s List and earned straight A’s throughout high school
Zakkai Moore – RB/LB, Maloney High School in Meriden, Connecticut. Submitted by the NFF Doc Boisoneau/Northern Connecticut Chapter.
- 3.87 GPA
- Two-year team captain and two-time all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and four-year member of High Honor Roll
Adam Pandolfi – RB/S, North Haven High School in North Haven, Connecticut. Submitted by the NFF Casey-O’Brien/New Haven Chapter.
- 4.66 GPA
- Two-year team captain and two-time Walter Camp all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and ranked 13th in class out of 216
Liam Schaker – LB, Grafton High School in Grafton, Massachusetts. Submitted by the NFF Joe Mewhiney/Central Mass Chapter.
- 4.86 GPA
- Team captain and Central Mass All-Star
- Received the Superintendent Scholar Award and Class President
Trent Sterner – WR/LB, North Kingstown High School in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Submitted by the NFF Emo DiNitto/Rhode Island Chapter.
- 4.08 GPA
- Team captain and Sports Illustrated Rhode Island Player of the Year
- Member of the National Honor Society and the Distributive Education Clubs of America
Ryan Storie – LS, Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York. Submitted by the NFF Central New York Chapter.
- 99.65 average grade
- Team captain and all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and Student Government
Bryce Tallman – QB/S, Perry High School in Perry, New York. Submitted by the NFF Rochester Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Team captain and team Most Valuable Player
- Student Body President and ranked fourth in class
South Region Honorees
Brazos Beck – QB/S, New Home High School in New Home, Texas. Submitted by the NFF Texas Tech Chapter.
- 4.10 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-district for offense and defense
- Three-time Academic all-district and member of Superintendent’s Honor Roll
Xaden Benson – WR/S, North Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Submitted by the NFF Touchdown Club of Atlanta Chapter.
- 4.28 GPA
- Three-time First Team all-region defense and First Team all-region offense
- Member of Principal’s List and winner of the Play-It-Again Sports Academic Award
Benjamin Blackburn – TE, Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida. Submitted by the NFF Miami Touchdown Club Chapter.
- 3.96 GPA
- First-Team all-state and First Team all-Miami-Dade
- Member of Principal’s Honor List and Miami-Dade Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Cooper Cameron – LB/TE, Webb School of Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee. Submitted by the NFF East Tennessee Chapter.
- 4.70 GPA
- Team captain and two-time all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society
John Goodwin – RB, Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Submitted by the NFF Memphis Chapter.
- 4.60 GPA
- Team captain and all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and First Honors all four years
Braeden Gregg – FB/LB, Cathedral High School in Natchez, Mississippi. Submitted by the NFF Miss-Lou Chapter.
- 4.30 GPA
- All-metro defense and Second Team all-district
- Member of the National Honor Society and Key Club
Nick Harkins – TE/LB, Washington-Wilkes High School in Washington, Georgia. Submitted by the NFF University of Georgia Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Three-time First Team all-region and participated in the All-Star Bowl
- Member of the National Honor Society and four-year member of Honor Roll
Jackson Howell – T, Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville, Alabama. Submitted by the NFF University of Alabama Chapter.
- 3.56 GPA
- Participated in the Blue-Gray All-American Bowl
- Member of the Academic Honor Roll and completed five AP courses
Ty Ingram-Eiser – S, Austin Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. Submitted by the NFF Greater Austin Chapter.
- 104.50 average grade
- Team captain and First Team all-district
- Perfect 36 score on the ACT and First Team Academic all-state
Nate Johnson – S/P, Ruston High School in Ruston, Louisiana. Submitted by the NFF S.M. McNaughton Chapter.
- 4.36 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-district
- Member of the National Honor Society and Academic all-state
Garrett Jorge – TE/LB, Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, Tennessee. Submitted by the NFF Middle Tennessee Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Team captain and two-time all-region
- Member of the National Honor Society and Honor Roll
Nathan Lousteau – C, Archbishop Rummell High School in Metairie, Louisiana. Submitted by the NFF Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter.
- 4.60 GPA
- Two-year team captain and three-year letterman
- Member of the National Honor Society and winner of the President Education Award
Dax Noles – S/ATH, Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma. Submitted by the NFF Oklahoma Chapter.
- 3.72 GPA
- Team captain and all-state
- Member of the National Honor Society and Honor Roll
Cooper Peach – WR/KR, Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas. Submitted by the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter.
- 4.84 GPA
- Two-year team captain and First Team all-district
- Salutatorian and Academic all-state
Abhinav Potluri – OL, Klein Cain High School in Klein, Texas. Submitted by the NFF Touchdown Club of Houston Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Second team all-district selection and Bi-District Champions
- Two-time Academic all-state and ranked 12th in class out of 1,010
Colton Robbins – TE/DE, North Greene High School in Greeneville, Tennessee. Submitted by the NFF Mountain Empire Chapter.
- 4.31 GPA
- Team captain and Class 1A all-state
- Salutatorian and an Eagle Scout
Wesley Smith – TE/LB, Southern Alamance High School in Graham, North Carolina. Submitted by the NFF Corrigan-Faircloth Chapter.
- 4.37 GPA
- Team captain and all-region
- A Honor Roll all four years and member of Future Farmers of America
Willie Suarez – WR/RB/DB, Jesuit High School of Tampa in Tampa, Florida. Submitted by the NFF Tampa Chapter.
- 3.83 GPA
- Team captain and Hillsborough County Player of the Year
- Member of the National Honor Society and Jesuit Football all-academic team
Luke Walker – DE, Naples High School in Naples, Florida. Submitted by the NFF Collier County Chapter.
- 3.89 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-district
- Member of the National Honor Society and an AP Scholar with Honors
Ashton Watkins – QB, Ayden-Grifton High School, Ayden, North Carolina. Submitted by the NFFCHF Bill Dooley Chapter.
- 4.0 GPA
- Team captain, all-conference honorable mention
- National Honor Society, summa cum laude
Andito Wills, Jr. – C/LS, Nova High School in Davie, Florida. Submitted by the NFF Brian Piccolo/Ft. Lauderdale Chapter.
- 5.40 GPA
- Team captain and All-Star Game participant
- Member of the National Honor Society and earned an associate’s degree
West Region Honorees
Tristan Bobadilla – QB/CB, Willows High School in Willows, California. Submitted by the NFF SYF Nor-Cal Chapter.
- 4.18 GPA
- All-conference and Shrine Bowl participant
- Four-year member of the Honor Roll and Student Council President
Jon Class – TE/DE, Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, California. Submitted by the Walter J. Zable/San Diego Chapter.
- 4.05 GPA
- Team captain and a two-time First Team All-California Interscholastic Federation
- Member of the National Honor Society and Honor Roll
Mario Crocitto – DE, Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, California. Submitted by the NFF Northern California Chapter.
- 4.05 GPA
- Team captain and First Team all-metro
- Member of the Dean’s list all four years and a three-time Maeve Poetry Contest winner
Joe Dexter – OL/LB, Casa Roble High School in Orangevale, California. Submitted by the NFF Sacramento Valley Chapter.
- 4.20 GPA
- Team captain and two-time all-league
- Member of the Honor Roll and Science & Math Awards
Amir Dutt – WR/DB, William Howard Taft Charter School in Woodland Hills, California. Submitted by the NFF Coastal Valley Chapter.
- 4.60 GPA
- Team captain and three-time all-city
- AP Scholar with Distinction and member of the Principal’s Honor Roll
Brevin Egbert – RB/LB, Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah. Submitted by the NFF Utah Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Two-time First Team all-state and Region Most Valuable Player
- Member of the National Honor Society and Academic all-state
Gavin Gilbert – LB/RB, Tanque Verde High School in Tucson, Arizona. Submitted by the Southern Arizona Chapter.
- 3.80 GPA
- Team captain and finalist for High School Player of the Year
- Member of the National Honor Society and Principal’s Honor Roll
Max Gonzales – DB, San Clemente High School in San Clemente, California. Submitted by the NFF Orange County Chapter.
- 4.73 GPA
- First Team all-league and South Coast League Defensive MVP
- Member of the Honor Roll
Sam Green – LB, Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California. Submitted by the NFF Riverside County Chapter.
- 3.86 GPA
- First Team all-California Interscholastic Federation and First Team all-Big West
- Member of the Honor Roll and PEAK Award winner
Nick Keown – OL/DL, Curtis Senior High School in University Place, Washington. Submitted by the NFF Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter.
- 3.86 GPA
- Team captain and two-time Second Team all-league
- Member of the National Honor Society and Dean’s List
Peter Minnaert – RB, Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho. Submitted by the NFF Southern Idaho Chapter.
- 4.14 GPA
- Gatorade Player of the Year and State Championship game MVP
- Member of the Honor Roll
Cole Northington – RB, Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Submitted by the NFF Hawaii Chapter.
- 4.13 GPA
- First Team all-conference and Second Team all-state
- Valedictorian and member of the Principal’s List
Andre Porter – TE/LB, Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada. Submitted by the NFF Bill Ireland/Las Vegas Chapter.
- 3.25 GPA
- Two-year team captain, First Team all-state and First Team all-conference
- Member of the Honor Roll and Liberty Scholar Athlete
Miles Reid – LB/WR, West Covina High School in West Covina, California. Submitted by the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Chapter.
- 3.90 GPA
- Two-time team captain and two-year All-California Interscholastic Federation
- Member of the Honor Roll and a California Interscholastic Federation Scholar-Athlete
Josh Snyder – RB/S, Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Submitted by the NFF Colorado Chapter.
- 4.46 GPA
- State Championship MVP and 5A Colorado Football Player of the Year
- First Team Academic all-Colorado and member of the Honor Roll
Gabe Tammad – TE/LB, Sandy High School in Sandy, Oregon. Submitted by the NFF Oregon Chapter.
- 4.19 GPA
- Team Captain and First Team all-league offense and defense
- Valedictorian and member of the National Honor Society
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa – LB, St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. Submitted by the NFF Los Angeles Chapter.
- 4.28 GPA
- LA Times Player of the Year and Butkus Award Finalist
- Principal’s Honor Roll all four years and 4.0 GPA all four years
Demond Williams, Jr. – QB, Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona. Submitted by the Valley of the Sun Chapter.
- 3.97 GPA
- Team captain and Premier Region Player of the Year
- Member of the Honor Roll and the Jessie Rees Foundation (NEGU)
Joshua Woodberry – LB/TE, Gallatin High School in Bozeman, Montana. Submitted by the NFF Montana Chapter.
- 4.00 GPA
- Two-time team captain and First Team all-state TE & LB
- Four-time Academic all-state and member of the Honor Roll
