Jenkins a candidate for Rudy Award

LAS VEGAS, NV (December 9, 2008) - Middle Tennessee defensive tackle Trevor Jenkins is a candidate for the Second Annual College Football Rudy Award, as announced today by The Rudy Foundation. The award honors student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment as members of their collegiate football teams. These same traits were immortalized in the blockbuster film "RUDY" in 27 seconds and against all odds on a gridiron in South Bend, Indiana, enabling Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger to carve his name into college football lore.

Every Division I Conference and 53 of its 120 football programs submitted nominations for the 2008 Award, nearly double the number of applications from the inaugural year in 2007.

Jenkins has utilized to the utmost his position in football to demonstrate the values of being a citizen on and off the field. He is an inspiration and a role model in all aspects of his life. Jenkins, a team leader and spokesman, started a team-best 37 straight games at defensive tackle. He is President of the Student-Athlete Academic Committee, a member of FCA, and works with Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross.

Jenkins, a second team all-conference performer in 2008, recently worked with the SAAC committee and collected clothes for the Salvation Army and visited patients at the local hospital.

Three Rudy award finalists will be chosen by the Selection Committee and honored at a breakfast to be held in conjunction with the American Football Coaches Association Convention on January 12, 2009, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. Rudy Ruettiger will personally present the awards.

Each finalist will be presented with a beautiful award and an academic scholarship, as well as have travel expenses paid to the event. An overall winner will be chosen and presented with the top scholarship and trophy.

The 2008 Award Selection Committee includes football coaches David Bailiff, Gary Barnett, Fisher DeBerry, Dennis Franchione, June Jones, Chuck Knox, Gary Patterson, Buddy Pough and Dick Tomey. Former Washington Redskins quarterback and Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug Williams and former Los Angeles Rams running back and Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Eric Dickerson also join the committee for 2008. Prominent businessman Peter Murphy, Jr., will again serve as Chairman and Charlie Laverty of Oppenheimer & Co. is the Presenting Sponsor.

Friend of the Blue Raiders? Like us on Facebook and become part of the True Blue army today.