C.J. Conrad Named 2018 Pop Warner National College Football Award Winner

When it comes to well-rounded athletes, C.J. Conrad checks all the boxes. Not only is he the Wildcats’ team captain and second leading receiver, a Dean’s List student and three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, but he’s also one of Kentucky’s most active players in his community. His dedication to his sport, academic excellence and bettering his community are why he was awarded the 2018 Pop Warner National College Football Award at the 62nd Annual Pop Warner Super Bowl at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

Conrad’s passion for helping others should be a true inspiration to Pop Warner’s young athletes. He spends so much time with patients at Kentucky Children’s Hospital that the hospital holds “Tuesdays with C.J.,” which the kids look forward to each and every week. Additionally, he has traveled to the Dominican Republic for a service trip with two teammates, where they interacted with residents of impoverished communities, visited an orphanage, constructed park benches in a sugar cane village, distributed food to the hungry and visited a nursing home and a daycare for children with special needs. Conrad also supports the Special Olympics and volunteered with Amachi Central Kentucky, a mentoring program that seeks to pair caring, positive adults with children and youth who have been affected by incarceration.

“I am extremely blessed and thankful to win this award. I take my community service work and being a role model very seriously,” said Conrad. “Anything I can do to help put a smile on someone’s face means everything to me. Giving back is what mattersmost and I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had while being a student-athlete at Kentucky.”

“We began presenting this award in 2010 to shine a light on those student athletes who excel on the field, in the classroom and in the community. With his academic success, his onthe-field leadership, and his work with those in need, C.J. is a poignant example of all that is good in our sport,” said Jon Butler, Executive Director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “As the only national youth sports organization that requires its athletes to also perform in the classroom, we value student-athletes at the collegiate level who continue to represent those ideals. C.J. provides the perfect example to our young athletes of how to balance sports, school and citizenship.”

“C.J. Conrad exemplifies what the Pop Warner Award stands for,” said Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops. “He is an outstanding player and yet he sets the standard for self-sacrifice, both on and off the field. He is a highly respected leader among his teammates and a great role model for our youth.”

Established in 2010, the Pop Warner College Football Award recognizes a senior who has made a difference on the football field, in the classroom and in his community, all attributes Pop Warner emphasizes with its young scholar athletes.

The 2017 winner was former Miami and current New England Patriot wide receiver Braxton Berrios, and our 2018 finalists were University of Southern California guard Jordan Austin, Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley, USMA at West Point linebacker Kenneth Brinson, Duke University linebacker Ben Humphreys and University of Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen Jr.