Wolf a Pop Warner College Football Award Finalist

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke redshirt senior defensive tackle A.J. Wolf has been named a semifinalist for the Pop Warner National College Football Award, according to an announcement Thursday by Pop Warner Little Scholars. The accolade recognizes a graduating senior who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community, which are attributes Pop Warner emphasizes with its young scholar athletes.

Wolf is one of five finalists, along with University of Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis, Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram, Wake Forest safety Ryan Janvion and Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith. This year's recipient will be announced the week of December 5. Former Duke quarterback Sean Renfree won the award in 2012. A 6-4, 280-pound product of Greenwich, Conn., Wolf enters tonight's game with 41 tackles, 7.5 tackles for lost yardage, 5.5 sacks, five quarterback pressures and one caused fumble. Wolf's 5.5 sacks are tied for the 51st most nationally and the eighth most in the ACC

Wolf is already a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and was a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District III selection.

“As the only national youth sports organization that requires its athletes to perform in the classroom, Pop Warner created its College Football Award to honor a student-athlete who has demonstrated that same commitment to academics at the college level while serving as a positive example for our young athletes on and off the field,” Jon Butler, Executive Director of Pop Warner Little Scholars, said. “The award is open to thousands of exceptional college student-athletes from across the country, and this year we're proud of an extraordinary group of finalists in Jarrad, Evan, Ryan, Brandon and A.J.”

In the classroom, Wolf graduated from Duke with a bachelor's degree in public policy studies as well as a certificate in markets and management and is now pursuing a master's in management studies. The 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-America first team honoree, 2015 Academic All-ACC Football Team selection and three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll pick finished with a 3.712 undergraduate GPA with a 3.900 GPA in his final semester. Wolf is one of just three FBS student-athletes to receive first team CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades last fall and return to the field in 2016, joining teammate DeVon Edwards and Stanford's Christian McCaffrey.

Off the field, Wolf has committed to the Durham community in a variety of ways, mainly as the President and Co-Founder of the Líderes Unidos Fútbol Club. In 2014, Wolf founded a free-to-play after school soccer program that promotes leadership and academic achievement among underprivileged Latino youth. Wolf established the program with no base and acquired the necessary resources by pitching sports retailers, restaurant owners, Duke University administrators and Durham public school officials. The group has raised over $5,000 and mentored more than 40 regular participants from various local high schools.

A regular volunteer with the Kids Club in Oxford Manor, Wolf plays sports and discuss Christianity with underprivileged children at the single-mothers' housing project in Durham during the summer. Additionally, he has given back to the Durham community through the Duke football program, taking part in the team's annual campus trash cleanup and Christmas Gift Wrap programs.

The Pop Warner National College Football Award is presented during the annual Pop Warner Super Bowl at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Past winners include former University of Nebraska cornerback and current Jacksonville Jaguar Prince Amukamara; former University of Virginia cornerback Chase Minnifield; Renfree; former Purdue University wide receiver Gary Bush; former Stanford University and current New England Patriots safety Jordan Richards and former Wake Forest and current Detroit Lion linebacker Brandon Chubb.

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Wolf a Pop Warner College Football Award Finalist

Players Mentioned

DeVon Edwards

A.J. Wolf

Duke information

Wolf a Pop Warner College Football Award Finalist

Players Mentioned

DeVon Edwards

A.J. Wolf

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Duke information