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Williams Selected Finalist for Franklin D. Watkins Award
3/9/2022 5:00:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – The National Alliance of African American Athletes announced Wesley Williams as one of its finalists for the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award.
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The Gainesville, Va., native is one of six players nationwide to be selected a contender for this year's honor. He will join the five other finalists at the Watkins Award presentation on Saturday in Bethesda, Md., where one student-athlete will be chosen as the nation's top African American male high school scholar-athlete.
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Williams, a defensive end at Battlefield High School, lettered four seasons for the Bobcats. He helped Battlefield to a 27-13 overall record, including a state semifinal appearance as a senior and was a two-time first team all-district selection. Williams recorded 105 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and two touchdowns during his senior season alone. Off the field, he participated in the DECA Inclusivity Project, was a member of the National Honor Society, participated in the Buddy Club to help students with special needs and mentored youth football players. He also holds a 4.2 grade point average. Williams is set to enroll at Duke in August, 2022.
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Williams becomes Duke's 11th student-athlete named as a finalist for this award, joining Vince Oghobaase (2005), Matt Daniels (2008)*, Deion Williams (2012), Zavier Carmichael (2014), Brandon Hill (2016), Rakavius Chambers (2017)*, Mataeo Durant (2018), Jaylen Coleman (2019), Michael Reese (2020), and Jordan Moore (2021)*.
*Recipient of the award
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 "What an amazing group of young men, who have demonstrated their leadership skills in the classroom, in athletics and in their community," said J. Everette Pearsall, Executive Director of the Alliance. "They will certainly represent the Watkins Award family with class and integrity. We look forward to recognizing these talented young men as the premier African American Scholar-Athletes in the United States."
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Selected based on their unweighted grade-point average, personal statements, extracurricular activities, community service and letters of recommendation, the six finalists are:
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• Tyler Booker, New Haven, Connecticut, 3.6 GPA
• Braden Davis, Middletown, Delaware, 4.2 GPA
• Elijah Green, Orlando, Florida, 4.1 GPA
• Harold Perkins, Cypress, Texas, 4.9 GPA
• Brenen Thompson, Spearman, Texas, 4.2 GPA
• Wesley Williams, Gainesville, Virginia, 4.2 GPA
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ABOUT THE ALLIANCE AND THE FRANKLIN D WATKINS MEMORIAL AWARD
The National Alliance of African American Athletes was founded in 1989 and its mission is to empower African American males through athletics, education and public programs. Since 1992, The Alliance has annually presented the Watkins Award to the nation's elite high school student-athletes. The award is named for the late Franklin D. Watkins, who coached championship football and basketball teams in Harrisburg, Pa. Past winners include Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle, as well as several others who went on to play in the NFL.
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#GoDuke
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The Gainesville, Va., native is one of six players nationwide to be selected a contender for this year's honor. He will join the five other finalists at the Watkins Award presentation on Saturday in Bethesda, Md., where one student-athlete will be chosen as the nation's top African American male high school scholar-athlete.
Â
Williams, a defensive end at Battlefield High School, lettered four seasons for the Bobcats. He helped Battlefield to a 27-13 overall record, including a state semifinal appearance as a senior and was a two-time first team all-district selection. Williams recorded 105 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and two touchdowns during his senior season alone. Off the field, he participated in the DECA Inclusivity Project, was a member of the National Honor Society, participated in the Buddy Club to help students with special needs and mentored youth football players. He also holds a 4.2 grade point average. Williams is set to enroll at Duke in August, 2022.
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Williams becomes Duke's 11th student-athlete named as a finalist for this award, joining Vince Oghobaase (2005), Matt Daniels (2008)*, Deion Williams (2012), Zavier Carmichael (2014), Brandon Hill (2016), Rakavius Chambers (2017)*, Mataeo Durant (2018), Jaylen Coleman (2019), Michael Reese (2020), and Jordan Moore (2021)*.
*Recipient of the award
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 "What an amazing group of young men, who have demonstrated their leadership skills in the classroom, in athletics and in their community," said J. Everette Pearsall, Executive Director of the Alliance. "They will certainly represent the Watkins Award family with class and integrity. We look forward to recognizing these talented young men as the premier African American Scholar-Athletes in the United States."
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Selected based on their unweighted grade-point average, personal statements, extracurricular activities, community service and letters of recommendation, the six finalists are:
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• Tyler Booker, New Haven, Connecticut, 3.6 GPA
• Braden Davis, Middletown, Delaware, 4.2 GPA
• Elijah Green, Orlando, Florida, 4.1 GPA
• Harold Perkins, Cypress, Texas, 4.9 GPA
• Brenen Thompson, Spearman, Texas, 4.2 GPA
• Wesley Williams, Gainesville, Virginia, 4.2 GPA
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ABOUT THE ALLIANCE AND THE FRANKLIN D WATKINS MEMORIAL AWARD
The National Alliance of African American Athletes was founded in 1989 and its mission is to empower African American males through athletics, education and public programs. Since 1992, The Alliance has annually presented the Watkins Award to the nation's elite high school student-athletes. The award is named for the late Franklin D. Watkins, who coached championship football and basketball teams in Harrisburg, Pa. Past winners include Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle, as well as several others who went on to play in the NFL.
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#GoDuke
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