The Touchdown Club of Houston has been huge supporters of the high school athletes in the Houston area and one of the most prestigious awards given each year is for their scholar-athlete award presented to the player who excels in the classroom and on the playing field.
This year, Dawson, Friendswood and Pearland each have a player that has been named as a finalist for this great honor.
This award began back in 1999 and has featured some outstanding Houston area athletes including retired Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck who won the award in 2007 before going on to have a successful career at Stanford and the Colts.
The TD Club has awarded about $300,000 in scholarships over the last 20+ years. The scholarships go to the top senior area high school football players who are considered starters with the highest grade-point averages.
There are 25 finalists each year, with the one person named the Outstanding Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, based on academics, athletics, and citizenship, as embodied in extra-curricular activities.
Three of the finalists this year include Dawson wide receiver Ryan Guillo, son of Rick and Lynn Guillo, Friendswood defensive player Britton Merritt, and Pearland quarterback Jake Sock, son of Steve and Jill Sock.
All three are outstanding students in the classroom as well as being strong players on the field for their teams. Congratulations to both players.
Guillo was coached by Mike Allison, Merritt was coached by Robert Koopmann and Sock was coached by former head coach Ricky Tullos.
Congratulations to the top Scholar-Athletes:
- The Sonny Sowell Award First Place: Joel Crawford, Strake Jesuit
- The Fred Curry Award Second Place: Reagan Schulter, Klein Collins
- The E.J. Chromcak Award Third Place: Carson Zahn, Spring Branch Memorial
Finalists:
Basil Agboola, Hastings
Micah Barnett, Dickinson
Connor Been, Klein Cain
Greg Caringer, Pasadena Memorial
Joel Crawford, Strake Jesuit
Mason Duke, Goose Creek Memorial
Alex Dunagan, Cy-Fair
Clayton Garlock, Conroe
Enock Gota, Dekaney
Ryan Guillo, Dawson
Connor Habhab, Clear Springs
Sam Haines, Foster
Dimas Kusuma, Clements
Jaden Mack, Willowridge
Britton Merritt, Friendswood
John Morstead, HISD Lamar
Dominic Njoku, Travis
Filbert Presley, Seven Lakes
Reagan Schulter, Klein Collins
Jake Sock, Pearland
Colin Tenney, Stratford
Myles Terry, Oak Ridge
Jedidiah Udunna, Fort Bend Bush
Jackson Wallace, Tomball
Carson Zahn, Spring Branch Memorial
