2026 High School & University Special Awards

Porter Ragle of Montgomery Bell Academy was selected as this year’s “Admiral William P. Lawrence Award” honoree. Presenting his plaque are Wally Conyers (right) and Kelly Holcomb (right).

This is the highest award presented to a local high school scholar-athlete in Middle Tennessee area based on scholarship, sportsmanship and value to his team. Admiral Lawrence was a highly decorated U.S. Naval hero who served his country with distinction, being awarded 17 medals including the Distinguished Service Medal, the nation’s third highest military award.

Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt Univeristy was selected as this year’s “C.R. Bickerstaff / Bill Pace University Scholar-Athlete Award” honoree. Presenting the award are Wally Conyers (left) and Andrew Kerr (right). Accepted by Vanderbilt Football Head Coach, Clark Lea.

Bickerstaff was a long-time executive secretary of this NFF chapter and Pace is a former Vanderbilt football head coach. The award is presented to the top university scholar-athlete in Middle Tennessee.

Jaxyn Law of Stratford High School received the “Jim Barrom Spirit Award” honoree. Presenting the award are Judith Barrom (left) and Wallene Dockery Leek (right).

This award is presented to a Middle Tennessee scholar-athlete who exemplifies the highest qualities of sportsmanship. The award is named for the late Jim Barrom, a successful high school coach in the ‘70s who later became a successful executive in the financial and insurance fields.

Samuel Cooper McFarland of Providence Christian Academy received the “Joe L. Worden / Jack Redgren Courage Award” honoree. The presenters were Ann Redgren (left) and NFF Board Members Andrew Kerr (right).

Worden and Redgren were former Vanderbilt Athletic Department trainers who both earned this chapter’s Roy Kramer Contribution to Football Award. This award is presented to a Middle Tennessee student who faced obstacles but fought back to succeed.

David Harrison of Eagleville High School received the “Harold “Cotton” Clark / Scott Brunette Spirit Award” honoree. The presenters were John Houston (left) and Mike Hargis (right).

This award is presented to a Middle Tennessee student-athlete who exemplifies the highest qualities of sportsmanship. The award named for the late Cotton Clark and current board member Scott Brunette, who was a long-time executive secretary of this NFF chapter.

Nathaniel Fleming of Battle Ground Academy received the “Bob Sullins Inspiration Award". Presenting the award are Bob Sullins (left) and Mike Tribue (right).

The Bob Sullins Award is presented to a Middle Tennessee high school student who serves as an inspiration to his teammates, his classmates, and members of his community. Sullins is an active NFF board member who served this chapter as president for more than a decade.