Cumberland's McCallister to receive major award by NFF area chapter

Seven Wilson County high school football seniors to receive scholarships

Cumberland free safety Cody McCallister has been named the winner of the C.R. Bickerstaff/Coach Bill Pace University Scholar-Athlete Award by the Middle Tennessee chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame.

McCallister is one of several dozen area high school and college players who will be honored Monday night at the chapter's 47th annual awards banquet at the Sheraton Music City Hotel.

The 59 high school and seven college scholar/athletes were chosen based not only on their play on the field, but also on their academic and leadership achievements.

The Bickerstaff/Pace Award is presented to the top university scholar-athlete in Middle Tennessee based on scholarship, sportsmanship and value to the team. Bickerstaff was longtime executive secretary of the NFF's Middle Tennessee chapter while Pace is a former Vanderbilt head coach and Tennessee assistant.

One of the other university scholar-athletes is Austin Peay defensive back Antwaun Majors, who played at Mt. Juliet High Schools.

Representing Wilson County's high schools at the black-tie dinner will be Lebanon's Ethan Copas, Wilson Central's Chris Lee, Watertown's Brannon Hill, Friendship Christian's Ian Isbell, Mt. Juliet's Cody Carr and Mt. Juliet Christian's Brant Lamberth. Each will receive a college sponsorship sponsored by the family of the chapter's late president Charles W. Hawkins III and the Cal Turner Family Foundation.

In addition, Friendship coach John McNeal will be presented a coach state champion plaque.

Lebanon-resident and longtime coach Wes Elrod, a prime organizer of the banquet, wanted to thank sponsors Perma Pipe [a major sponsor], Extra Point Sports, Cumberland University, First Insurance Group, Wilson Bank & Trust [in Trousdale County], Sellars Funeral Home and CedarStone Bank.

For more information, visit www.nffnashville.com