Bloomfield High School Football Standout Shows 'Giant Heart'

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — When the leaders of tomorrow demonstrate the hearts of giants, the entire world wins.

A Bloomfield High School senior is among nine New Jersey youth football standouts to be nominated for the 2017 USA Football “Heart of a Giant” award, presented by the Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Giants.

The annual award aims to recognize Tri-State area high school football players who demonstrate “unparalleled work ethic and a passion for the game.”

According to a news release, Joseph Bumpus, a linebacker at Bloomfield High School, was selected for the competition by the NY Giants' committee based on his commitment, dedication, personal character and work ethic.

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Bumpus now goes up against his fellow Week 1 nominees to become one of six finalists with the chance to bring home a $5,000 equipment donation to their local high school football program. If Bumpus generates the most votes in his group and is named a finalist, he will earn $1,500 for BHS. He will then be one of the six overall finalists eligible to be chosen by the Giants as the overall winner (and earn $5,000 for Bloomfield High School football).

People can vote every 24 hours for Bumpus in the Week 1 online playoff until Oct. 1 here.

Want to know how Bumpus represents the “Heart of a Giant?” Read some of his quotes below and check out his full essay responses for the contest here.

• “If you looked at a picture of me when I was young, you probably wouldn't believe that it was me, mostly because of my size. I was known as the fat kid, the one who couldn't run fast enough to be picked anywhere but last in kickball, and the one that got tired going up stairs. They were simple things that I can now brush off my back, but as a young boy who didn't understand himself yet or who he wanted to be, I couldn't see anything besides being too big… It wasn't until I started playing football that I knew who I was.”
• “Since I was young, my parents instilled in me a mentality that nobody is going to do the work for me. Whether in the classroom or on a tee-ball field as a young kid, I was the only one who could set my goals and work towards to achieving them. To me, there never has been any option besides giving all my effort so I can be at the peak of my potential.”
• “Everything goes back to being one of 11, and there's not a single player on our team that doesn't want to see their teammate succeed. Knowing that I have brothers that count on me wakes me up in the morning before the sun rises and pushes me when my legs ache and my head hurts.”

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Photo: Catzel Bumpus