Williamsburg Teen In The Running For NY Giants Football Award

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — A local high school football player could make it onto the field at MetLife stadium and win $10,000 for his school.

Elijah Garnett, a senior at Progress High School for Professional Careers, is in the running for this year's USA Football Heart of a Giant Award, which the New York Giants and the Hospital for Special Surgery give out each year to a lucky aspiring football player.

Garnett was nominated by his coach, Jose Ferrer, who said Garnett's passion for football is motivated by making his mother proud. After Garnett's aunt passed away, the teen's main goal has become preventing his mother from ever struggling again and making her smile.

“His desire to reach the NFL is the greatest of all athletes that I have coached in my 20 years of coaching,” Ferrer said.

The Williamsburg high-schooler was the only student from Brooklyn chosen so far for the award, which will have one grand prize winner, six finalists and four honorable mentions.

USA Football Heart of a Giant Award announced the first round of 10 nominees last week. Supporters can vote for their hometown heroes for 25 days on the Heart of a Giant website.

Each student was nominated by their coaches for their commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication, organizers said.

Once voting is over, the finalists who get the most votes will send in a video submission talking about why they have the "Heart of a Giant" and will be honored on the field during a New York Giants' home game. All six finalists and four honorable mention finalists will receive $1,000 for their high school’s football program, with the winner’s school getting an additional $9,000.

Other nominees from week one include two students from the Bronx, and five students from New Jersey, one student from Connecticut and one from Eden, N.Y.