Kicker Myers Named a Finalist for the Mitchell Award for Football, Community Service

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Junior kicker Matt Myers has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2010 Fred Mitchell Award, which is provided to the Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III or NAIA place-kicker that excels on the football field and in the community.  Myers is one of four kickers from the Football Championship Subdivision.

“It is an honor to be recognized with these nine other guys,” said Myers. “To be considered among the top 40 was awesome and now to be among the top 10 words cannot describe what the feeling is for me.”

The place-kicker chosen for this Award will be announced by December 15, and he will be honored on February 21, 2011 at the National Football Foundation Chicago Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall.  Details about the Award and the Blue-Ribbon Selection Committee are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com.

Myers, who played at Santiago High School and hails from Corona, Calif., was a 2010 All-Big Sky honorable mention selection. He tied for 16th in the nation with 1.27 field goals per game and was second on the team in scoring with 76 points from 14 field goals and 34 of 36 point-after attempts. He was a perfect 13-of-13 from inside 40 yards on the season.

“To see that there are other people out there like me participating in the community is awesome,” said Myers. “It is very important for us as student-athletes to represent our schools in the community. It is awesome to represent NAU with this nomination.”

Myers’ community service work includes department-wide community efforts like Red Ribbon Week and Student-Athlete for a Day. He has also initiated individual volunteer efforts with the Flagstaff Family Center, Saint Mary’s Food Bank, as well as working at Snap, Hold Kick as a camp counselor since 2007. He works with the kids to improve football kicking skills and providing personal growth opportunities through a structured program in a relaxed learning environment.

In alphabetical order, the finalists for the 2010 Fred Mitchell Award are listed below.

C.J. Bahr, Slippery Rock University (Pennsylvania) – Division II

Gregg Berkshire, Ashland University (Ohio) – Division II

C.J. Gradoville, Morningside College (Iowa) - NAIA

Shawn Leo, West Chester University (Pennsylvania) – Division II

Tom Lynch, Saint Xavier University (Illinois) - NAIA

Adrian Mora, Georgia Southern University - FCS

Matt Myers, Northern Arizona University – FCS

Gareth Rowlands, Tusculum College (Tennessee) – Division IU

Andrew Samson, University Of Pennsylvania – FCS

Iain Vance, Georgia State University – FCS