The player I am nominating is a very special player in our program. Jon is a senior captain that has been on the team for four years. Jon is a very undersized player, he is about 5'10 and weighs 130 pounds. During his first 3 years of football, Jon played an intricate role at every level of football, he was a starting RB and DB his freshman year, he started JV at QB and DB his sophomore year and also saw time at DB and on special teams for the varsity his sophomore year. Jon's junior year he ran plays in at WR and started F/S for the varsity team. In week 7, Jon received his 4th concussion in 3 years of h.s. football. After many doctors appointments, it was discovered that Jon had Arnold-Chiari Malformation of the skull. Basically, Jon's skull did not cover as much of the lower brain as a normal skull did. All of his concussions came not from head to head contact, but when he would get knocked down and his head would bounce off the ground.

When this malformation was discovered, Jon's family and doctors had no choice but to tell him that his football career was over. Another hit or concussion could leave him paralyzed.

As Jon's head coach, I went to him and told him I would still like him to be a part of the team as a student assistant coach. He is a great player, leader, and very knowledgeable about the game of football. Jon agreed to this because he still wanted to be a part of the team in some way and not much more was said after the season.

When we got back to school from Christmas break, Jon approached me and asked me if he learned how to be a kicker, if I would allow him to kick field goals and extra points. I told him if it was okay with his parents I did not have a problem with him doing that. I honestly didn't think much would come of it, since Jon had never kicked in his life. With Jon being the type of kid he is, I should have known better. The next day, he came to me, got some footballs and the free handed tee and with a little help from a DVD, proceeded to teach himself how to kick. He practice the rest of the school year (including baseball season where he started for the varsity team at 3rd base) and developed the skills to turn himself into a fine kicker.

Over the summer, he came to every team lifting/conditioning session we had (he has only missed one in is 4 years of football) and worked out with the team, knowing that his only opportunity at playing was to be the kicker. After the team left, he would go out and kick. He has been to every practice, he conditions with the team and kicks and helps out with other drills at practice. Even though he only kicks, he has done every non-contact drill and every bit of conditioning the rest of the team has.

The first game we played, we had to go for two after each of the three touchdowns we scored. So Jon did not get any opportunities to kick. In our second game, he got his opportunity and he was 3-3 in extra points, and then made his only other opportunity in Week 3. So he is 4-4 this year and kicks like he has been doing it his whole life.

Jon is a great all-around person. He is and always has been a player that I can count on. He always does the little things right and is a great ""program kid"". His work ethic is second to none. Most kids would be devastated to find out they could not play football their senior year, but Jon found a way to still play an intricate role on the team and developed a new skill through many hours of hard work and determination. He also signals in our defense and is basically another coach at practice and on the sidelines. His teammates draw inspiration from him because they have seen what he has been through. They have seen him handle adversity in the best possible way and make the most out of his unfortunate situation.

Jon's leadership skills and traits do not stop after he leaves the football field. He is a high honor roll student, he is the president of Student Council, he is a member of FCA and is also a member of the baseball team. All students in our school can draw inspiration from him because he isn't an abnormal person. He is extremely undersized in everything he does, but he has a heart that's as big as one could imagine. It doesn't take long for anyone to see that in him.

As a coach, I could not ask for a better person to be in my program than Jon Dierkes. He has been an absolute blessing to our football team and school. He has proven that anyone can do anything if they set their mind to it and that nothing can or will ever stop him from achieving his dreams.

I can not imagine anyone else that deserves this award more than Jon Dierkes. He as been and inspriation to us all!

Thank you for your time and consideration!