Fayette County football standout Matt Daniels was named the winner of the 17th annual Watkins Award at the Inter Continental Hotel Saturday in Century City, California.

Daniels, who will play football at Duke next year, was one of five distinguished finalists for the Watkins Award, selected and presented by the National Alliance of African-American Athletes and named in the honor of Franklin D. Watkins, a coach and mentor in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The award was initiated in 1992 to promote academic excellence among young African-American male, and it is a means for recognizing exceptionally talented African-American male athletes who, by their example, help promote high academic standards and a commitment to community service.

“Among all my achievements and honors in high school, this award is the most memorable, I must say,” Daniels said. “This is the only award that acknowledges me for both my academic and athletic achievements. I was elated to receive the award and blessed to receive such a prestigious award. While sitting around waiting for the announcement of the winner, I felt like a Heisman candidate waiting to hear his name be called.

“This past weekend will be something that I will never forget.”

Daniels has a 4.0 G.P.A. and is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Daniels was one of the primary reasons Fayette County went undefeated during the regular season for the first time in school history and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. He started at both safety and running back, and was named The Citizen’s first-ever Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year this year.

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