Football | 10/30/2024 12:02:00 PM

Story on FCS Site

DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University kicker-punter Juan Velarde has been named one of 13 finalists for the Doris Robinson Award, presented by FedEx, honoring the top scholar-athlete in all of FCS.

Velarde graduated from N.C. Central in December 2023 with a degree in business administration (concentration in entrepreneurship), and he is currently enrolled in the MBA program, boasting a 4.0 GPA. He is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and the University Honors Program.

Velarde is also active in the Durham community, volunteering at several local schools.

A two-time MEAC Specialist of the Week this season, Velarde is among the nation's best punters – averaging 44.4 yards per punt. Eight of his 31 punts have gone 50 yards or more, and he has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 11 times.

He is also 4-for-5 in field goal attempts this season, including a season-long 43 yarder against Campbell.

If awarded, Velarde would be the second Eagle to earn the Doris Robinson Award; defensive lineman Jessie Malit was honored in 2020.

Awarded annually since 2015, the Doris Robinson Award is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season. It honors an FCS student-athlete who exemplifies excellence on the field, in the classroom and across the community. The values embody the leadership and integrity championed by Doris Robinson, a former school teacher and the wife of legendary Grambling State University football coach Eddie Robinson.

The collaboration between FedEx and the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award underscores a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of student-athletes, ensuring they are well-prepared for success beyond their collegiate careers. Through the Doris Robinson Award and the Career Expose – College Pathways Program, FedEx continues to invest in the future of young leaders, providing them with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the professional world.

Each finalist will be profiled on TheAnalyst.com in November before the recipient will be announced on Dec. 10, then honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.