Toms River North Football Player Nominated For Heart Of A Giant Award

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River North football player has been nominated for the 2017 USA Football Heart of a Giant Award, and needs your votes to become a finalist.

Daryn Blackwell, the Mariners' 6-foot, 240-pound running back and tight end, is one of 10 Week 2 nominees in the program, according to a news release from USA Football.

The Heart of a Giant awards program honors players from the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut tristate area who have been nominated by their coaches for their commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication.

"As good a football player Daryn is, and he is excellent, he is an even better human being," Toms River North football coach Dave Oizerowitz told USA Football. "He is a tremendous ambassador for our school.”

Blackwell told USA Football he plans to go to college to study sports medicine.

"If you talk to a former athlete, it’s easier for us to help you get better and back on the field," he said. School is important, he said. "My mother pushes me every day to get better and better with my grades and schooling because I need the grades in order to accomplish my goals."

The program, in its fifth year, is sponsored by the New York Giants, the Hospital for Special Surgery and USA Football.

The website defines having a "Heart of a Giant" as having characteristics like:

• Commitment: Unshakable work ethic in training and preparation. Exhibits a “first in, last one out” mentality.
• Character: Leads by example and motivates teammates to be the best they can be.
• Teamwork: Inspires and aligns others to work together to achieve a common goal.
• Dedication: Find a way to persevere when faced with obstacles and adversity.
• Will: Demonstrates the desire and drive to succeed both on the field, in the classroom and within their community.

Voting for the Week 2 nominees will remain open for 25 days from the announcement date of Sept. 20.

Click here to see Blackwell's nomination and vote for him.

The final vote tally after 25 days determines who will be named the group’s finalist. One grand prize winner will be selected based on video submissions stating why they have the Heart of a Giant and that winner will be honored on the field during a New York Giants’ home game. All six finalists will receive $1,500 for their high school’s football program, with the winner’s school getting an additional $3,500.

Photo provided by Toms River Regional School District