International Norwich football player Long Ding kicked his way into history after being nominated for two of the highest honors in college football, according to Norwich athletics.
According to the Fred Mitchell awards, Long Ding has excellent statistics. He is second on the team with 18 points. He has made 24 consecutive point-after touchdowns as far back as last season. Ding also averages 44 yards on 19 kickoffs.
“I am honored to get the award,” said Ding, 23, from Qingdao, China.
Ding is one of 127 candidates across all levels of college football ranging from Division I, II, III and NAIA schools that are competing for up to 16 post-graduate scholarships awarded to the nation’s top college football players, on and off the field, according to the Norwich athletics website.
On Dec. 6, Long Ding will head to the 54th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
“He is a very hard worker on and off the field,” said Derius Silas, a 19-year-old sophomore majoring in communications from Miami, Fla. “You have to be on point when it comes to place kicking and have a lot of focus on making a field goal.”
Ding also has been nominated for the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete of the Year Award for excellence on the football field, in the classroom and in the community.
According to the Norwich athletics website, candidates are nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each. Candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
As one of 30 Division II nominees, it is a great honor for Long Ding.
“I am not surprised at all,” said Mike Cavanaugh, a 19-year-old freshman majoring architecture from Raymond, N.H. “He is a very hard worker.”
Professional football player, Eli Manning, has also received this prestigious award.