AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - One of the highest honors a Texas Panhandle football player alum can receive is the Blair Cherry Award, an honor that recognizes the excellence that a standout football player has shown on the field collegiately and within the community. This year’s winner, Amarillo High alum Erik Gray, was added to that list.
The Stephen F. Austin offensive lineman was recently crowned the Southland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and an All-American for the Lumberjacks.
He was a key factor in the trenches during his time for the Sandies as well, being on the all-district teams list three times during his high school career.
Apart from athletics, he helps out at the Boys and Girls Club near his college as a mentor.
Emotional milestone
For Gray, this award was an emotional milestone and he is grateful to be recognized and in the mix with many Panhandle football greats.
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“It means a lot. I’m blessed to be here right now. Especially, if y’all know where I came from, you’d understand. I’m blessed to be here right now,” Gray said.
Gray said the honor represents a significant achievement and inspiration for the future.
“It’s an honor. It’s a big time achievement for me. Hopefully, when I grow up and my kids realize that they can do this too. I mean, like I said, anything’s possible,” he said.
Other nominees included Kash Bradley from Bushland, Jamal Acosta-Lewis from Caprock and Tayden Barnes from Tascosa. Bradley currently plays at Colorado Mesa University, Acosta-Lewis plays at West Texas A&M and Barnes suits up for University of Cincinnati.
Amarillo will also receive a $500 dollar scholarship to give out to a deserving current student as a result of Gray winning.
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