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National Football Foundation Announces 2025 Team of Distinction

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez06/25/25lawandfern

The National Football Foundation revealed its 2025 Team of Distinction. From a pool of 3,500 scholar-athletes, 82 honorees from over 40 states made the team. With the NFF putting a premium on the balance between being a student with being an athlete, the honorees have a 4.15 average GPA and include ten valedictorians.

While the National Football Foundation did not have a thorough criterion, the Team of Distinction members must be seniors during the 2024-25 high school football season. Likewise, they must have commendable achievements in sports, academics, and community involvement.

The National Football Foundation chapters across the country each have one nominee to the 2025 Team of Distinction. As NFF Chairman Archie Manning said, “These 82 honorees exemplify the scholar-athlete ideal that is at the heart of our mission, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements. We are equally grateful to our NFF Chapter Network leaders, whose tireless efforts ensure that the values of football continue to thrive at the grassroots level.”

In addition to the high average GPAs and valedictorians, the 82 honorees feature 74 team captains and 44 All-State selections. Likewise, 54 are National Honor Society Members. The honorees include Marquette University High School tight end/linebacker Jude Ballinger, who is also the student body president and a First-Team All-Greater Metro Conference member.

There’s also New Home High School two-way lineman Mitchell Baum, who is a First Team Academic All-State and First Team-All District honoree. Meanwhile, Naples High School defensive tackle Brady Clark has a 5.1 GPA and is an AP Scholar with distinction. Likewise, Tuscaloosa Academy defensive back Russell Cole is a Football America Academic All-America Team member and First Team All-Region selectee.

Finally, Deerfield Beach High School quarterback and Navy commit Jaxson Jewell is a US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award recipient. You may view the full list of the National Football Foundation Team of Distinction 2025 here.