Josh Paschal is a Pop Warner Award Finalist

Kentucky defensive end Josh Paschal is one of six finalists for the 12th annual Pop Warner Award. The award recognizes a senior who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community, and serves as a role model to Pop Warner’s young student athletes.

The award winner will be announced in January. The other five finalists are:

• Sean Clifford, Penn State quarterback
• James Empey, BYU center
• Pat Fields, University of Oklahoma safety
• Elijah Hicks, University of California safety
• Shea Pitts, UCLA defensive back

Paschal could be the second Wildcat to bring the honor back to Lexington. Current grad assistant and former tight end C.J. Conrad was the Pop Warner Award recipient in 2018.

Paschal fits the criteria for this award. The first ever three-time team captain in the history of the Kentucky football program, as a senior he finished second in the SEC in tackles for loss with 15.5, only training the guy who set the FBS single-season record, Will Anderson.

In addition to his play on the field, he’s also an inspiration off the field. He defeated cancer soundly, then spent time helping those in need, most recently helping raise more than $20,000 to help those ravaged by the devastating Western Kentucky tornadoes. You can still add to that total by bidding on signed portraits from the talented Kentucky foursome at 32auctions.com/KSR, or you can contribute to the GoFundMe (KSRTornadoRelief.com) that has already raised more than $760,000.