Penn State signee Peter Gonzalez wins first NFL Latino Youth Honors
Penn State signee Peter Gonzalez is adding more hardware to his already impressive list of accolades as a high school athlete. The Pittsburgh Central Catholic standout receiver is the inaugural winner of the NFL Latino Youth Honors award. The league announced the news on Thursday. All 32 pro teams submitted a nomination. Gonzalez’s was submitted by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ and he represented the AFC North on the list of finalists.
“The award is a part of a joint effort between the NFL and Hispanic Heritage Foundation, who have partnered to celebrate and recognize Hispanic and Latino excellence in and around the NFL community,” a Steelers news release said. “This season, both organizations are selecting and honoring outstanding Latino youth football players throughout the League. The program aims to highlight Latino excellence, while simultaneously putting a focus on the next generation of football.
“The NFL is proud to again join forces with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in the launch of this year’s ‘NFL Latino Youth Honors,’ where Latino students and their inspiring stories will motivate the next generation of fans and athletes of this great sport,” said Marissa Solis, NFL Senior VP/Global Brand & Consumer Marketing at the time of the launch. “This initiative underscores the league’s commitment to fostering excellence, nurturing the next generation of football players and fans, and recognizing the outstanding contributions of Latino youth within the NFL community and beyond.”
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Gonzalez is of Cuban and Honduran ancestry, according to a news release from the Steelers.
“My heritage comes from my dad,” Gonzalez said in a released statement. “He’s a Cuban Honduran American. And it means a lot to have that last name I got. He grew up in Miami, Florida. That whole side of my family is Hispanic.”
Gonzalez’s dad, Pete, played for both Pitt and the Steelers. Peter is a multi-time all-WPIAL and all-state selection who carries a three-star rating in the On3 Industry Rankings but a four-star mark by On3. He committed to Penn State in June. And, he signed with the Lions in December ahead of his enrollment later this summer.
“The impact football has had on my life, it goes well beyond the field,” Gonzalez said. “From the teammates and friends that I’ve made, to the coaches and mentors I’ve had in my life, all of them have really culminated into making me the man I am today, and that’s something I can never repay.
“I’m always grateful for the connections I’ve made to the game of football.”
