Seventeen students from 17 Colorado high schools will be honored by the Colorado Chapter of the National Football Foundation as 2024 Prep Scholar-Athlete recipients at the group’s 32nd annual banquet on April 21 at the Denver West Marriott in Golden.
“The selection of the Prep Scholar-Athletes of the Year is our No. 1 priority for the chapter,” said Dan DeRose, the NFF Colorado Chapter president. “Each year at our banquet, we honor the recipients at the head table and acknowledge their achievements on the field and in the classroom before more than 400 attendees.”
DeRose noted three schools with recipients are being recognized for the first time with an honoree. “Clair Gausman, our selection committee chairman, does an excellent job researching the nominations. We are excited to honor a player from Aspen, Basalt, and Pueblo West for the first time.”
Since 1993, 374 individuals from 131 high schools, including the 2024 class, have been recognized by the Colorado Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as Colorado Prep Football Scholar-Athletes.
Here are the 2024 Colorado Chapter Colorado Prep Football Scholar-Athletes.
- Rhett Armstrong, Palmer Ridge, 4.04 GPA – A finalist for the prestigious Denver Post Gold Helmet honor, he is recognized as the nation’s top kicker. He set the Colorado High School Activities Association for longest field goal in Class 4A (62 yards versus Lewis-Palmer), career extra point (237), and overall kicking points (279) for all Colorado classes. He is currently attending Baylor. He is the seventh Scholar-Athlete from Palmer Ridge.
- James Basinger, Columbine, 3.6 GPA – An all-Colorado running back, he rushed for 1,743 yards as a senior to lead Class 5A. He rushed for 2,493 yards in his career with 37 touchdowns (25 as a senior). He will be attending South Dakota State. He is the 17th Scholar-Athlete from Columbine.
- Mikhail Benner, Broomfield, 3.54 GPA – An all-Colorado pick, he caught 31 passes for 710 yards and 10 TDs on offense. He was credited with 46 total tackles (32 solo) on defense and three interceptions for 45 yards returned. He finished his career with 147 total tackles (108 solos) with 16 interceptions for 223 returned yards. He will be attending the Air Force Academy. He is the fifth Scholar-Athlete from Broomfield.
- Andrew Brown, The Classical Academy, 4.19 GPA – In leading his school to the 2A title, Brown passed for 1,940 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 582 yards rushing with 10 scores. He is the fourth Scholar-Athlete from The Classical Academy.
- William Daniel, Basalt, 4.16 GPA – A Gold Helmet finalist, Daniel was a two-way player with 142 total defensive tackles. He rushed for 1,390 yards and caught passes for 234 yards. He scored 20 touchdowns. He is the first Scholar-Athlete from Basalt. He is committed to Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn.
- Jace Filleman, Regis Jesuit, 4.09 GPA – A two-way player, had 70 total tackles with 12 for losses and 6.5 sacks. He also caught nine passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns. He had 200 career tackles, with 34.5 for losses and 22 sacks. He had 23 career receptions for 249 yards and two scores. He also plays baseball. He is the sixth Scholar-Athlete from Regis Jesuit. He is committed to the Colorado School of Mines.
- Carson Hageman, Erie, 3.82 GPA – Hageman had 134 (69 solo) total tackles, with 18 for losses and six sacks. He rushed for 383 yards and five touchdowns. He had 371 career tackles (164 solo) with 36 losses and 13 sacks. He is the fourth Scholar-Athlete from Erie. He is committed to the Air Force Academy.
- Henry Hurd, Aspen, 4.66 GPA – A Gold Helmet finalist, Hurd compiled 91 career catches for 1,410 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has posted a “Perfect 36” score on ACT. He is the first Scholar-Athlete from Aspen. He is committed to Brown.
- Gavin Lockett, Pueblo West, 3.9 GPA – A run-pass all-Colorado pick quarterback, Lockett rushed for 1,369 yards and 22 touchdowns while passing for 1,274 yards and 14 scores. He amassed 2,903 yards rushing and 4,021 yards passes in his career, with 89 touchdowns. He is the first Scholar-Athlete from Pueblo West. He is committed to the University of Northern Colorado.
- Max Mervin, Ponderosa, 3.6 GPA – A Gold Helmet finalist, he caught 50 passes for 642 yards and six touchdowns. A four-season starter, he caught 169 passes for 2,187 yards and 24 touchdowns. He rushed for 754 yards in his career with nine touchdowns and completed passes for 584 yards and five scores. Uncommitted to his college choice, he is the third Scholar-Athlete from Ponderosa.
- Austyn Modrzewski, Mountain Vista, 3.5 GPA – A Gold Helmet finalist, Modrzewski completed 199 of 271 passes for 3,407 yards and 57 touchdowns. He is CHSAA’s all-time passing leader with 814 completions, 11,991 yards, and 147 touchdowns. He is a two-time Gatorade player of the year. He is the second Scholar-Athlete from Mountain Vista. He is committed to the University of South Dakota.
- Marcus Mozer, Fossil Ridge, 4.07 GPA – The Denver Post Gold Helmet recipient, he caught 66 passes for 933 yards and 13 touchdowns. He had 22 tackles on defense with two interceptions. He caught 132 passes for 2,173 yards and 25 touchdowns during his career. He is the first Scholar-Athlete from Fossil Ridge. He is committed to San Diego State University.
- John Niedringhaus, Legend, 4.0 GPA – He had 113 total tackles with 20 tackles for losses and nine sacks. He had 179 total tackles for this career, 30 losses and 12 sacks. He is the first Scholar-Athlete from Legend. He is uncommitted to a college.
- Andrew Smart, Arapahoe, 3.90 GPA – A two-sport standout, Smart caught 67 passes for 1,098 yards and 14 touchdowns. He caught 105 passes for 1,718 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career. He is the eighth Scholar-Athlete from Arapahoe. He is committed to Dartmouth.
- Tanner Terch, Heritage, 3.5 GPA – As a two-way standout as a senior, Terch had 58 receptions for 1,312 yards and 16 touchdowns. He rushed for 142 yards and four touchdowns while posting 30 tackles with two pass breakups. He had 120 receptions for 2,356 yards and 26 touchdowns for his career. He has committed to Nebraska. He is the second Scholar-Athlete from Heritage.
- Sawyer Wald, Lutheran, 4.60 GPA – A Gold Helmet finalist, Wald compiled 1,825 yards (1,647 rushing, 318 receiving) and 25 touchdowns (23, 2) as a senior. He had 22 tackles (18 solo, six losses) and one interception. For his career, he rushed 2,982 yards (33 TDs) and caught 25 passes for 318 yards and five scores. On defense, he had 58 tackles (42 solos). Uncommitted to his college choice, he is the third Scholar-Athlete from Lutheran.
- Ned Zilinskas, Cherry Creek, 3.9 GPA – A first-team all-state selection, Zilinskas anchored the offensive line for the state champions. He will be attending Princeton. He is the 14th Scholar-Athlete from Cherry Creek. His brother Hank was a 2022 NFFCC Scholar-Athlete.
