FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Sept. 12, 2025  –  The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation is proud to present Tracy High School’s Trevor Smith with this year’s Minnesota Football Honors Courage Award. Smith will be honored during this summer’s Minnesota Football Honors broadcast. 

Early last spring, Trevor Smith was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident right after the basketball season ended. While driving home from the weight room in preparation for the upcoming baseball season, Smith was t-boned at an intersection by an 18-wheel semi. The semi blew the stop sign and hit Trevor’s car going approximately 65 mph. Trevor did not have any broken extremities, but suffered several major injuries. Due to a severe dairy allergy, Smith’s bones are more fragile than most. The accident caused all of the joints in his skull to pop or separate. He also suffered a torn labrum in his throwing arm and will need surgery to help him hear out of his right ear again. 

However, Smith didn’t let the adversity of the accident define him. He quickly returned to sports and played baseball last spring. He was also cleared to play football in the fall. During his return to the gridiron, Smith broke numerous school records, including some that were 16-plus years old. Smith, a quarterback, safety, kicker, and punter for Tracy, passed for 2,320 yards (school record) and 21 touchdowns while setting program records in passing attempts (309) and completions (177).

“Trevor’s story of resilience and perseverance is remarkable. Following his accident, he broke down every barrier and obstacle in his way as he produced a record-breaking season for Tracy High School’s football program. We can all learn from his mindset and story,” said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and 2011 Courage Award winner. “We can’t wait to share and chronicle his inspiring story during our Minnesota Football Honors broadcast.”

Minnesota Football Honors is hosting a television show to honor this year’s high school, college and Minnesota Vikings award winners. An official broadcast date will be announced at a later date on www.minnesotafootballhonors.com. To view a statewide map of past and present Minnesota Football Honors Award Winners, visit this site. 

Previous Minnesota Football Honors Courage Award winners:

2008: Tyler Jenson: Brainerd High School 

2009: Ryan Goetzinger: Caledonia High School 

2011: Todd Fultz: St. John’s and Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation President

2012: Derek Klinkner: Southwest Minnesota State

2013: Connor Cosgrove: University of Minnesota

2014: Peter Westerhaus: University of Minnesota

2015: Josh Benson: Hinckley-Finlayson

2016: Casey O’Brien: Cretin Derham-Hall

2017: Mike Sherels: University of Minnesota

2018: Danny Lilya: Moose Lake High School 

2019: Ryan Barlett: White Bear Lake High School 

2021: Cap George and Family: Rosemount High School

2022: Trevor Solem: Minnewaska High School 

2023: Ethan Glynn: Bloomington Jefferson

2024: Randy Taylor and Jon Wessel: Tartan High School 

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About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation:

The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote amateur football’s ability to develop leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota’s young people. The Minnesota Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota’s top high school and college football scholar-athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org, or Facebook (@MNFootballHonors) and Twitter (@NFFMN).

Contact:

Todd Fultz, President - Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation

Phone: (612)-325-5500

Media Contact:

Daniel House, Director of Media Relations and Content

Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation

Email: daniel@nffmn.org