Now celebrating the program’s 10th year, the 2023 USA Football Heart of a Giant Award, presented by Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Giants, announced the second weekly group of nominees. 

These outstanding tri-state area high school football players, mascots, team managers, etc., have all been nominated for the award by their coaches for their commitment, teamwork, will, character, and dedication.

The voting period for these nominees is now open until Sunday, Sept. 24, with the final vote tally determining who will be named the weekly group’s finalist. 

At the end of the six-week voting process, six finalists and five wild card finalists will be named, for a total of 11 finalist honorees. Each finalist will receive a $1,000 grant for their high school’s football program, with the grand prizewinner’s school getting an additional $9,000 equipment grant. The grand prizewinner and their coach will be honored on the field at a future New York Giants game this season. The grand prizewinner will be selected based on video submissions stating why they have the Heart of a Giant.

From Bay Shore, Nehemiah Wilkinson was nominated. He has been in and out of homeless shelters for the past year and does not have reliable transportation, so he has to take the bus. He still maintains good grades and makes it to workouts, team functions, and events.