Craig Anderson Named National Football Foundation Jack Daly Award Winner

BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott junior defensive tackle Craig Anderson (Franklin, Mass.) has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Jack Daly Award for Academics, Citizenship, and Football, which is given by the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

The Jack Daly Award for Academics, Citizenship, and Football is annually awarded to a college football student-athlete at an institution in the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter footprint for academic performance, community service, and demonstrated football ability. Each of the three components of the award is weighted equally in the selection process of the winner. Collegiate student-athletes completing their junior or senior years are eligible for this award.

A 2013 Scholar-Athlete selection of the Jack Grinold Chapter, Anderson has put together a strong career on and off the field for Endicott. Anderson was named the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Rookie of the Year as a freshman, was a second team All-Conference pick as a sophomore and a first team selection in 2015 when he led the NEFC in sacks with nine.

In the classroom, Anderson is a Criminal Justice major who currently sports a 3.86 cumulative grade point average (GPA). For the 2015 season, Anderson was selected a first-team Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and has been a two-time member of the NEFC All-Academic team (freshmen are not eligible under Conference rules).

During his time at Endicott, Anderson has also continued the interest he has had in community service since he began high school. Anderson coordinated the Pennies for Patients fundraiser for Children's Hospital, and has served as a Pop Warner football and recreation basketball coach. Anderson has also helped organize a fundraiser for the Santa Foundation, and worked with his teammates in raising $10,000 over a two-year span with the Relay for Life. Other community service activities for Anderson include participating in spring clean-up for the elderly in Beverly, Endicott College Buddies, and the YMCA Christmas 5K.

Previous winners of the award, which is currently in its fifth year, include:

2015 - Danny Guadagnoli, QB, Bentley University

2014 - John Moriarty, OL, Massachusetts Maritime Academy

2013 - Ethan Peterson, OL, MIT

2012 - Bryant Johnson, QB, Bentley University

The Jack Daly Award award will be presented to Anderson on Sunday, May 15, at the Boston/Newton Marriott. A reception for the banquet will start at 5:00 PM with dinner to follow at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $70 each with tables of 10 available for $700. Further information and ticket purchases are available here.

Endicott posted a 5-5 record overall, and a 5-2 mark in NEFC play in 2015. The Gulls' 2016 schedule can be found here – Football Announces 2016 Schedule. 

(Portions of this release courtesy of Roger Crosley, Executive Director and Past President of the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation) 

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