DALLAS (FWAA) — Kentucky’s J.J. Weaver is this week’s nominee for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Weaver, a sixth-year senior, has become a leader in the mental health space, particularly with grieving children, after dealing with several devastating setbacks in both his football and personal life.
“I was like, man, I want to start something different,” Weaver said during a 2023 CBS video feature. “At first, I wanted to just start in the football facility to see: We’re men, but we still have feelings at the end of the day. We’re still grieving. We’re still going through things, and it’s OK to talk to somebody about what you’re going through.”
Weaver was born with polydactyly, a condition in which a person has more than five fingers or toes on one, or on each, hand or foot. He has six fingers on his right hand, which led to bullying when he was in grade school.
In June of 2020, Weaver's father, Terrance, was murdered. One year later, Weaver's high school coach, Rob Reader, died after a battle with cancer. In a November 2020 game against Florida, Weaver suffered a torn ACL in his right knee, which ended a standout redshirt freshman campaign in which he still earned All-SEC freshman team honors, as voted by the league’s coaches.
Kentucky’s then-head athletic trainer Gabe Amponsah and head coach Mark Stoops could sense the grief and anger that Weaver carried, and they encouraged Weaver to seek counseling. Inspired by all of his support, Weaver has since become an advocate for mental health and counseling.
Weaver, with the help from the Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families, launched “The Perfect Fit Support Group” in the fall of 2023, an eight-week peer-led grief counseling group. Women in Philanthropy donated a $40,000 grant to the group, which is now available to all Kentucky students.
Weaver also spoke at “Supporting Children and Teens Through Loss” at the Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families this past spring. He then shared his story in June 2024 at the Annual Symposium on Children’s Grief hosted by the National Alliance for Children’s Grief.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Weaver is a two-time captain for the Wildcats. The Louisville, Ky., native has tallied 189 career tackles, 37.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, 10 passes defended and two interceptions during his time with the Wildcats. His 37.5 career tackles for loss rank third in school history and his 21.5 career sacks rank fourth.
The outside linebacker leads Kentucky this season in sacks (5) and quarterback hurries (4), and he is tied for the lead in forced fumbles (1) and fumble recoveries (1).
Weaver is a previous nominee for the Courage Award, back in 2021. He is also a two-time semifinalist for the Jason Witten Man of the Year Award (2023 and ’24), a member of the 2023 SEC Community Service Team, and the winner of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2024 Ron Butler Character in Adversity Award. He also is a member of the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and is a semifinalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy for his work in the community.
The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. The winner of the award will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and receive his trophy at an on-field presentation.
Previous winners of the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award are Virginia runninf back Mike Hollins (2023), Oregon tight end Cam McCormick (2022), the University of Utah football Team (2021), Arkansas State analyst Alex Charlton (2020), Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson (2019), SUNY Cortland linebacker Kyle Richard (2018), Wisconsin safety D'Cota Dixon (2017), Pitt running back James Conner (2016), Miami offensive lineman Hunter Knighton (2015), Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson (2014), San Jose State defensive lineman Anthony Larceval (2013), Clemson wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez (2012), Michigan State offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr. (2011), Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand (2010), the University of Connecticut football team (2009), Tulsa's Wilson Holloway (2008), Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).008), Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).
About Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl is a 404-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. With its primary mission since being created in 1935 to bring tourism to South Florida through an annual football game and events, it has also maintained a legacy of charitable contributions and community outreach. Orange Bowl’s community outreach is embodied by the four pillars of its Orange Bowl Cares program: Youth Sports, Education, Community Engagement and Legacy Programs. Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the 2024 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 9. 2025. For more information on the 2025 Orange Bowl events, including promotional inquiries and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, visit orangebowl.org or follow @OrangeBowl on social media.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.
To submit a nomination for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl Courage Award, contact Matt Fortuna at matt.fortuna@gmail.com.