TCU Football: Drew Combs is a Rudy Award Finalist

by PegNews wire

Kickoff specialist Drew Combs from TCU was announced as a finalist for the Rudy Award, an award “honoring student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution, and commitment as members of their collegiate football team.” Combs, who has been a starter for the past two years, is a senior from Houston and was born with a left arm that ends just below the elbow.

Combs has become an inspiration to others who are congenital amputees regularly receiving emails and phone calls from parents of children born with the same condition. According to the TCU Athletic Department, Combs responds to every message taking pride in being an inspiration. This season, Combs recorded a career-best eight touchbacks to go along with three tackles in his career.

From Southern Methodist University, senior offensive lineman Tommy Poynter was a nominee for the Rudy Award. Poynter was originally a walk-on for SMU, meaning he did not receive a scholarship to play for the Mustangs out of high school. Poynter earned a scholarship after a year.

Poynter was considered a team leader as well as volunteering to speak to young people about hard work and working with middle school FCA. Poynter has his undergraduate degree and is currently pursuing a graduate degree.

The Rudy Award is awarded in honor of former Notre Dame football player Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger who is immortalized in the movie Rudy played by actor Sean Astin.

Information provided by TCU Athletics, RudyAwards.com and SMUMustangs.com, posted by tej