Lynbrook’ High School’s varsity football player Omarion McClean was nominated for USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award presented by the Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Giants.
McLean, a senior, was part of the Week 4 nominees. He was nominated by head coach David Yaker.
“In my 29 years of coaching, I have not had a player so committed to his teammates and himself as Omarion,” Yaker said in his nominating submission. “His father took him in 10 years ago when his mother could not adequately care for him. Omarion seeks no accolades ever and only wants the team to win.
“He is willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. Omarion has helped mentor our younger players and was instrumental in helping our first annual Lynbrook Youth Football Clinic get off the ground. He plays with passion and fire, is a gentleman in and around school, is the consummate teammate and has overcome a great deal of adversity in his personal life to get to where he is now.”
The outstanding Tri-State area high school football players, mascots, team managers, flag football players etc. were nominated for the award by their coaches for their commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication.
The voting period for Week 4 nominees closed on Oct. 13. The final vote tally determines who will be named the weekly group’s finalist.
At the end of the six-week voting process, six finalists and five others based on work ethic and character will be named, for a total of 11 finalist honorees. Each finalist will receive $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 his 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.