IRVING (SMU) – SMU linebacker Jackson Mitchell will be among the seven Texas collegiate scholar-athletes who will be honored by the National Football Foundation (NFF) Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter for their accomplishments during the chapter's ninth-annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 2, at 6 p.m. at the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum.
 
"We are incredibly proud of this year's scholar-athletes," said Gerald Brence, president of the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter. "These athletes continue to impress, not only on the field competitively but also as scholars and young community leaders. It's always an honor to meet these young men, showcasing the great stories in North Texas that will inspire future student-athletes to excel in the classroom and become more involved in their communities."
 
Mitchell, a Southlake native, served as team captain in 2017, starting 11 games and registering 47 tackles for the Mustangs. He is completing his degree in economics with a minor in Spanish and will graduate in May.

Selected from a pool of candidates that covers the entire region, the seven collegiate players earned NFF chapter scholar-athlete recognition in 2017 after a rigorous review. The selection committee, comprised of coaches, teachers, administrators and business leaders from North Texas, evaluated the candidates based on their athletic accomplishments, academic performance and leadership in the community.
 
The event, which will start at 6 p.m. CT, has attracted a sellout crowd of 500-plus people each of the past eight years. For more information on tickets, please contact club president Gerald Brence at 469-878-5370 or via email at Gerald.Brence@pisd.edu.
 
The NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas is one of 120 nationwide chapters of the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame. The NFF is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF High School Showcases, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society and scholarships of more than $1.3 million for college and high school scholar-athletes.