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Nominees for 2022 Ernie Davis Award announced

andrew legare, elmira star-gazette
·5 min read

The three nominees for the 2022 Ernie Davis Award were announced Saturday afternoon during a ceremony at the Arnot Mall in Horseheads.

Nominees are Marshall Winkky of Horseheads, DeShon Cook Jr. of Thomas A. Edison and Brady Keefe of Elmira High School. All three seniors were nominated by their coaches.

The winner will be announced at the Elmira Kiwanis Club luncheon at noon Dec. 15 at the Clarion Inn in Elmira. The winner is selected based on a vote of area media, coaches and administrators.

The three nominees for the 2022 Ernie Davis Award were announced Dec. 10, 2022 during a ceremony at the Arnot Mall in Horseheads. From left, DeShon Cook of Thomas A. Edison, Brady Keefe of Elmira and Marshall Winkky of Horseheads.
The three nominees for the 2022 Ernie Davis Award were announced Dec. 10, 2022 during a ceremony at the Arnot Mall in Horseheads. From left, DeShon Cook of Thomas A. Edison, Brady Keefe of Elmira and Marshall Winkky of Horseheads.

The award goes to a player from the four Chemung County schools and is based on football accomplishments, academic achievement and character. Elmira Notre Dame, normally part of the process, did not field a team this year.

Davis, an Elmira Free Academy graduate, won the Heisman Trophy for Syracuse University in 1961. He died of leukemia in 1963 and the award in his name has been handed out annually since.

Marshall Winkky

Horseheads' Marshall Winkky tackles Owego's Steven Bidwell during the Blue Raiders' 35-12 win in their homecoming game Sept. 30, 2022 at Horseheads High School.
Horseheads' Marshall Winkky tackles Owego's Steven Bidwell during the Blue Raiders' 35-12 win in their homecoming game Sept. 30, 2022 at Horseheads High School.

Winkky, a senior offensive guard and inside linebacker, led Horseheads with 51 tackles, including eight for a loss. He had five quarterback sacks and forced two fumbles.

He was a three-year varsity starter and is a National Honor Society member with a GPA in the 90s. He has committed to attend Rochester Institute of Technology, where he plans to play lacrosse.

"Marshall was the captain of our football team and was a true leader," Horseheads coach Kevin Hillman wrote in nominating Winkky for the award. "Marshall is one of those select student-athletes who work hard in every aspect of his life. This effort is seen and admired by anyone who knows Marshall."

Winkky is in position to become the fifth consecutive Horseheads player to win the Davis Award. He said the Blue Raiders' recent football resurgence is a testament to the effort of coaches and players, two groups he credited with contributing to his nomination for the Davis Award.

"You can’t really put it into words. It’s just a huge honor," Winkky said. "I grew up hearing lots of great things about Ernie Davis, not just on the field but how much of an impact he had off the field and in the community. But I can’t take all the credit. I’ve got to give a shout-out to my boys on the line, all my teammates, my coaches especially and my mom and my siblings."

DeShon Cook

DeShon Cook of Thomas A. Edison runs for a 60-yard touchdown during a 34-20 loss to Unatego in football Sept. 17, 2022 at Edison High School in Elmira Heights.
DeShon Cook of Thomas A. Edison runs for a 60-yard touchdown during a 34-20 loss to Unatego in football Sept. 17, 2022 at Edison High School in Elmira Heights.

Cook, a senior, carried 73 times for 436 yards and five touchdowns this season. He added 17 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown, and completed two of five passes for 49 yards and a TD. On defense he registered 67 tackles, including 10 for a loss, along with four sacks.

"I have had the distinct privilege of coaching DeShon for the past three years at Thomas A. Edison High School, where he has always been the definition of a leader and a player that any coach could build their team around," Edison coach Kyle Erickson wrote in his nomination letter.

"Defining his leadership was his lead-by-example mentality that personified the motto, 'It's not about me, it's about we.' "

Those types of qualities define Davis' legacy and are part of why the award means so much to football players in the Elmira region.

"Being an African-American it means a lot to me," Cook said. "He was the first African-American to get a Heisman. I'm so proud to be honored and nominated."

Brady Keefe

Elmira's Brady Keefe carries the ball in a 37-20 loss to Union-Endicott in football Sept. 23, 2022 at the new Thomas J. Hurley Athletic Complex at Elmira High School.
Elmira's Brady Keefe carries the ball in a 37-20 loss to Union-Endicott in football Sept. 23, 2022 at the new Thomas J. Hurley Athletic Complex at Elmira High School.

Keefe was the top rusher for Elmira with 1,267 yards and 12 touchdowns on 156 carries. He added 202 return yards and a touchdown and caught a 71-yard touchdown pass. On defense Keefe contributed 59 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles.

He carries a 94 GPA in the classroom and volunteer activities include Elmira Small Fry and Strong Kids Safe Kids.

"Brady is a young man who truly lives up to the Ernie Davis name," Elmira coach Jimmy McCauley wrote of Keefe. "Brady is a dedicated student and a hard-working athlete on the football field as well. ... Brady is a role model who leads by example, striving to make a positive impact wherever he can."

Elmira's school nickname is Express in tribute to Davis' "Elmira Express" nickname.

"It's a great honor," Keefe said of the nomination. "He's an Elmira legend. Everyone looks up to him, you hear all about him."

Ernie Davis Award past winners

1963: Ray Fratarcangelo, Elmira Free Academy

1964: Mike Malone, Elmira Notre Dame

1965: Jack Leonard, Notre Dame

1966: Joel Ramich, Notre Dame

1967: Charley Collins, Elmira Southside

1968: Dana Carpenter, EFA

1969: Jim Savino, Southside

1970: Mark Riopko, Thomas A. Edison

1971: Sam Crumpton, Southside

1972: Jim Greene, EFA

1973: A.J. Nassar, Notre Dame

1974: Jamie Krum, Southside

1975: Brad Clark, Horseheads

1976: George Swan, EFA; and Matt Riordan, Notre Dame

1977: Steve Ramich, Notre Dame

1978: Bruce Stayments, EFA

1979: Marty Chalk, EFA; and Eric Rice, Edison

1980: Blaine Fowler, EFA

1981: Tony Prettyman, EFA

1982: Pete Curkendall, Southside

1983: Pete Curkendall, Southside

1984: Dan Callahan, Southside

1985: Jim Polcyn, Notre Dame

1986: Joe Paradis, Edison

1987: Bob Grosvenor, Notre Dame

1988: Bert Conklin, Horseheads

1989: Kevin Murphy, EFA

1990: Geoff Woodworth, Notre Dame

1991: D'Andre Fulmer, EFA

1992: John Maio, Notre Dame

1993: Orlando Smith, EFA

1994: Joel Stephens, Notre Dame

1995: Josh Trexler, EFA

1996: Brad Polk, Notre Dame

1997: Nate Watkins, Horseheads

1998: Matt Tunison, Horseheads; Chris Mallette, Edison

1999: Cory Kilpatrick, Notre Dame

2000: Cory Kilpatrick, Notre Dame

2001: Pat Manuel, Notre Dame

2002: Paul Harnas, Edison

2003: Joel Coon-Ribble, Elmira

2004: Matt Manganaro, Horseheads

2005: Pat Schweiger, Edison; Zack Manuel, Notre Dame

2006: Luke Herrington, Horseheads

2007: Mike Ficarro, Southside

2008: Matt Buice, Notre Dame

2009: Terrell Brown, EFA

2010: Jordan Shay, Southside

2011: Trevor Maycumber, Elmira

2012: Tom Agan, Notre Dame; Glen Watson, Horseheads; Jerry McPeak, Elmira

2013: Eli Thomas, Elmira

2014: Jerry McPeak, Elmira

2015: Allaah Sessions, Elmira

2016: Derrick Stark, Notre Dame

2017: Dan Fedor, Elmira

2018: Maurice Rankins Jr., Horseheads

2019: Gavin Elston, Horseheads

2021 spring: Ryan Scott, Horseheads

2021 fall: Riley Loomis, Horseheads

Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: The Ernie Davis Award 2022 nominees have been announced