CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte Touchdown Club announced today that senior linebacker Shayne Leddy (Spring Lake, N.J.) of the Norwich University football team was named the recipient of its 2024 Defender of the Nation Award, sponsored by Capital Group of Companies.
"The Defender of the Nation Award honors exceptional student-athletes from our nation's military academies and leading ROTC programs, recognizing their dedication and achievements," according to John Rocco, Executive Director of the Charlotte Touchdown Club. "This year, Norwich University's Shayne Leddy has been selected as the recipient of this prestigious award. We look forward to celebrating Shayne's accomplishments on December 9th at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet, presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated."
The recipient of The Defender of the Nation Award is selected from one of the nation's nine service academies and senior military institutions as well from top collegiate ROTC programs including Air Force Academy, Appalachian State, Auburn University, The Citadel, Coast Guard Academy, Michigan State, University of Mississippi, Naval Academy, Norwich University, University of South Carolina, Texas A&M University, Villanova University, Virginia Tech, VMI, and West Point and is based on exceptional leadership qualities on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The recipient must also exhibit a high standard of integrity by leading through example.
"I am honored to be selected for the 2024 Defender of the Nation Award," Leddy said. "This award really recognizes my family, my classmates at Norwich, my teammates, and the coaching staff for all the hard work and sacrifices we have made together. I'm proud to have achieved the things I have, and I could not have accomplished anything without the support of my friends and family. This award further inspires me to achieve great things for Norwich Football and our nation's Army."
Rick Hughes, President of Capital Group of Companies commented, "There are certain people we meet that are exceptional in and about some things, then there are those that achieve in multiple tasks. We at Capital believe to win the Defender of the Nation Award you must be exceptional in three areas. Not only must you be an exceptional football player, but an outstanding student and more importantly, exceptional in the endeavor of military commitment. The man who is this year's Defender of the Nation Award recipient is Shayne Leddy from Norwich University. Congratulations Shayne! Capital supports you and is proud of our relationship."
BG Bill McCollough, Commandant of Cadets and VP of Student Affairs: "Norwich and our Corps of Cadets are extremely proud of Shayne's selection to receive this year's Defender of the Nation Award. Shayne is tough, smart, dedicated, and sets a superb example of what cadet athletes should strive to be on and off the field, and in the classroom. We are equally proud of his commitment to serve as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army after he graduates this Spring, continuing a long tradition of NU cadet athletes serving our great nation in uniform. Our thanks to the Charlotte Touchdown Club for recognizing Shayne in this meaningful way."
In conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated will be held on Monday, December 9th at the Charlotte Convention Center. In addition to honoring the Defender of the Nation Award winner, West Virginia University's Darryl Talley from the Class of 1982 will be honored as the 2024 Legends Award recipient, while Missouri Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz is slated as the keynote speaker. CBS Sports Studio Host, Adam Zucker, is confirmed as Master of Ceremonies.
"Shayne is the epitome of what we want a Norwich University football player to be," said Norwich Head Coach Bill Russell. "He is a great student, an exemplary member of our campus community, and a terrific leader on our football program. Additionally, he is a stand out both in our Corps of Cadets and in Army ROTC. Shayne has been driven to succeed from the minute he arrived on campus as a Rook. His energy is infectious, and he gives maximum effort regardless of the circumstances. It's been a great privilege to coach Shayne, and to say that I am proud of him would be an understatement."
Career Accolades:
- Named Academic All-Conference twice
- Leads team in both tackles and tackles for loss
- Voted Team Captain for the 2024 season
2024: Career – Leddy has accumulated 125 career tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception and 3 passes defended. Season – the 5'-10", 220 linebacker leads a defense that is off to a blistering start to the season. Through six games, Leddy has 47 total tackles (4th in NEWMAC) 30 solo tackles leads NEWMAC, 6.5 TFL for 17 yards (5th in NEWMAC). Defense holding teams to 34.3% on 3rd downs.
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Manasquan High School... Played football for the Warriors for Coach Jay Price... Named to the All-Shore Conference Team... Football team was crowned group two Team of the Year in senior year... Also played basketball, golf, and wrestled...Selected team captain for football and wrestling in senior year.
PERSONAL: Son of Paul and Kathy Leddy...Has two older siblings; Conor and Kaitlin...Criminal Justice major with a 3.71 cumulative GPA.
About Capital Group of Companies:
Rick Hughes has a successful 46-year track record in the automotive finance and insurance industry. Rick worked with publicly held NY Stock Exchange companies, setting up their F&I Programs. Rick worked with Sonic Automotive on setting up their F&I Program, with NCADA to form and market their NC Life program and industry-leading programs to increase dealer revenue. Prior to starting Capital Automotive, Rick was the Director of Business Development for one of the world's largest automotive finance product and service companies. Rick coordinated various international field forces, presented at BSF and CEO Ninety, and personally developed hundreds of successful dealership personnel. As CEO of the Capital Companies, he created Flex-Pro, a patented program which allows an additional income stream coupled with products, insurance, and reinsurance administrative services. The Capital Companies refers to four unique companies: Capital Benefits Group—Structures custom benefit options based on your business needs, Capital Automotive—Gives dealerships the edge they need to meet and exceed their goals, Capital Processing Systems—Provides state-of-the-art products, administration, insurance and reinsurance services to complement dealership and shareholder financial goals, and Data Dot Dealer Services—Least expensive, most effective anti-theft deterrent ever created. We are a group of companies that work together to help dealers capitalize on their investments. We keep our clients in the game and moving toward the goal line through our consumer and client-centric products and administrative services.
About Veterans Bridge Home:
Veterans Bridge Home connects Veterans and their families, in any state of transition, to the community. Through our network of partners, we help Veterans navigate employment, create social connections, and settle their families. We look at the whole Veteran and connect them to the resources needed to be successful and thriving leaders in our community. Veterans Bridge Home serves as an entry point for Veterans who don't know where to turn to access support and services. Because Veterans return home to a civilian community and not to federal agencies or bureaucracies, each community must reach out and actively assist in the reintegration process alongside federal agencies such as the Veterans Administration. The Carolinas have the opportunity and privilege to help bring our nation's warriors and their families home with the same energy and commitment that our Veterans have displayed in serving our nation. In so doing, ours will serve as a leader to inform other communities that wish to create more welcoming and livable communities for returning Veterans and their families.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting youth, high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (70) companies. The Club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Charlotte Touchdown Club scholarship efforts.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented annually by the Charlotte Touchdown Club in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I defensive football player.
For more information, contact John Rocco at 704-347-2918 or email jrocco@touchdownclub.com. The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.
