Complete Fred Mitchell Award Release 
CHICAGO – Redshirt senior placekicker
Matt Davis put an emphatic cap on his final season in Pembroke late Monday evening when he was named the recipient of the 2016 Fred Mitchell Award which is presented annually to the nation's top placekicker in FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community.
More than 750 placekickers were eligible for the award which is named for Fred Mitchell, an all-American placekicker at Wittenberg and sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune for 41 years.
"We are delighted to congratulate Matt as the third Division II kicker to receive the Fred Mitchell Award in the last four years, and the first-ever kicker from a school in North Carolina," Mitchell said. "With more than 750 placekickers to choose from, we are extremely proud to recognize Matt among a top-notch group of nominees. Matt was at or near the top of the 750 eligible kickers in many statistical categories, and scoring 119 points in a season with such a high success rate on field goals from 50+ yards is incredible.
"Matt's record-setting season and collegiate career at UNC Pembroke were extremely impressive. It was a genuine pleasure for me to be the first to inform Matt that he is the 2016 FMA winner, and I could sense his humility and gratitude to his family, teammates, coaches, long snapper and holder."
Davis, a Richlands product, shattered a school record and led the Braves in scoring with 119 points this season, including 20 in a home victory over Fayetteville State in early September. He finished his senior campaign with a 26-for-31 success rate on field goal attempts, including an astounding 6-for-7 clip on tries from 50 yards or better, while also successfully canning 38 of his 39 PAT attempts. A three-tiered kicking threat, he also averaged 41.02 yards on 43 punts (10 punts of at least 50 yards), and also averaged 62.7 yards on 70 kickoffs (32 touchbacks).
He is very active in campus, civic and community service endeavors. He was hand-picked to be a member of UNC Pembroke's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he volunteers to help the homeless in the community and he has been heavily involved in many Athletes in Action activities.
"It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the winner of the 2016 Fred Mitchell Award," Davis said. "First and foremost, I would like to thank my Lord, Jesus Christ. All of the success that I have experienced is because of His grace and mercy in my life. None of it would have been possible without Him. I would also like to thank Fred Mitchell and the award committee for their generous considerations and my family for the unconditional love and support."
A blue-ribbon selection committee (listed at www.fredmitchellaward.com) evaluates placekickers that are nominated by their schools. Members of the National Football League and/or College Football Hall of Fame on the Selection Committee include Tom Beck, Kevin Butler, Paul Hornung, Marv Levy, Steve McMichael, Don Pierson and Gale Sayers. Former football players and others that are active in their communities are also on the selection committee.
"There were many outstanding candidates for this award," said selection committee chairman Rob Perry. "Matt holds numerous NCAA Division II and school records, and he even scored 13 of the Braves 19 points in a 19-18 win over Concord last month. We are looking forward to honoring Matt on February 20 during the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony." Details for the Awards Ceremony are at www.nffchicagoawards.eventbrite.com.
