Avery earned one last honor from National Football Foundation before career-ending diagnosis
PHOTO: Apex Friendship’s Jaden Avery breaks through a hole last season for the Patriots.
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— Click here for review and purchase link: THE RIGHT THING TO DO, The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s and here for a purchase link to RAYE OF LIGHT, Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the Integration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans.
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By TOM SHANAHAN
Jaden Avery’s prolific Apex Friendship High career picked up another honor – this one from the National Football Foundation – despite the end of a promising college career before it started.
The honor is as a member of the NFF’s 2025 Team of Distinction. He is one of 82 national top scholar-athletes among senior graduates, 21 from the talent-rich South Region that includes Florida, Georgia and Texas and one of only two from North Carolina along with Xavier Johnston-Hairston of North Forsyth in Winston-Salem.
“I was shocked when I heard about it,” Avery said. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I guess coach (Adam) Sanders put me up for it. It’s something my family and I are grateful for.”
Sanders said along with the award, Avery will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the NFF’s Bill Dooley Chapter. The region’s membership includes North Carolina, NC State, NC Central, Duke and East Carolina.
“I’ll be sure to put it to good use,” Avery said.
NFF’s press release and complete list of players honored on 2025 Team of Distinction
The career-ending news – a shocking emotion at the other end of the spectrum — was learned shortly after the end of his senior season. An MRI examination revealed spinal stenosis. To continue play risked paralysis.
It’s the same genetic condition that ended the college career of Cooper Manning, the son of College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Archie Manning and older brother of retired NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning. Cooper was a wide receiver playing at Mississippi, the alma mater of his father and Eli, when he was diagnosed.
“It was hard at first,” Avery said. “I had really worked hard to play football and was looking forward to playing in college. It seemed like everything was thrown away in a moment. But it made me look back on my career and be grateful. It could have turned out worse.”
Avery, who rushed for 2013 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading Apex Friendship to the Southeast Wake Athletic Conference title, had passed physical examinations throughout his playing days. Until his latest award his career was capped by earning Offensive Player of the Year in SWAC.
A 4.4 student, he also was honored last fall by the Raleigh Sports Club and featured in the News and Observer. The NFF Bill Dooley chapter will honor him at its annual Pigskin Preview at the Hilton Raleigh North Hills. Avery plans to study exercise science at UNC Charlotte.
“He is handling the disappointment well,” Sanders said. “He is thankful for great memories playing for us.”
Avery suffered a hit in the 4A NC High School Athletics Association playoffs loss to Durham Jordan when he felt some tingling in his limbs. But his sensations returned to normal by the time he was examined on the sideline.
My past News & Observer high school football features from 2024 season
His first follow-up examination with a doctor didn’t real any problems, but he was referred to see a neurologist. An MRI turned up the diagnosis. Spinal stenosis narrows space in the spine.
“The risk to keep playing is too great,” Avery said. “I’m grateful for my career, and I’m privileged to be going to college at Charlotte.”
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Tom Shanahan is an award-winning sportswriter and frequent contributor to Spartanmag.com in addition to posting on his website. His new book on Michigan State leading college football integration is, “THE RIGHT THING TO DO, The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s.” His first book was “RAYE OF LIGHT, Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the Integration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans.”
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Below are links to click on to purchase my books focused.
My books tell the true story of college football integration in the 1960s and address the myths and fiction that allowed a false narrative surrounding the 1970 USC-Alabama game to usurp the credit from the true pioneers. As I said when I spoke at the National Sports Media Association book festival, no two books provide an accurate portrayal more than RAYE OF LIGHT and THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I’ll put my facts up against anybody, anytime, anywhere. Watch here.
Click here for my story on the 1962 Rose Bowl and Segregation awarded first place by the Football Writers Association of America. I tell untold stories on Michigan State’s leading role and the true pioneers of college football integration. Click here to read the summary as a first-place story.
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Click here to purchase The Right Thing To Do
THE RIGHT THING TO DO
The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s
Foreword by Ruffin McNeill
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Click here to purchase Raye of Light.
RAYE OF LIGHT
Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the 1ntegration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans
Foreword by Tony Dungy
