2025-2026 NFFSJ Awards Winners

The following men are recognized posthumously by The College of New Jersey Gridiron Group, which donates scholarships in their names to the South Jersey Chapter of the National Football Foundation. Through this partnership, three $1,500 scholarships are awarded annually to deserving scholar-athletes from each of the participating high schools, honoring both academic achievement and excellence on the field. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation for their continued support and commitment to recognizing and uplifting these outstanding student-athletes.

Jack Eisenstein Scholarship Award: Atlantic City High School

A former football standout at Atlantic City High School and Trenton State College (now TCNJ), Jack had such an impact on his hometown that the Atlantic City High School Athletic Complex is named in his honor. Jack was an avid supporter of the ACHS athletic department, and taught at his alma mater after beginning his teaching career at Pleasantville High School. Jack went from guidance counselor to business manager to superintendent of Atlantic City Schools. He eventually became an educational consultant and served with various organizations, and was honored by TCNJ for his work.

Bill Walsh Scholarship Award: Holy Spirit High School

Not to be confused with the legendary 49ers coach, Bill was still all about football. A former Trenton State College (now TCNJ) player, he served as Holy Spirit head coach and was known for his love of the game of football and his players. He lived to teach and mentor players in football and life lessons. Bill guided Holy Spirit to a state championship in 2007, and made his mark from coast to coast working jobs from the Jersey Shore to Alaska. Bill courageously fought Lou Gehrig’s Disease for nearly three years before passing away. He always enjoyed watching his daughter Kelly excel in sports and in life.

Stephen Lee Ware  Scholarship Award: Woodstown High School

Stephen was a 1985 graduate of Woodstown High School.  Stephen was a standout athlete, excelling in baseball, basketball, and football.  He earned All-South Jersey honors as a halfback in football and as a center fielder in baseball for the 1984 and 1985 South Jersey Champions.  In 1984, he set the records for most yards in a season—1,500 yards and 290 yards in a game.  Stephen’s football career continued at Trenton State College where was named to the New Jersey Athletic All-Conference First Team in 1988 and still has the rushing record at the college with 1,249 rushing yards in the 1988 Season. In his 1989 senior season he broke the school record with 11 rushing touchdowns.  

Stephen graduated from Trenton State College with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1989.  He began a distinguished career in law enforcement, working for the Salem County Prosecutor’s office.  He retired as a Lieutenant in 2017, after twenty-five years of dedicated service. 

Cedar Creek High School

James Melody graduated from Union High School in 2007, where he was a standout multi-sport athlete and a member of the varsity football and baseball teams. During his high school career, Melody earned All–Union County and All–Watchung Conference honors in both sports, excelling as a quarterback and second baseman. In 2006, he was further recognized for his accomplishments by earning All–State Group 4 honors as a quarterback. Following his high school career, Melody continued playing football at Montclair State University, where he was a quarterback for the Red Hawks and a member of two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship teams.

After graduating in 2011, Melody began his coaching career at Montclair State University under Head Coach Rick Giancola. Over three seasons, he served as an assistant coach working with both the wide receivers and defensive backs, helping to develop student-athletes while building the foundation for his coaching philosophy. Melody later returned to his alma mater, Union High School, where he served as Offensive Coordinator under Head Coach Lou Grasso. During his six seasons in that role, Union’s offense surpassed 5,000 total offensive yards four times, culminating in the program’s 2019 North 2 Group 5 State Championship, the school’s first football title in 26 years.

In 2020, Melody was named Head Football Coach at Cedar Creek High School, where he has led the program to remarkable success. In his first six seasons, Cedar Creek compiled a 13–3 postseason record, appeared in three sectional championship games, and captured two sectional titles.

The 2021 season marked a historic achievement as Cedar Creek completed a perfect 13–0 season, winning the South/Central Jersey Group 3 Regional Championship and finishing the year ranked No. 2 in the state. Melody was honored as the South Jersey National Football Foundation Coach of the Year following the season.

The program reached another milestone in 2025, finishing 12–2 and capturing Cedar Creek’s first Group 3 State Championship. The team concluded the season ranked No. 11 in the state, and Melody was

Hammonton High School

For more than three decades, Coach Lou Morganweck has dedicated his career to high school football in South Jersey, building a legacy defined by unwavering commitment, passion, and quiet excellence.

He began his coaching journey with the Winslow Maullers from 1989 to 1997, where he helped establish a strong foundation and develop young athletes on and off the field. During 1990–1992, he also coached at St. Augustine Preparatory School.

Since 1996, Coach Morganweck has been a cornerstone of the football staff at Hammonton High School. He has served in multiple roles, including offensive line, defensive line, and special teams coach, while working with athletes at the freshman, junior varsity, and varsity levels. His versatility and steadfast presence have supported the program's growth through changing leadership, rosters, injuries, and challenges.

Known for his emphasis on fundamentals, accountability, and hard work, Coach Morganweck has been the reliable anchor behind the scenes, executing plans with precision, supporting head coaches with understated excellence, mentoring players and staff, and stepping up whenever needed. His passion for coaching and developing young athletes remains as strong today as it was at the start.

In an era of constant change, Coach Morganweck embodies loyalty, resilience, and enduring strength, a foundational figure whose presence has helped sustain and elevate the Hammonton program for generations of student-athletes.

Craig is a life-long resident of the great city of Millville, NJ.  As a youth, he participated in Little League Baseball, Midget League Football, city-wide Basketball leagues, and Millville YMCA activities.  As a Millville Senior High School student, Craig lettered in Football and Baseball and also participated in CYO Basketball, Millville Leaders Club, and Intramural Street Hockey. 

Craig graduated from Millville Senior High School in 1975 and went to West Chester State College where he performed on the intercollegiate Football team and participated in intramural sports.  Upon graduating in 1979 with a Bachelors Degree in Health/Physical Education and a minor in Drivers and Safety Education, Craig returned to Millville and began his teaching and coaching career at Vineland High School and Millville High School.  Craig is an inductee of the Millville Sports Hall of Fame and the West Chester Killinger Football Hall of Fame.  

After a brief teaching career, Craig began his graduate studies in Kinesiology/Biomechanics as a Graduate Assistant at Temple University where he met his lovely wife, Patricia.  Craig then entered the business world as a Human Resources Director/Safety professional for 35 years at the Morie Company, South Jersey Health System, and the Millville Rescue Squad.  Finally, Craig became the Human Resources Director for the County of Cumberland from which he retired in 2021.

Craig and Patti were married in 1987 and have 2 children, Jessica, who is a Supervising Analyst for the NJ Department of health in Trenton, and Christopher who is a Police Officer with the Township of Hamilton Police Department.  

During the years his children were growing up, Craig coached youth softball, baseball, and basketball in the City of Millville.  He also became the President of the Millville Thunderbolt Club and has served many years in that capacity.  He is also Chairman of the Millville Thunderbolt Club Mike Trout Golf Tournament which raises funds for the student athletes of Millville High School.  Craig is also an active Committee member of the Millville Sports Hall of Fame located at the Thunderbolt Club.

As a retiree, Craig enjoys golfing, yardwork, and spending summer days poolside with his family and friends.

Reporter, Press of Atlantic City

I have been covering high school football as a reporter for The Press of Atlantic City since 2017. I have not only reported on games each week, but wrote many other stories to highlight athletes and teams in the Press’ coverage area. I have covered and done stories on The Press’ Game of the Week, and have traveled to multiple schools in the West Jersey Football League. Aside from just game coverage, I have wrote stories on athletes who committed to play at the collegiate level. I have wrote stories on various players, or features, and what makes them special to the sport and their school. I have wrote about coaches and their dedication to high school football. Off that, I have done stories on coaches who stepped down or were hired. Along with my colleague Mike McGarry, we put together preview stories on each of The Press’ local teams before the season. In addition to football, I have covered basically every other high school sport, and even reported on many other sporting events outside of high school, like lifeguard races in the summer.

I graduated from Gloucester Catholic in 2011 and Rowan University in 2017. I am an English major and held internships at CSN Philadelphia (now NBC Sports Philadelphia) and The Philadelphia Inquirer before I arrived at The Press. 

I joined the NJFOA South Chapter in 1992.

Over the years, I have held several roles within the organization, including Room Representative for Linesmen, Cadet Instructor, Cadet Supervisor, and most recently a participant in the chapter’s mentorship program.

In addition to my high school work, I officiated youth football for 30 years.

I have been fortunate to officiate multiple New Jersey High School State Championship games, with assignments at venues such as Kean University, Rutgers University, the original Giants Stadium, and MetLife Stadium.

I currently serve as a High School Girls Flag Football Official.

I am also a retired High School Baseball and Softball Umpire.

Rowan University: Quarterback

Matt Welsey is the type of student-athlete every coach is proud to have in their program. As a sophomore quarterback from Medford, New Jersey, Matt has proven himself to be a selfless teammate and a natural leader who always puts the team first. His work ethic, preparation, and competitive spirit set the tone for those around him both on and off the field.

Matt came to Rowan after being part of state and sectional championship teams in football and a sectional championship team in lacrosse at Shawnee High School, and he continues to carry that championship mindset with him. Just as importantly, he represents what it means to be a true scholar-athlete, balancing the demands of being a collegiate quarterback while pursuing his degree in finance.

Being recognized as the National Football Foundation South Jersey Chapter’s Richard Wackar College Football Player of the Year speaks not only to Matt’s ability on the field, but to the character, leadership, and commitment he brings to the football program at Rowan University.

Monmouth University: Offensive Tackle

JT Cornelius is the kind of player every coach hopes to have anchoring their offensive line. A graduate student from Toms River, New Jersey, JT has been a steady, dependable presence for our program and a leader both on the field and in the locker room. His work ethic, toughness, and willingness to put the team first embody what college football is all about.

JT came to Monmouth following a standout career at Southern Regional High School under Coach Chuck Donohue Sr., where he built the foundation that has propelled him through his collegiate career. Over the past three seasons, JT has been a full-time starter on the offensive line, providing steady leadership and reliability up front. This past season, he started all 12 games at right tackle, anchoring an offense that averaged 40 points per game, including 176 rushing yards and over 330 passing yards per contest.

His play during the 2024 season earned national recognition heading into the 2025 season, including being named to the 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Second Team and the Phil Steele Preseason All-America First Team. While honors like these highlight his talent, what stands out most to our program is the way JT approaches the game and supports his teammates every day.

Just as importantly, JT represents the true meaning of a collegiate student-athlete. While competing at a high level on the field, he has also remained committed to his academics as a business administration major. Being recognized as the South Jersey Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s Richard Wackar College Football Player of the Year is a well-deserved honor for a player who has consistently represented Monmouth University Football and South Jersey with dedication, character, and pride.

Millville Board of Education

Dan Richter a Licensed Athletic Trainer and Owner of PDR Personal Training Services with extensive experience in strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and fitness education. Dan currently serves as an Athletic Trainer for the Millville Board of Education, where he provides comprehensive care for all athletic teams, including first aid and injury management during games and practices. He works collaboratively with athletic directors, administration, coaches, and parents to support athlete health, safety, and performance.

As the owner of PDR Personal Training Services, Dan provides individualized strength and conditioning programs, rehabilitation services, and nutrition guidance to a wide range of populations, including professional athletes, collegiate athletes, youth, and general fitness clients. His approach emphasizes performance enhancement, corrective exercise, and long-term health through evidence-based training methods.

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Elon College and is a Licensed Athletic Trainer with a Standard Certificate Athletic Trainer and National Provider. His additional credentials include CE 4115 Teacher of Health & Fitness certification. Dan’s professional specializations include NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist and Corrective Exercise Specialist, Precision Nutrition Level 1, IYCA Youth Fitness Specialist and Youth Speed and Agility Specialist, and Sports Emergency Medical Responder.

Currently, Dan resides in Millville, NJ, with his wife Jodi of 25 years and their two kids Max and Violet.

Oakcrest High School

Peggy Graham has dedicated her  service to the Athletic Department since 2010. She coordinates nearly 1,000 student-athletes annually, manages all event logistics, and founded the “O’s to the Pros” alumni showcase. A 2013 Honorable Captain of Oakcrest Football and December 2023 Staff Member of the Month, she is also a key advocate for the Athletic Wall of Fame and was Inducted on the Wall for her dedication to the Athletic department this past September 2025.