Former Auburn Football Star to Receive 2026 Harper Lee Award, Honoring Literary Achievement and Lifelong Commitment to Alabama Storytelling
A former Auburn football player is set to receive one of the most prestigious literary honors in the state of Alabama — the 2026 Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer of the Year. While his past on the football field made headlines during his time on the Plains, it’s his remarkable journey through literature, storytelling, and cultural contribution that has led to this latest and perhaps most meaningful recognition.
The Harper Lee Award, named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird, is presented annually by the Alabama Writers’ Forum to an Alabama writer whose body of work represents excellence in literature and reflects the human spirit. For a former SEC athlete — once known for his toughness, leadership, and presence on Saturdays in the fall — to now be celebrated for the written word is a rare and inspiring narrative of reinvention.
This former Auburn Tiger has become a literary force over the past decade. With several critically acclaimed novels, essays, and memoirs to his name, he has carved out a unique space that bridges sports, race, Southern identity, and the human condition. His works often blend personal experience with fiction and social commentary, examining life in Alabama from the perspectives of those whose voices are too often overlooked.
When news broke of the Harper Lee Award selection, the literary community and Auburn family alike reacted with enthusiasm. Social media lit up with congratulations, while fellow writers and former teammates praised the honoree’s growth and impact. “This is one of the most powerful stories of transformation I’ve seen,” one former professor wrote. “He went from being a star athlete to a voice for the voiceless — and he did it with grace, courage, and unmatched talent.”
His journey from the locker room to the literary stage was neither expected nor easy. After finishing his Auburn football career in the mid-2000s, he had a brief stint in professional football before deciding to return to school. He enrolled in graduate programs focusing on English and creative writing, eventually earning an MFA. During this time, he began writing short stories and essays that reflected on his upbringing, his identity as a Black man in the Deep South, and his experiences with the pressures of college athletics.
His first book, published nearly a decade ago, was a semi-autobiographical novel that chronicled a young athlete’s struggle to navigate life between the glory of the gridiron and the quieter truths of self-discovery. The book received strong reviews and caught the attention of literary critics who saw in him a rare blend of voice, vision, and authenticity. From there, his career took off — subsequent novels explored themes such as intergenerational trauma, faith, poverty, and resilience in the face of systemic challenges.
One of the most compelling aspects of his writing is how deeply rooted it is in Alabama — not just in geography, but in soul. Whether he’s depicting a small-town preacher wrestling with guilt or a single mother raising a gifted child in rural poverty, his stories carry the cadence and complexity of Southern life. His attention to detail, emotional depth, and cultural nuance have drawn comparisons to literary giants like James Baldwin and Jesmyn Ward.
Despite his growing national profile, he has remained committed to his home state. He frequently returns to Auburn to speak with students and has taught creative writing workshops at both historically Black colleges and rural high schools across Alabama. He is also a frequent guest at the Alabama Book Festival and has been a vocal advocate for literacy, education, and prison reform in the region.
In a statement released after learning he had been selected for the Harper Lee Award, he said, “To be honored with an award bearing Harper Lee’s name is humbling beyond words. She showed us the power of stories to open hearts, challenge systems, and change lives. If I’ve done even a fraction of that through my work, I’m grateful.”
His commitment to storytelling as a tool for empathy and change is evident in everything he does. He recently launched a nonprofit that partners with Alabama schools to help marginalized students find their voices through creative writing. Through mentorship, publishing opportunities, and classroom visits, the organization is already making an impact across the state.
Former teammates and coaches at Auburn were quick to offer congratulations. One former offensive coordinator said, “He was always more than a football player. He asked questions. He stayed after meetings to talk about life. Now, the world gets to see who he really is — and that’s a beautiful thing.”
The award ceremony is set to take place in Monroeville, Harper Lee’s hometown, during the annual Alabama Writers Symposium. It will include readings from his work, discussions with fellow authors, and tributes from the literary community. He is expected to deliver an acceptance speech that touches on his personal journey, the influence of his mother and grandmother, and the importance of storytelling in shaping identity and community.
For those who knew him as a star linebacker or explosive wide receiver, his current career might seem like a dramatic shift. But for him, it’s been a natural evolution. “Football taught me discipline and resilience,” he said in a past interview. “But writing taught me how to feel. It taught me how to connect. In a way, I’ve been preparing for this my whole life.”
His story serves as a reminder that identity is never singular — and that athletic talent and intellectual curiosity can, and often do, coexist. Too often, young athletes are placed in rigid boxes, expected to live up to a narrow vision of success. His life is proof that those boxes can be broken. That greatness can take many forms. And that the quiet power of a well-told story can resonate just as deeply as the roar of a stadium crowd.
In the years to come, he plans to continue writing, teaching, and advocating for voices from communities like the one that raised him. He’s currently working on a new novel set in post-pandemic Alabama and is also collaborating on a documentary exploring the history of Black college athletes in the South.
With the Harper Lee Award, he joins a prestigious group of past winners that includes some of Alabama’s most respected writers. His name, once known for its impact between the hash marks, now carries weight on bookshelves and in literary circles across the country.
Perhaps most fittingly, he has done all of this without turning his back on the place that made him. He has embraced Auburn, embraced Alabama, and embraced the idea that telling the truth — however painful or beautiful — is a form of service. In doing so, he honors not only Harper Lee’s legacy but also the generations of Southern writers who came before him.
And as he prepares to walk across a very different kind of stage than the one he once dominated on Saturdays, it’s clear that his story is far from finished. In fact, it might just be beginning.
