The Philadelphia Eagles announced that center Jason Kelce has been named the team's 2013 Ed Block Courage Award recipient.
Each year, the Ed Block Courage Award honors those National Football League players who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. They are selected in a vote by their teammates for team effort as well as individual performance.
Originally a sixth-round draft choice of the Eagles in 2011, the athletic and cerebral Kelce quickly emerged as a leader on the offensive line and put together an impressive rookie campaign as he started in all 16 contests. However, he had his sophomore season in 2012 derailed after suffering a serious knee injury early in a game against the Baltimore Ravens in week two.
Kelce spent the rest of 2012 and much of the 2013 offseason rehabbing that knee injury and has returned to form this season as one of the anchors on the Eagles offensive line, helping the offense set a franchise record for total yards (5,321) through the first 13 games and paving the way for the NFL's leading rusher in LeSean McCoy (1,305 rushing yards).
A standout performer during his college career at Cincinnati, Kelce was a second-team All-Big East honoree with the Bearcats and recorded a streak of 38 consecutive games started.
Previous Eagles award winners: Colt Anderson (2012), Mike Patterson (2011), Jason Avant (2010), Michael Vick (2009), Jon Dorenbos (2008), Montae Reagor (2007), Jerome McDougle (2006), Chad Lewis (2005), Derrick Burgess (2004), Correll Buckhalter (2003), Shawn Barber (2002), Duce Staley and Tommy Brasher (2001), Cecil Martin (2000), Mike Mamula (1999), Bobby Taylor (1998), Rhett Hall (1997), Kevin Turner (1996), Charlie Garner (1995), Fred Barnett (1994), Andre Waters (1993), Jerome Brown (1992), David Alexander (1991), Ron Solt (1990), Mike Quick (1989), Wes Hopkins (1988), Gerry Feehery (1987), Jody Schultz (1986), Ron Jaworski (1985), John Spagnola (1984).
Kelce, along with one player from each of the other 31 NFL teams, will be honored at the Ed Block Courage Award Banquet in the 2014 offseason in Baltimore.
