Dawuane Smoot named Jaguars’ Ed Block Courage Award recipient

The winner is chosen by their teammates based on the player’s service to their community, courage, ability to overcome adversity, and inspiration.

A leader on and off the field, Dawuane Smoot has been named this year’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The winner is chosen by their teammates based on the player’s service to their community, courage, ability to overcome adversity, and inspiration. The recipient is a symbol of “professionalism, great strength and dedication”.

The Jaguars drafted Smoot during the third round (68th overall) during the 2017 draft. During his seven years in Jacksonville, the linebacker has played in 99 games and recorded 121 tackles (84 solo and 37 assisted), and 23.5 sacks. He was also the Jaguars’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Smoot and his wife, Aumari opened The Elsie Academy in Jacksonville. The academy promotes providing “quality education” in a “nurturing environment” through the use of dual-language classrooms, a hybrid curriculum, and hands-on learning.

To learn more about the Ed Block Courage Award, click here.

To learn more about The Elsie Academy, click here.