Joe Roth Awards

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Tyler Neville, a player known not only for his talent but also for his extraordinary courage and resilience, is the recipient of the 2025 Joe Roth Award, an honor given annually to a college football player who embodies the spirit of Joe Roth—one who fights adversity with dignity and perseverance. As Tyler’s journey in football and life continues to inspire those around him, his battle with cancer has become a symbol of strength, hope, and determination.Tyler Neville’s story is one of overcoming immense challenges, both on and off the field. A standout athlete, Neville has always demonstrated a passion for the game of football, showing leadership, grit, and a deep love for his team. But in a twist of fate, his greatest challenge has come not from the playing field, but from a battle for his life.In the midst of his athletic career, Tyler was diagnosed with cancer—a diagnosis that could have easily sidelined his dreams. Yet, instead of stepping away from the game, Tyler chose to battle cancer with the same tenacity and resolve that he demonstrated in every practice and every game. His diagnosis and fight against the disease have made him not only a symbol of resilience within the sports community but also a beacon of hope for many fighting similar battles.Being named the 2025 Joe Roth Award recipient is the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and, above all, heart. Tyler Neville is more than deserving of this honor, not just for his athletic prowess but for the way he has handled life’s most difficult challenge with grace, humility, and strength.&nbsp;

2025 Joe Roth Award Winner - Tyler Neville 

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We are proud to announce the presentation of the Annual Joe Roth Award to McKenzie Milton, quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles.Milton was a graduate transfer from University of Central Florida (UCF). Despite suffering what should have been a career-ending knee injury in 2018, during the 2021-2022 season with Florida State, Milton completed 81 passes for 775 yards and three touchdowns.“It is an honor to present this year’s Joe Roth Award to a player that defied the odds and fought back from such as a devastating injury,” said Nick Logan, Hula Bowl Board member. “McKenzie Milton has shown determination, dedication and athleticism throughout his career on the field.”Milton, who is from Kapolei, Hawai'i, will be officially honored at the Hula Bowl Hall of Fame dinner on Jan. 13 at the Hilton Alta Monte Springs. The Hula Bowl at the UCF Bounce House on Jan.15 will be the final game of his career.Milton started 10 games during his freshman year leading the UCF Knights to a 6–6 regular season record and an appearance in the Cure Bowl. The previous year, UCF went 0–12. During his sophomore year, Milton led them to a 12–0 regular season record, winning the AAC and eventually leading them to UCF’s first ever Peach Bowl win whom they played against the SEC runner-up, the Auburn Tigers. Milton was named the AAC offensive player of the year, and he placed eighth in the 2017 Heisman vote.The following year McKenzie suffered what should have been a career-ending knee injury in the 2018 regular-season finale. Milton experienced artery and nerve damage to his leg, a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments and tendons. He nearly had his right leg amputated after the helmet-to-knee hit caused a lack of blood flow to his leg.Doctors from Orlando Health’s Jewitt Orthopedic Institute removed a vein from his left leg to create a new artery for his right leg. The procedure restored blood flow and successfully saved Milton’s leg. At the time, the focus of the surgeons was for Milton to one day walk again without a limp and without pain. Following eight surgical procedures, Milton fought through almost three years of rehabilitation, and in December 2020, transferred from UCF to Florida State.During this college football season, Milton completed 81 of 139 passes (58.3%) for 775 yards and three touchdowns for the Seminoles.“I cannot think of a more fitting recipient for this year’s Joe Roth Award,” said Logan. “McKenzie embodies the spirit of this award and exemplifies the awards inscription, that ‘not all victories happen on the field with fans. Character is what one does when there are no fans.’”The Annual Joe Roth Award, an important tradition for the Hula Bowl, was named after Joe Roth, the 1975 quarterback for the University of California Golden Bears, that led the team to a PAC 8 title as co-champions. Roth was a pre-season favorite for the 1976 Heisman Trophy. The season did not progress as planned and rumors circulated about his drop in performance. He finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting and was still named an All-American.After the season ended, Roth revealed that halfway through it he had been diagnosed with terminal melanoma. Despite his failing health, Roth honored his commitments and played his final domestic All-Star Football game at the Hula Bowl. Roth passed away on Feb. 19, 1977, at the young age of 21. He leaves a legacy of a man committed to faith, humility, and courageMilton, like Roth, was a Heisman Trophy candidate (two times for Milton) during his time at UCF.

2022 Joe Roth Award Winner - McKenzie Milton

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This year's Joe Roth Award was presented to Hula Bowl football player Anthony Jones.Anthony Jones is a running back from Florida International University. On the day of September 6 2018, Anthony was in the wrong place at the wrong time. From across the street there was open gun fire and Anthony got shot in the face and in the back. If the bullet had gone an inch or two in a different direction, he could have died. By the grace of God Anthony Jones was given a second chance.After making a full recovery Anthony was able to get back out on the football field. Later in 2019, Anthony was selected to come and play at the 2020 Hula Bowl All-Star College Classic Football Game. Anthony went out on the football field to play with the top 100 College Players from all across the United States, Australia and Japan. With NFL Scouts representing from all 32 NFL Teams watching and witnessing the talent of the college football players.After a successful football game in Hawaii, Anthony Jones was then drafted as a Free Agent to go onto to play with the Seattle Seahawks.The Hula Bowl has presented this year's Joe Roth Award to a man of courage, strength and endurance. Anthony Jones is a very talented athlete and a humble genuine person on and off the football field.It was an honor to have Anthony Jones play at the 2020 Hula Bowl All-Star Game in Honolulu, Hawaii!

2020 Joe Roth Award Winner - Anthony Jones

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Sam Cooper is deserving of this great honor.The pain of unthinkable tragedy could have consumed Sam Cooper.The agony of his father’s murder, and losing his brother to cancer two years earlier, could have crushed the Merrimack College football star.Instead, it forged an unbreakable drive within Cooper, that has him one step from achieving his National Football League dream, and fulfilling the promise he made to the loved ones taken from him.“My brother Hassan asked to speak to me on his deathbed,” remembered Cooper, who lost his brother to cancer in 2006. “He always wanted to come to America and be a basketball star. We were joking around, and I told him that, one day, I was going to become a professional athlete.”Three years later, Sam’s father was murdered in Nigeria, where Sam was born.. In their final conversation before his killing, Sam made the same promise.“We were eating rice and African soup, and my dad asked me if I was going to take over the family business one day,” Cooper remembered. “I told him I was going to be a pro athlete when I grew up. That was the last time I talked to him before he was killed.“Those two deaths drive me. Adverse situations shape your life. I have been through some very dark times. Since 2009, I’ve been seeing red. It has driven me to fulfill my dream and motivated me to get to where I am today.”Cooper was born in Nigeria but grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Conwell-Egan Catholic in Maine before transferring to the state university. He redshirted with the Black Bears in 2015, did not play in 2016 and played in four games as a reserve in 2017 before transferring to Merrimack. Cooper started the final four games of his first season with the Warriors at left guard, playing in six contests overall. He ascended to a team captaincy in 2019, starting 10 games at left guard.

2021 Joe Roth Award Winner - Sam Cooper

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