AURORA — Sean Melton was almost speechless.
The Rangeview senior, the second Brian Dawkins/Denver Post winner, will save his talk for today, when he visits Invesco Field at Mile High for the Broncos-Indianapolis Colts game and the opportunity to meet with the safety.
“I can’t wait,” said the Raiders’ two-way lineman.
Dawkins, who had a similar program in Philadelphia with the Eagles, will choose a deserving prep football player before each Broncos’ home game who demonstrates strong commitment to and accomplishment in the sport and in the classroom, character off the field and has overcome adversity.
The winner will receive two tickets to a Broncos’ home game and pregame sideline passes courtesy of Dawkins. The schoolboy must be accompanied by a parent or chaperone. Dawkins will meet with the player after the game.
“I think it’s great that football players are actually contributing to the community,” Melton said. “They need to be entwined. Now, it really feels like they are.”
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Melton, a regular for coach Dave Gonzales’ team that has moved to 4-0 in Class 5A, has had to take the bus for much of his career from his single-parent home.
“And he has never missed,” Gonzales said. “This is a great kid who’s well-spoken and takes care of his business. I’m really proud of him.”
Melton also is a Raiders leader in the classroom — he has a 3.4 grade-point average while taking numerous advanced-placement classes.
Nominees must be submitted to The Denver Post at ndevlin@denverpost.com. The final selection is made by Dawkins.
