Toatley Named Finalist For 2024 FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award
The Doris Robinson Award is celebrating its 10th anniversary season and honors an FCS student-athlete who exemplifies excellence on the field, in the classroom and across the community.
Central Connecticut State senior football player Dan Toatley has been named one of 13 finalists for the 2024 FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award.
The Doris Robinson Award is celebrating its 10th anniversary season and honors an FCS student-athlete who exemplifies excellence on the field, in the classroom and across the community. The values embody the leadership and integrity championed by Doris Robinson, a former schoolteacher and the wife of legendary Grambling State University coach Eddie Robinson.
"Congratulations to Dan for this recongition of his success in the classroom, on the field and in the community," said Blue Devils head coach Adam Lechtenberg. "Dan works tremendously hard to be a positive influence on campus and in the community, and we are extremely proud of him for earning this national honor."
Toatley is in his sixth year as a member of the CCSU football team. He joined the team as a walk-on during the 2019 campaign and worked himself to being named an All-NEC First Team selection following the 2023 season. He has played in 33 games over the past four seasons and enters the final month of the campaign with 124 caareer tackles.
His off of the field work is even more noteworthy. Toatley graduated from CCSU with a 3.56 GPA and a degree in Criminolgy and is enrolled in the Criminal Justice program in the Central graduate school.
In February 2024, Toatley took it a step further and selflessly donated bone marrow to a patient in need. The CCSU football team sponsors a marrow drive on campus every year, where students, faculty and staff have a cheek swab performed. Toatley matched with a patient in need last winter and on February 24, 2024 underwent the procedure. He is the second Blue Devil football player, Mike Mushaw, and at least the sixth from the New Britain campus, to match with a patient and donate bone marrow through the drives on campus.
The collaboration between FedEx and the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award underscores a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of student-athletes, ensuring they are well-prepared for success beyond their collegiate careers. Through the Doris Robinson Award and the Career Expose – College Pathways Program, FedEx continues to invest in the future of young leaders, providing them with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the professional world.
Each finalist will be profiled on TheAnalyst.com in November before the recipient will be announced on Dec. 10, then honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.
In addition to the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, the awards banquet will celebrate the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year) and, new this year, the HBCU FCS Player of the Year Award, presented by Urban Edge Network's HBCU+ streaming service.
2024 FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award Finalists
Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington, WR (Big Sky Conference)
Majoring in Health & Physical Education, 3.93 GPA
James Conway, Fordham, LB (Patriot League)
Majoring in Business Administration, 3.57 GPA
Caleb Curtain, Elon, DB (CAA Football)
Majoring in Business Administration/Marketing, 3.24 GPA
Paxton DeLaurent, Southeast Missouri, QB (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Majoring in Physical Education (K-12), 3.95 GPA
Jewelz-Unique Demps, Texas A&M-Commerce, DB (Southland Conference)
Degree in Technology Management, 3.81 GPA; Supply Chain Management master's program
Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, QB (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Graduate in Mechanical Engineering, 3.76 GPA; Engineering Management master's program
Chandler Kirton, Austin Peay, OL (United Athletic Conference)
Majoring in Management, 3.84 GPA
Reuben Lowery III, Chattanooga, DB (Southern Conference)
Graduate in Mechanical Engineering (3.786 GPA); currently in post-baccalaureate program
Matt Noll, Jackson State, P (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Degree in Sports Science at Delaware State, 3.49 GPA; master's program at Jackson State
Julian Rawlins, Davidson, DL (Pioneer Football League)
Majoring in Biology (Public Health minor), 3.25 GPA
Ben Sahakian, Cornell, LB (Ivy League)
Majoring in Biological Studies, 3.5 GPA
Dan Toatley, Central Connecticut, DL (Northeast Conference)
Degree in Criminology, 3.56 GPA; Criminal Justice master's program
Juan Velarde, North Carolina Central, P (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Degree in Business Administration (Entrepreneurship concentration), 4.00 GPA; master's program
