Joe Roth Award
In 2020 the Hula Bowl introduced the inaugural Hula Bowl Joe Roth award. Joe Roth was an All-American QB at the University of California Berkeley. Roth played the 1976 season knowing he was dying of melanoma. Joe was a young man committed to his Faith, his family, and his team. He exemplified the call to put other first and lead through service. After a private fight with cancer, Joe died in February 1977, three months after his last regular season game and just weeks after playing in the Hula Bowl Football All-Star game in Hawaii. His jersey #12 is the only one ever retired by the California Golden Bears football program. The Joe Roth Award was established to honor Joe's legacy, and his passion for Faith, humility, and courage. Each year, the Hula Bowl selects an athlete from the current Hula Bowl roster to be recognized for their character both on and off the field.
2025 Joe Roth Award Winner
Tyler Neville
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.
2024 Joe Roth Award Winner
Jack Freeman
JACK FREEMAN IS A BIG MAN WITH AN EVEN BIGGER HEART WITH BIG ASPIRATIONS!
This years Joe Roth Award is being presented to Jake Freeman from the University of Houston. Freeman has been selected to receive the Joe Roth Award this year t o recognize his character both on and off the field.
The Midlothian, Texas, native is among a national leading eight Big 12 Conference cen-ters on the watch list. The Athlon Sports Pre- season All-Big 12 honoree allowed just one sack in his final 12 games a season ago (539 opportunities) and ranked third in The American in run block grade (71.6) among centers per Pro Football Focus while paving the way for Houston to average 36.1 points per game (16th nationally).
This season, the Remington Trophy committee worked with PFF to narrow down its list to 40 centers. PFF grades every player on every play of every game on how well they execute their given assignment. That play-by-play grading allowed the Trophy committee to create a watchlist based both on nominations from the schools and data provided by PFF. The Joe Roth Award is presented to a Hula Bowl committed football athlete who displays leadership.
2023 Joe Roth Award Winner
Dillian Gibbons
Dillan Gibbons was honored with the prestigious Joe Roth Award at the 2023 Hula Bowl for his unwavering commitment to leadership, service, and character both on and off the football field. A standout offensive lineman at Florida State University, Gibbons not only excelled athletically—earning First-Team All-ACC honors—but also made a lasting impact through his community work.
In 2021, Gibbons launched the nonprofit organization Big Man Big Heart, which raised nearly $500,000 to support children with medical conditions, families in crisis, and victims of natural disasters. His first major initiative helped a young Notre Dame fan with a rare disease attend a game, demonstrating Gibbons’ deep compassion and dedication to using his platform for good.
A captain of the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Gibbons has been widely recognized for his humility, empathy, and leadership. In the spirit of Joe Roth, he exemplifies perseverance, integrity, and service—making him a deserving recipient of this meaningful honor.
2022 Joe Roth Award Winner
McKenzie Milton
Milton, a standout quarterback from the University of Central Florida (UCF), was among the nation’s top college football players before suffering a catastrophic leg injury in November 2018. The injury, sustained during a game against South Florida, included severe damage to arteries and nerves in his right leg and posed a serious risk of amputation. Most assumed his football career—and possibly his ability to walk normally—was over.
However, Milton defied the odds. After multiple surgeries and an extensive, years-long rehabilitation process, he not only regained function in his leg but ultimately returned to the football field. In 2021, he transferred to Florida State University and made an emotional comeback, taking the field against Notre Dame in the Seminoles’ season opener. Though he served primarily as a backup, his presence, leadership, and determination were evident to teammates and fans alike.
At the 2022 Hula Bowl, held in Orlando, Florida, Milton was honored during the Hall of Fame banquet with the Joe Roth Award. His recognition wasn’t solely about physical recovery—it was about the strength of character it took to endure uncertainty, pain, and public scrutiny, and to emerge as a figure of inspiration for athletes across the country. Milton became a symbol not just of recovery, but of humility, poise, and unwavering belief in possibility.
2021 Joe Roth Award Winner
Sam Cooper
Raised in a tight-knit family, Sam endured unimaginable loss when his brother passed away during his high school years, followed years later by the death of his father. These heartbreaking events deeply affected him, but also shaped his outlook on life. Rather than giving in to grief or anger, Cooper channeled his pain into purpose—committing himself fully to football, education, and becoming a role model for others navigating loss and hardship.
At Merrimack, a small NCAA Division I FCS program in Massachusetts, Cooper developed a reputation as a physical, disciplined, and intelligent offensive lineman. Despite the relative obscurity of playing at a smaller school, his talent stood out. He was known for his aggressive play style, reliability in the trenches, and exceptional leadership in the locker room.
When he arrived at the 2021 Hula Bowl—a premier college all-star game that attracts top NFL scouts—Cooper not only held his own but dominated the practice week. According to NFL analyst Brian Baldinger, Cooper "lost only one rep" during one-on-one drills, an impressive feat considering the level of competition. His performance sparked interest from multiple NFL teams, including the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts.
But Cooper was selected for the Joe Roth Award not just for his athleticism. The award honors a player who demonstrates integrity, courage, and commitment—qualities embodied by the late Joe Roth, a star quarterback at Cal who played through a terminal cancer diagnosis with humility and grace.
Cooper was recognized during the Hula Bowl banquet for his perseverance through personal tragedy and his tireless effort to rise from an under-recruited high school player to a potential NFL draft pick. Coaches and teammates noted his positive attitude, work ethic, and humility as defining traits. He never sought the spotlight, yet always seemed to earn it through quiet determination and inner strength.