DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman football student-athlete Jarkevis Fields has been selected to receive the Army Strong Leadership Award as part of the Florida Blue Florida Classic.

Fields, a 6-0, 230-pound junior linebacker from Sanford, Florida, will accept the award as one of two players - one from B-CU and one from Florida A&M - to receive the award from the United States Army. He also earned the award earlier in the year at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, also played in Orlando.

The U.S. Army, as a part of its support of the Florida Blue Florida Classic (FBFC) and HBCU Football, will present the Army Strong Leadership Award to two outstanding players who embody Army values. The award is presented to players that excel on and off the field, as citizens, as scholars and as athletes.

Currently working towards a degree in Criminal Justice and holding a GPA of 3.0, Fields helps anchor the Wildcats defense, leading the team with 77 tackles (33 solo, 44 assisted) through 10 games, starting all contests from the middle linebacker position. He has four tackles behind the line, including a sack. That goes along with four pass breakups and a forced fumble.

He began the 2012 campaign on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team, in addition to be selected a Preseason HBCU All-American.

Fields continues to show his determination and leadership on the field, anchoring a defense that ranks first in the MEAC against the run and 11th in the nation.

Off the playing surface, he has worked with the Sanford Boys & Girls Club, and recently did community outreach with the Wildcats at the Volusia Halfway House, and participated in the Daytona Beach Book Bag Drive for underprivileged children.

Fields will receive the award at the Florida Blue Florida Classic Kickoff Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 16 during the Army Strong Leadership Award Presentation at 12:30 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M meet on the gridiron for the Florida Blue Florida Classic on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Florida Citrus Bowl at 2 p.m.

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