Alabama reporter Nick Kelly wins Aschoff Rising Star Award

quote:

---

Nick Kelly, formerly of The Tuscaloosa News and now with AL.com, is the fifth recipient of the Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award, which is named after the beloved ESPN college football reporter who died on Christmas Eve in 2019 on his 34th birthday from previously undetected Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in his lungs.

The award is presented each year by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) to one promising journalist no older than 34 who has not only the talent and work ethic it takes to succeed in the business, but also the passion to make it better.

"I hope I can carry on his legacy of really making an impact on people and the way he did his job," Kelly said. "I really do hope I can continue to do that. It is such an honor to get an award with his name on it."

Kelly, 26, graduated from the University of Missouri in 2020. He was recognized for his outstanding work on the Alabama football beat and coverage in the aftermath of Nick Saban's retirement. Kelly accepted a writing position with AL.com ahead of the 2024 football season.

---