ESPN's Arthur Ashe Courage Award to go to Tennessee HS football player killed protecting friends

Updated

ESPN took a lot of heat last year for its decision to give Caitlyn Jenner the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Now it seems the tide has turned.

This year's ESPY's will honor a young man no one can disagree with. Zaevion Dobson, a high school football player, was shot to death while shielding two girls from gunfire. Dobson was just 15 years old, making him the youngest to ever receive the award.

Dobson was a sophomore at Fulton High School in Knoxville, TN and had dreams of playing college football. He passed away December 17 this past year, but ended up saving the lives of the young women he was attempting to shield.

"There's nothing more courageous than somebody sacrificing their own life for something else," Maura Mandt, the ESPYs executive producer, told NY Daily News.

Dobson's mother will accept the award on his behalf July 13 at the award ceremony.

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