TAMPA - USF sophomore Armando Sanchez was recognized by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame's Tampa Chapter at its awards banquet on Wednesday night. Sanchez was named the Outstanding USF Scholar-Athlete by the chapter and was presented the award by Bulls assistant coach Vernon Hargreaves. In addition, USF President Judy Genshaft was honored with the J. Crockett Farnell Contribution to Amateur Football Award. Due to a prior commitment, Genshaft was unable to attend the banquet, so USF head football coach Skip Holtz accepted the award on her behalf.

Sanchez has a reputation as one of the hardest working players on the USF football team and his work ethic extends into the classroom and community. An Academic All-BIG EAST selection in both 2009 and 2010, Sanchez posted a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall semester as a communications major. He's also spent time volunteering with the Florida Wildlife Commission and Mildred Helms Elementary School.

On the field, Sanchez continued to be one of USF's special teams standouts in 2010 and was presented with the Meineke Car Care Bowl Leadership Award at the end of the season. After posting 13 tackles as a redshirt freshman, he upped that number to 20 last season. As a result of his work on the Bulls' kick coverage teams, Sanchez was recognized as a team captain in four games, the most of any special teamer.