Jose Acuna, a senior wide receiver and linebacker on the Big Lake football team, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings as their male nominee for the 2024 NFL Latino Youth Honors program. Acuna is one of just 64 students in the entire country to have been selected. 

A description of the program from the NFL website says, “The NFL and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation have a great history of celebrating excellence within Latino communities and the NFL Latino Youth Honors celebrates high school seniors from across NFL club markets who excel both in the classroom and on the field.  All 32 NFL teams are invited to select one male and one female high school senior football player to represent their team and submit these exemplary student-athletes to be considered for this year’s program” (NFL, 2024).

Requirements to be selected are being a Latino/Hispanic high school senior, participating in either flag or tackle football, residing in or near an NFL team market, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0, and demonstrating a commitment to their community. 

For being selected by the Vikings, Acuna received a commemorative football and a letter from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

For more information about the program, one can visit https://hispanicheritage.org/nfl-names-eight-finalists-for-2024-nfl-latino-youth-honors/ .