Chambana Sun

Illinois linebacker Kenenna Odeluga has been named this week's nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. The announcement was made by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) on October 29, 2025.

Odeluga has been recognized for his commitment to supporting African communities and promoting cultural experiences at the University of Illinois. In September, he hosted his third annual AfroTale tailgate event, which he founded to provide African students with an opportunity to experience college football in a welcoming environment.

"I wanted to just find a way to give back to my community in a way that I thought was authentic to myself and bring a lasting positive change to the campus," Odeluga said in a school video about the tailgate. "I'm a senior now and this is something that I want to live on past me. This is something I want to be able to come back on Homecoming weekend and be out and enjoy with the students that are there at the moment. I want this to be something that students look forward to every year, able to enjoy this for what it is. And it's AfroTale."

In addition, Odeluga and his family helped start the African Heritage Scholarship at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, where he attended high school. He also participated in a mission trip to Africa in 2023.

Each year, Odeluga sponsors more than 60 tickets for student organizations, residents from his hometown of South Holland, Illinois, and church members so they can attend games and join him after for music, food, and conversation at the tailgate—most recently following Illinois' upset victory over No. 21 USC on September 27.

"We bring a true tailgate experience, but within our own culinary traditions," Odeluga said. "So that means within West African food. We're talking about jollof rice, plantains, meatpies. Everything you could want within the African and Afro-Caribbean cuisine is something that we want to offer just a glimpse of."

Beyond these efforts, Odeluga has visited Carle Foundation Hospital meeting children of all ages and volunteered with local organizations such as DREAAM and EMPOWER—a group providing support for student-athletes of color at Illinois—as well as helping build a garden at the Salvation Army. He serves on Illinois' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and attended the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angeles during summer 2024.

On the field, Odeluga has played in 46 games for Illinois with notable statistics including 68 tackles (11 tackles for loss), six sacks, two passes defended, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree who won both the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2024 and Illinois' Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award this year.

The FWAA's Courage Award recognizes players or staff who have shown courage on or off the field by overcoming adversity or hardship. Winners are selected by FWAA writers each year; recipients are honored during Capital One Orange Bowl week with an on-field presentation.

Past awardees include Tylee Craft (North Carolina), Mike Hollins (Virginia), Cam McCormick (Oregon), Utah's football team, Alex Charlton (Arkansas State), Blake Anderson (Arkansas State), Kyle Richard (SUNY Cortland), D'Cota Dixon (Wisconsin), James Conner (Pitt), Hunter Knighton (Miami), Laken Tomlinson (Duke), Anthony Larceval (San Jose State), Daniel Rodriguez (Clemson), Arthur Ray Jr. (Michigan State), Eric LeGrand (Rutgers), Connecticut football team, Wilson Holloway (Tulsa), Zerbin Singleton (Navy), Ray Ray McElrathbey (Clemson), Tulane football team, Haracio Colen (Memphis), Neil Parry (San Jose State) and William Bratton (Toledo).

The Orange Bowl organization is a non-profit sports group based in South Florida focused on tourism through its annual football game as well as charitable contributions across youth sports programs, education initiatives, community engagement projects, and legacy programs throughout its history since being founded in 1935.

The FWAA represents professionals working across college football media since its founding in 1941 while also administering awards such as All-America honors each season.

For more information about Orange Bowl events visit orangebowl.org or follow @OrangeBowl on social media.