LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The ninth annual Charley Glenn Award for Heroic Service will be presented during pregame ceremonies prior to West Alabama's matchup against Lincoln University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. The award will be presented to a current Tiger football player for extraordinary service to the UWA Football Program in memory of Staff Sgt. Charles Lee Glenn.
Nick Ellis was voted by his teammates and coaches as the 2024 Charley Glenn Award recipient and in 2025, West Alabama is proud to announce Contravious Blanks as this year's recipient.
Blanks has been a vital part of the West Alabama Football Program for his entire collegiate career, dating back to 2022. The Running Back is in the midst of his senior season and has registered career-highs in carries and rushing yards. Back in October, Blanks suffered a season ending leg injury but continues to have an immense presence in the program.
A UWA graduate and former Tiger football player, Glenn was also a military veteran and Bronze Star recipient. He played football at UWA from 1994-97, earning numerous academic honors as a player before enlisting in the United States Army on June 17, 2003.
An Army Special Forces Soldier, Glenn lost his life in the service of our nation on May 17, 2007 after losing consciousness during a training event at the Special Forces Underwater Operations School.
Glenn attended basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia before reporting to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course in 2003. Glenn was selected for Special Forces training, and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2005.
He reported to fifth Special Forces Group (Airborne) in December 2005, where he was assigned to a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha. He completed a tour in Iraq before beginning the Combat Dive Qualification Course.
Kickoff for the today's game between the Tigers and Oaklanders is set for Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
