Kearse nominated for “Salute To Service” award

Seattle Seahawks WR Jermaine Kearse may have only had his hands on four catches in the last four games, but he picked up a prestigious award nomination today.

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The NFL announced today that Kearse is the Seahawks nominee for the “Salute To Service” award presented by the United Service Automobile Association (USAA). The award is meant to honor a league member “who demonstrates an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community.” Kearse is from a military family and grew up living on Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma. He is one of those rare players who has played his entire career close to home, attending Lake High School in Lakewood, then attending the University of Washington before signing on as an UDFA with his hometown Seahawks.

Oct 5, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) runs for yards after the catch against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Detroit, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Last summer he established the 15 to 1 Jermaine Kearse Foundation with the goal of being a resource for kids of military families. The mission of his foundation is “to support and inspire youth in military families to work hard, persevere and believe in themselves in order to overcome adversity and find success through positive choices, experiences and opportunity.”

"“About a year ago, I started thinking about causes I wanted to show my support to, and I kind of just went to the root of everything. My dad was in the military. I lived on a military base, and I grew up in a military family. I feel like that was a place where my heart was telling me I should dedicate my time and show a lot of my support to.” – Jermaine Kearse"

Kearse cites his father as the inspiration behind his foundation. Army Sergeant First Class David Kearse died suddenly due to heart complications just prior to Jermaine’s senior year in high school.

"“He would be very proud of me to be able to go out there and perform the way I try to,” said Kearse. “I just try to go out there and make him proud, and I feel like I have done a good job.”"

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Finalists for the award will be announced in January, with the winner tabbed at the 5th annual NFL Honors awards show the week of Super Bowl 50.

Other nominees of note are former Seahawks defensive coordinator and now Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, and around the NFC West; WR’s Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals and Torrey Smith of the 49ers, and Rams head coach Jeff Fisher.