POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Red-shirt junior Chris Leonardo of the Marist University football team has been named a finalist for the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award. Leonardo is the first Red Fox to be a finalist for this prestigious honor.
 
The Doris Robinson Award honors student-athletes in the Football Championship Subdivision who exemplify excellence on the field, in the classroom, and across the community. The values embody the leadership and integrity championed by Doris Robinson, a former schoolteacher and the wife of legendary Grambling State University coach Eddie Robinson. The award was first presented in 2015, and it is now in its 11^th year of existence.
 
Leonardo is one of 13 finalists for the award. There was one finalist selected from each of the 13 conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision. This year's winner will be announced on Dec. 9, and will be honored on Jan. 3 at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Leonardo is in his third season as the Red Foxes' starting right tackle. He was named a national semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy earlier this year. An Economics major, Leonardo was an FCS ADA Academic All-Star last season. He's been named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and First Team PFL All-Academic each of the last two years. He has participated in the White Ribbon campaign, helped raise funds for The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, and volunteered for Special Olympics events.
 
The Marist football team closes out its 2025 season on Saturday with a PFL contest at Presbyterian. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.