Surrounded by her flag football teammates and coach during Friday’s pep rally, Choctawhatchee High School senior Diaris Morales received recognition that extends far beyond the football field.

• The Puerto Rico-born quarterback was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as a Latino Youth Honoree for the NFL, making her one of only 64 student-athletes nationwide chosen for the program. Each of the 32 NFL teams selects one male and one female high school senior to represent their organization.

Principal Michelle Heck introduced the flag football team before highlighting Morales’ achievement during the Sept. 12 afternoon pep rally. As part of the recognition, Morales received a customized football, throwback jersey and Jaguars merchandise.

“It means a lot to me to be recognized by people who have always been there for me,” Morales said following the pep rally. “Me being able to repay that support by showing the NFL, specifically the Jaguars, who Choctaw is – representing the school and how much they’ve done for me – it means a lot for sure.”

The opportunity arose through the team’s participation in the Jaguars’ annual preseason tournament, which the Indians have won three consecutive years. A Jaguars representative suggested her as a candidate for the program.

• From the 64 nominees, a panel will select eight finalists representing each of the NFL’s eight divisions. The male and female national winners will each receive $25,000 grants for college, while the six other finalists receive $5,000 grants. All finalists participate in special events during Super Bowl LX Week in San Francisco, including mentorship activities and resources for pursuing sports industry careers.

Morales will be recognized at the Jaguars’ Sept. 21 home game against the Houston Texans with in-game recognition and social media features highlighting her story. She receives four lower bowl tickets for family and friends, plus two pre-game sideline passes.

Coach Jimmy Bay praised Morales’ leadership and achievements, noting she led the team to two consecutive state championship game appearances since her freshman year while earning all-state honors three times.

“Diaris Morales exemplifies what it means to be a leader, competitor, and role model – both on and off the field,” Bay said. “Her drive for success extends beyond herself. She is committed to helping her team reach its goals.”

Born in Puerto Rico, Morales moved to Florida at age 6 with her family during what she described as an emergency relocation, with her family starting all over. She attended Edwins Elementary School before moving up to Pryor Middle School where she began playing flag football. Once at Choctaw, she became the starting quarterback her freshman year.

• “Coach Bay has always been there for me and continues to push me forward,” Morales said. “He always gives me space to have an opinion and space to be a leader. It’s a blessing to have a coach that really does show care and love for the team that he has.”

Beyond athletics, Morales serves as a lieutenant in the school’s ROTC program and plays basketball for the Indians while helping at her uncle and aunt’s Puerto Rican restaurant (Papi’s Cafe & Grill) in Fort Walton Beach. Her father owns Uncle E’s Barbershop in Shalimar and her mother works as a nail technician.

The NFL Latino Youth Honors program, created in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, celebrates high school seniors who excel in academics and athletics while honoring their Hispanic heritage.

• “As a Puerto Rican, we are born with a lot of pride just from being Puerto Rican,” Morales said. “The culture, the heritage, the love, the community that Puerto Rico has is just so welcoming and loving.”

For her senior season, Morales aims to capture the state championship that has eluded the team during her three previous trips to the title game.

“I’m looking forward to winning state,” she said with certainty. “I’m tired of the silver. I really want the gold and I want to give that to the underclassmen.  I want to represent the upperclassmen before me who didn’t get to win state while they were here and show them that we made it.”