Horseheads, N.Y. (WENY) - Three football players from around the Elmira area are being given the opportunity to win the Ernie Davis award. 

Ernie Davis was an Elmira native and former Syracuse Orangmen. Davis was the first African-American football player to win the Heisman Trophy back in 1961. 

The Elmira community chooses to carry on Davis' legacy by giving an award in his name each year to a football player that exemplifies the same characteristics Davis did when he played at SU. 

This years nominees are Edison's, Brycen Guinnip, Elmira's, Evan Garvin and Horseheads', Bradock Salisbury. These three athletes have shown leadership, charisma and determination on and off the football field. Each football coach has chosen a player from their team they think deserves to be honored by this award. 

Each athlete talked about the emotions and meaning behind being nominated in Ernie Davis' name. 

"That's a huge honor," said Guinnip. "No matter if I win or lose, being nominated is huge to me. Showing, put forth the leadership and other work I put forth being the football player I am today."

Salisbury said, "I mean, it's very important. Coming into the program as a freshman, it's always been on my mind. Just being nominated, just being here with these great athletes, it just means a lot to me."

"There's a lot of excitement behind being nominated for this award," Garvin said. "It's really awesome to be nominated, considering the things Ernie Davis was able to do on and off the field, with his characteristics and sportsmanship and everything like that. I just think it was really cool that I was able to be nominated for this award."

Stick with WENY Sports on air and online as we bring you the winner of the award this Thursday.