The California football team's Matthew Cindric has been named one of five national finalists for the Pop Warner College Football Award. The finalists were announced Friday by Pop Warner Little Scholars, the nation's preeminent youth football organization. The award was established in 2010 to recognize a senior who made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in the community, and serves as a role model to Pop Warner's young student-athletes.

The winner will be announced Dec. 5 as part of the 66th Pop Warner Super Bowl taking place Dec. 2-9 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

Below are notes on Cindric with his extended bio available by clicking on his name.
 
Matthew Cindric, OL, 6-4, 295, R-Sr., 6th Season At Cal (Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS)
– A finalist for the Pop Warner College Football Award as a 2023 senior
– Earned a spot on the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and will be honored at the 2023 Allstate Sugar Bowl that will double as a College Football Playoff semifinal.
– A two-time national semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy®, Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year and Wuerffel Trophy as a 2022 junior and 2023 senior
– Has participated in an extensive list of community service and leadership activities during his time at Cal including …

• Golden Buddies Football Clinic – Co-founder who donated countless hours to piloting the inaugural event held at California Memorial Stadium on July 15, 2023. The clinic allowed approximately 50 local students ages 6-13 with and without intellectual disabilities to participate in football drills and interact with about 40 Cal football players running various event stations.
• Cal Football Reading Challenge – Visited local elementary schools to read to students while encouraging them to continue reading over the summer to combat summer learning loss.
• Cal's Haas School of Business Student-Athlete Mentorship Program Student Director – Helped Cal student-athletes through the rigorous process of applying to the university's prestigious business school.
• Cal Athletics Leadership Showcase - Volunteered his time to give a Ted Talk-style speech at the Cal Athletics Leadership Showcase after being nominated by his peers, coaches and staff for demonstrating significant leadership in school, sport and life.
• Upcycle Gear Drive – Co-founder who collected and distributed gear, clothing and equipment through a targeted drive with Cal student-athletes donating 500 gently used and excess items to meet the specific needs of those in the community.
• Cal Athletes In Action President - Engaged in worship and community service activities with a group of student-athletes, while also traveling to Croatia on a community service trip.

– Graduated from Cal in May of 2022 with a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Haas School of Business and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Cal's Graduate School of Education with intersection of sports in education.
– Has played in 35 games and is the Golden Bears' active career leader with 34 starts at Cal all over the last five seasons.
– Suffered season-ending injuries in each of the last two campaigns - in the sixth game of the 2022 season at Colorado and the 2023 season-opener at North Texas but has remained with the program contributing as a student assistant coach.
– 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 second team (Phil Steele), fourth team (Athlon) and honorable mention (Pac-12 Media) selection.