Kentucky senior outside linebacker J.J. Weaver has been named one of the three finalists for the 12th annual Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award, as announced by the Premier Players Sports Foundation.
This award, named in honor of “Fabulous Freddie” Solomon, a standout at the University of Tampa and a Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, recognizes athletes who exemplify Solomon’s legacy of giving back to their communities.
Weaver joins Jack Kiser, linebacker at Notre Dame, and Tommy Mellett, quarterback at Montana State, as finalists for this prestigious honor.
Solomon, after an impressive career at Tampa and 11 years in the NFL three seasons with the Miami Dolphins and eight with the 49ers focused on community work in the Tampa Bay area. After retiring from football, Solomon dedicated 12 years to mentoring youth through football, partnering with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department to teach life lessons. His legacy continues to impact the community even after his passing in 2012.
Weaver was nominated for this award due to his commitment to giving back, particularly his advocacy for mental health and his support for children coping with grief. Overcoming his own challenges—including being bullied as a child because of polydactyly Weaver faced even greater adversity during his college years. In the span of just over a year, he lost his father to homicide, suffered a season-ending knee injury, and lost his beloved high school football coach to cancer.
Struggling with grief and anger, Weaver sought help after being encouraged by his athletic trainer and having a heart-to-heart conversation with head coach Mark Stoops, who could relate to Weaver’s struggles after losing his own father in college. Inspired by the counseling he received, Weaver became a passionate advocate for mental health.
In the fall of 2023, he launched an 8-week, peer-led grief counseling group at the University of Kentucky, the first of its kind on campus. Originally called “The Perfect Fit Support Group,” the program received a $40,000 grant and is now known as “LINC” (Loss Inspiring New Connections), available to all UK students.
Weaver’s advocacy extends beyond his campus. He has participated in national events such as the “Supporting Children and Teens Through Loss” program in Kentucky and the 2024 Annual Symposium on Children’s Grief in Denver. At these events, he shared his personal story and discussed the impact of his grief support initiatives.
In addition to his mental health advocacy, Weaver has contributed to his community by hosting free football camps and organizing bike drives. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Weaver is a three-time team captain, joining Joshua Paschal and DeAndre Square as the only players in school history to achieve this distinction.
He graduated in December 2023 with a degree in community leadership and development and is currently pursuing a second degree in family science with a minor in communication.
On the field, Weaver has been a standout player, leading the team in sacks and quarterback hurries. He has totaled 24 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in the 2023 season. Weaver ranks third in career tackles for loss (37.5) and fourth in career sacks (21.5) at UK.
He is also a semifinalist for the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy. Additionally, he was selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and recently received the 2024 Ron Butler Character in Adversity Award from the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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