October 28, 2026

CHARLOTTE TOUCHDOWN CLUB Announces Recipient of the “Defender of the Nation” Award 

 

Sponsored by Capital Group of Companies  

The Citadel’s Maurice Bonneau Jr. to be honored December 7th at Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated  

Charlotte, N.C. (October 28, 2026) –

The Charlotte Touchdown Club announced today The Citadel Bulldogs’ defensive lineman, Maurice Bonneau Jr., as recipient of its 2026 Defender of the Nation Award sponsored by Capital Group of Companies.

“The Defender of the Nation Award honors exceptional student-athletes who exemplify the highest standards of leadership, character, academic excellence, and service,” said John Rocco, Executive Director of the Charlotte Touchdown Club. “We are extremely proud to recognize The Citadel’s Maurice Bonneau Jr. as the recipient of this prestigious award and look forward to celebrating his outstanding achievements on December 7th at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet, presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated.”

The recipient of The Defender of the Nation Award is selected from one of the nation’s nine service academies and senior military institutions as well from top collegiate ROTC programs including Air Force Academy, Appalachian State, Auburn University, The Citadel, Coast Guard Academy, University of Mississippi, Naval Academy, Norwich University, University of South Carolina, Syracuse University, Texas A&M University, Villanova University, Virginia Tech, VMI, and West Point and is based on exceptional leadership qualities on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The recipient must also exhibit a high standard of integrity by leading through example.

Rick Hughes, Chairman of Capital Group of Companies commented, “On behalf of the Capital Group of Companies, I am honored to announce that Maurice Bonneau Jr of The Citadel Military College of South Carolina has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Defender of the Nation Award. Maurice becomes our tenth distinguished honoree, joining an exclusive group of exceptional leaders who excel in three critical areas: athletic achievement, academic excellence, and military service. His outstanding performance on the football field, dedication in the classroom, and unwavering commitment to serving our nation make him a worthy successor to this prestigious tradition. Congratulations to The Citadel, it’s football team and an outstanding young man, Maurice -we are proud to support and celebrate your remarkable accomplishments.”

In conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated will be held on Monday, December 7th at the Charlotte Convention Center. In addition to honoring Maurice Bonneau Jr. as the Defender of the Nation Award winner, University of Oklahoma’s Tony Casillas from the Class of 1984 will be honored as the 2026 Legends Award recipient and college coaching legend, Mack Brown, is slated as the keynote speaker. CBS Sports Studio Host, Adam Zucker, is confirmed as Master of Ceremonies!

“Maurice Bonneau Jr. embodies the toughness, discipline, and selfless leadership we value at The Citadel, said Head Coach Maurice Drayton. He represents what it means to be a true defender, both on and off the field. We are proud to see him recognized with the Defender of the Nation Award by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.”

About Capital Group of Companies
Rick Hughes has a successful 46-year track record in the automotive finance and insurance industry. Rick worked with publicly held NY Stock Exchange companies, setting up their F&I Programs. Rick worked with Sonic Automotive on setting up their F&I Program, with NCADA to form and market their NC Life program and industry-leading programs to increase dealer revenue. Prior to starting Capital Automotive, Rick was the Director of Business Development for one of the world’s largest automotive finance product and service companies. Rick coordinated various international field forces, presented at BSF and CEO Ninety, and personally developed hundreds of successful dealership personnel. As CEO of the Capital Companies, he created Flex-Pro, a patented program which allows an additional income stream coupled with products, insurance, and reinsurance administrative services. The Capital Companies refers to four unique companies: Capital Benefits Group—Structures custom benefit options based on your business needs, Capital Automotive—Gives dealerships the edge they need to meet and exceed their goals, Capital Processing Systems—Provides state-of-the-art products, administration, insurance and reinsurance services to complement dealership and shareholder financial goals, and Data Dot Dealer Services—Least expensive, most effective anti-theft deterrent ever created. We are a group of companies that work together to help dealers capitalize on their investments. We keep our clients in the game and moving toward the goal line through our consumer and client-centric products and administrative services.

About Veterans Bridge Home
Veterans Bridge Home connects Veterans and their families, in any state of transition, to the community. Through our network of partners, we help Veterans navigate employment, create social connections, and settle their families. We look at the whole Veteran and connect them to the resources needed to be successful and thriving leaders in our community. Veterans Bridge Home serves as an entry point for Veterans who don’t know where to turn to access support and services. Because Veterans return home to a civilian community and not to federal agencies or bureaucracies, each community must reach out and actively assist in the reintegration process alongside federal agencies such as the Veterans Administration. The Carolinas have the opportunity and privilege to help bring our nation’s warriors and their families home with the same energy and commitment that our Veterans have displayed in serving our nation. In so doing, ours will serve as a leader to inform other communities that wish to create more welcoming and livable communities for returning Veterans and their families.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting youth, high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (70) companies. The Club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Charlotte Touchdown Club scholarship efforts.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented annually by the Charlotte Touchdown Club in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America to the nation’s most outstanding NCAA Division I defensive football player.

For more information, contact John Rocco at 704-347-2918 or email [email protected]. The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.

HOME OF THE BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY
Where Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship & Leadership are Honored