JEFFERSON TWP — Playing two sports in college is no big deal to Jake Herrit.

The prospect of playing football and baseball at Gannon University —as he does at Knoch High School — is only a portion of what's on the Knight senior's plate.

“I'm not surprised by anything Jake does,” Knoch football coach Frank Whalen said. “He's a great young man, a great student and a great athlete.”

All three of those attributes helped Herrit land the MaxPreps Semper Fidelis High School Athlete of the Month Award on Monday in the high school gym. The national award is presented monthly to one high school male and female athlete nationwide from September to June.

Herrit's parents nominated him for the award, which he received in front of his Knoch football and baseball teammates. He is carrying a 3.3 grade point average, is leaning toward majoring in criminal justice at Gannon, rushed and threw for a combined 1,500 yards for the Knights as their quarterback last fall, hit over .300 as a sophomore in baseball and was a member of Knoch's 2015 state championship team.

But this award goes beyond statistics.

Presented in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps, the award is based on displaying Marine ideals such as bravery, dedication, perseverance, personal sacrifice for others and being a positive influence in the community.

“When I saw on MaxPreps what this award represents ... That's what Jake is about,” said his father, Josh Herrit, in deciding to nominate his son.

On hand to present Herrit the award were local Marine recruiter Sgt. Rafael Torres and Private First Class Charlie Cook, a 2015 Knoch graduate. Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Landry Jones also took part in the presentation.

“This is quite an honor and I'm very humbled,” Herrit said. “I'm definitely out of my comfort zone, being in the limelight like this.

“There are a lot of kids in this school, on the teams I play for, who are just as qualified and could have received this. I'm very, very fortunate.

“My teammates have a lot to do with this. So do my teachers and coaches, who have helped develop character in all of us,” he added.

Outside of school, Herrit devotes time to making lunches for hungry children and volunteers for PARC Pennsylvania, an organization that serves children with Down's syndrome.

Last year, he attended the prom with a girl who has special needs.

“Jake is a selfless kid,” Knoch baseball coach Sean O'Donnell said. “He'll do anything to help his team and his community.”

Herrit said he learned to be giving through following the sports career of former University of Florida and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.

“I read his first book and saw that ... wow, he's done a lot of things to help people,” Herrit said. “He's had a big influence on me that way.

“Tim Tebow showed me that you can use the sports pedestal to find ways to serve others. That's what I wanted to do and still want to do.”

After verbally committing to West Point, Herrit switched gears and decided to attend Gannon. He's received a ROTC scholarship and will join the ROTC program in college.

Once he graduates, Herrit will have a four-year commitment to the military and will enter the service as a second lieutenant.

“That's the same rank I would have gotten coming out of West Point,” he said. “Going to a civilian school, I can do a lot of other things while working toward my (military) service.”

Jones marveled at the magnitude of the MaxPreps award.

“It's awesome how the (Herrit) seems to have it all together,” Jones said. “When I was in high school, I was as knucklehead. I did my soul searching to find out who I was in college.

“I think most people do that. This kid is ahead of the game that way and it's great.”

This is the second year of the MaxPreps Athlete of the Month program.

“It's tremendous, having one of our students receive a national award like this,” Knoch athletic director Kurt Reiser said. “It reflects the type of kids we have on our athletic teams and in this school.”