Aug. 29, 2011 CHICAGO – Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who suffered a severe spinal injury making a tackle against Army last October, was named a finalist for the America’s Choice Honor for Courage in Sports, Intersport announced today.  

The winner, wholly determined by fan voting at www.Facebook.com/CourageInSports, will be announced on “Courage in Sports,” a one-hour CBS special (Nov. 13, 5 pm ET) that recognizes individuals that have overcome monumental challenges to achieve greatness in the world of sports.

LeGrand was paralyzed from the waist-down after fracturing his C3 and C4 vertebrae, but the injury has not diminished his spirit. LeGrand is learning how to use his legs again, having recently shared a photo on his Twitter account of himself standing upright.  A source of inspiration, LeGrand hopes to one day walk again.

LeGrand will be joined by five other inspirational athletes in the finals, which will take place Oct. 3-16. The remaining finalists will be determined in the coming weeks. Each Monday, two new athletes will be featured on the Courage in Sports Facebook page. The top weekly vote-getter will proceed to the finals and the overall winner will be announced as the 2011 America’s Choice Honoree on CBS Nov. 13.