Gavin Sawchuk of Valor Christian wins 2021 Gold Helmet Award
Donnie Yantis spent 10 minutes watching Gavin Sawchuk’s freshman tape. Then he picked up the phone.
The Valor Christian coach, then an Arizona State assistant, came to Highlands Ranch to recruit the running back in 2018. Yantis quickly recognized what every college recruiter’s known for the past couple of years: Sawchuk is a rare breed, especially for the state of Colorado.
“I came here to Valor that year and our recruiting coordinator said, ‘Hey, I really want you to watch this freshman’s tape,’” Yantis recalled. “I watched about five plays and I called (ASU coach) Herm (Edwards) and said, ‘I’m going to offer this freshman.’ He said, ‘You sure he’s that good?’ I go, ‘He’s a no-brainer.’”
Yantis was right.
That “no-brainer” evolved from a freshman with Division I potential into Colorado’s top Class of 2022 recruit. Now signed to play at Oklahoma, Sawchuk is the winner of the 2021 Denver Post Gold Helmet Award, an honor presented annually to the state’s top football player, scholar-athlete and citizen.
RELATED: A list of previous winners of The Denver Post’s Gold Helmet Award
Sawchuk — the state’s two-time Gatorade Player of the Year who carries a 3.64 GPA and has a community service resume longer than his list of Division I offers — totaled 5,724 career rushing yards with an 8.2-yard average per carry and 85 total touchdowns. He broke the Valor Christian record for career yards set by former Gold Helmet winner and current NFL star Christian McCaffrey.
Along the way, Sawchuk etched a legacy with the Valor Christian program that is young but storied, having been to 10 championship games in its 4-year history. That included a Class 5A state title Sawchuk’s freshman year, when he emerged as the starting tailback in the playoffs, and championship appearances in 2020 and ’21 (where the Eagles lost 21-0 to Cherry Creek on both occasions).
“The Gatorade awards, the rushing records, all the wins, that’s all good stuff, but leaving a legacy that people can strive towards is most important to me, both on and off the field,” Sawchuk said. “And I’ve talked a lot with my brother (Gabe), and he’s challenged me and said he’s going to break my record… I love that because that’s what it’s all about to me, is for that (program rushing) record to be there as a bar.”
Gabe Sawchuk, a sophomore, was Gavin’s backup this year and recorded 797 rushing yards along with 12 touchdowns. He already has scholarship offers from Colorado, Arizona State, and USC. Gabe saw the field so much because his older brother’s carries were limited as the Eagles mostly breezed through the regular season to a 10-0 record that included decisive victories over two out-of-state powerhouses.
Thus, a quick glance at Gavin Sawchuk’s game log reveals that his 2,004 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns as a senior are misleading… in a good way. Sawchuk, the third Valor Christian player to win Gatorade and Gold Helmet honors (joining Christian and Dylan McCaffrey), mostly watched from the sideline in the second halves this fall. He was pulled after just two carries against Highlands Ranch in Week 8, and was limited to five carries in the playoff opener against Fort Collins.
“He would’ve had at least 3,500 yards if we let him play the whole game every Friday,” Yantis said. “He didn’t play in the second half in seven of our games.”
RELATED: A letter by Gavin Sawchuk, winner of the 2021 Denver Post Gold Helmet Award
But the team-first Sawchuk never complained, a reflection of his we-over-me mindset in all aspects of life.
An active member in Valor Christian student leadership, Sawchuk also volunteered for football camps for youth with Down syndrome, participated in a panel discussion for depression and suicide prevention, and is the president of the school’s robotics club, among other giveback efforts. One of Sawchuk’s main focuses in that club is building a robot that cleans trash on the school campus.
“Gavin was the last one off the practice field for the last two years,” Yantis said. “He’d make sure the equipment was cleaned up, he’d come back out and make sure all the trash was picked up. You’d see him vacuuming the locker room. He was a selfless, servant leader to his teammates. Every single team meal, he’s the last one in line, making sure everyone’s getting in front of him.”
Valor Christian center Kaiden Parrish, a Drake pledge and four-year starter for the Eagles, echoed that sentiment. Parrish called Sawchuk “the most humble guy I know” despite Sawchuk’s escalating football stardom. That humility was on display in both the hallways and in all the small moments between the Eagles’ practices and games, as Parrish described his team’s unanimous captain as “everybody’s biggest peer leader.”
“Every Saturday morning for our practice and lift, he would bring the offensive line doughnuts,” Parrish said. “He’d hook the whole O-line up, and not even think twice about it. (The offensive line) never went hungry on those mornings for all four years.”
On the field, Yantis said the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Sawchuk has improved the most in his running between the tackles. And the Eagles’ coach also noted Sawchuk’s McCaffrey-esque ability to catch passes, even though that’s a raw trait at this point.
“We saw this season, yeah he’s a track guy who’s really fast, but he’s also capable of putting his shoulder pads down for extra yards by moving people and running through them,” Yantis said. “And his pass pro has been awesome — he didn’t allow a sack all season and he relished those battles with those big defensive ends and outside linebackers. Normally premier backs at the high school level don’t block like he’s capable of.”
Sawchuk said a conversation with longtime OU coach Bob Stoops was a factor in convincing him to keep his commitment to Oklahoma after coach Lincoln Riley left to take the job at USC on Nov. 28. Sawchuk said he’s “excited” about new Sooners coach Brent Venables, and hopes to make an impact as a freshman in Norman.
“Obviously everyone wants to go in and be a starter, and of course that’s my goal,” Sawchuk said. “I’m going to compete the best I can, grow as a football player, hopefully get some playing time. I’m just trusting the process and all the hard work that got me here.”
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Denver Post 2021 Gold Helmet award winner, Valor Christian Eagles running back, Gavin Sawchuk Dec. 17, 2021.
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 30: Valor Christian’s Gavin Sawchuk speaks during the CHSAA state football championships media availability at Empower Field at Mile High on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER, COLORADO – AUGUST 16: Gavin Sawchuk, of Valor Christian’s football team, took part in the Colorado High School Activities Association third annual high school media day, in partnership with the Denver Broncos, at Empower Field at Mile High on August 16, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Valor Christian RB, Gabe Sawchuk, left, (25) congratulates his brother RB Gavin Sawchuk (27) after defeating the Columbine Rebels 17-7 winning the Colorado State 5A quarterfinal game at Valor Christian High School Nov. 19, 2021.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Valor Christian's Gavin Sawchuk (27) looks for running room against Regis Jesuit in the first quarter during the second round of the Colorado 5A playoffs at Valor Christian Nov. 09, 2018.
HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO – NOVEMBER 27: Valor Christian Gavin Sawchuk (27) readies himself prior to the game near the locker room at Valor Christian High School on Saturday, November 27, 2021. Valor won the game 37 to 6. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Denver Post 2021 Gold Helmet award winner, Valor Christian Eagles running back, Gavin Sawchuk Dec. 17, 2021.
Daniel Brenner, Special to the Denver Post
Valor Christian High School wide receiver Gavin Sawchuk (27) after catching a pass during the second half of the Class 5A football state championship Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Valor Christian won 24-14.
HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO – NOVEMBER 27: Valor Christian #27 Gavin Sawchuk looks for an opening during the first half of the game at Valor Christian High School on Saturday, November 27, 2021. Valor won the game 37 to 6. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Valor Christian's Gavin Sawchuk (27) gets around Regis Jesuit outside linebacker Logan Caskey (52) in the first quarter during the second round of the Colorado 5A playoffs at Valor Christian Nov. 09, 2018.
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 17: Denver Post 2021 Gold Helmet award winner, Valor Christian Eagles running back, Gavin Sawchuk December 17, 2021. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
DENVER, COLORADO – AUGUST 16: Gavin Sawchuk, of Valor Christian’s football team, took part in the Colorado High School Activities Association third annual high school media day, in partnership with the Denver Broncos, at Empower Field at Mile High on August 16, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Valor Christian RB Gavin Sawchuk (27), left, gets hoisted in the air by teammate Kaiden Parrish (55) after scoring a touchdown against the Columbine Rebels in the first quarter during the Colorado State 5A quarterfinal game at Valor Christian High School Nov. 19, 2021. Valor Christian OL Jake Maikkula, right, stands by to congratulate Sawchuk. Columbine Rebels defender Wes Jones (22) walks past the celebration. The Eagles won 17-7.
Daniel Brenner, Special to the Denver Post
Valor Christian High School wide receiver Gavin Sawchuk (27) breaks a tackle during the second half of the Class 5A football state championship Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Valor Christian won 24-14.
HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO – NOVEMBER 27: Valor Christian Gavin Sawchuk (27) watches the action from the sideline during the second half of the game at Valor Christian High School on Saturday, November 27, 2021. Valor won the game 37 to 6. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
Rachel Ellis, The Denver Post
Valor Christian junior Gavin Sawchuk carries the ball from the 40 yard line during the 5A state football championships against Cherry Creek at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl in Pueblo on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Denver Post 2021 Gold Helmet award winner, Valor Christian Eagles running back, Gavin Sawchuk Dec. 17, 2021.
Get to know Gavin Sawchuk, the 2021 winner of the Gold Helmet Award
Gavin Sawchuk is the 2021 winner of the Gold Helmet Award, presented annually to the state’s top football player, scholar-athlete and citizen.
School: Valor Christian
Born: July 28, 2003, Ruston, La.
Position: Running back
College: University of Oklahoma
In the classroom: 3.64 GPA, Valor Christian Cum Laude Society
Extracurricular/community service: Student leadership, National Society of Black Engineers, president of the robotics club, participated in panel discussion for depression and suicide prevention, volunteered with Dare to Play youth football camps for kids with Down syndrome, helped design an early childhood education program to maintain the physical and mental wellbeing of at-risk children.
On the field: Two-year captain, two-time Gatorade Colorado Football Player of the Year, 5,724 career rushing yards with an 8.2-yard average per carry and 85 total touchdowns. Rushed for 2,004 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior. 2018 Class 5A state champion and 2020, 2021 Class 5A state runner-up. Also runs track (100 meters and 200 meters).
Hobbies: Playing piano, cooking, fishing.
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