Temple University Athletics
Fraley Named to 2021 Rare Disease Championship Team
12.9.21 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Uplifting Athletes has announced the six members of its 2021 Rare Disease Championship Team which includes Temple junior long snapper Sam Fraley.
For more than a dozen years, Uplifting Athletes has celebrated leaders in college football who have made a positive and lasting impact on the Rare Disease Community through its Rare Disease Champion initiative.
Uplifting Athletes is honored to have the opportunity to share Fraley's inspiring rare disease story.
In 2017, a week before he was scheduled to walk across the stage and receive his high school diploma, Fraley was rushed to the hospital and spent two weeks in emergency after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which Is a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks its nerves.
After finding out about his life-threatening disease, Fraley has lived a lifetime since graduating Sequoia (Calif.) High — a ceremony he didn't get to attend. The Texas native was set to attend the University of Texas but stayed in California to enroll in junior college with his twin brother, Tyson. He missed that graduation as well due to the global pandemic. He came to Temple as a preferred walk-on and saw his first game action in the 2021 season finale. He expects to walk in this spring's graduation with a degree in economics.
Joining Fraley on the 2021 Uplifting Rare Disease Champion Team are: Ole Miss punter Mac Brown, Florida State offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons, SMU running back Tyler Lavine, Northwestern long snapper Peter Snodgrass and Oklahoma State long snapper Zeke Zaragoza.
"The 2021 Rare Disease Champion Team represents some of the most high character student-athletes in college football. These individuals have shown fearlessness in the face of adversity, thoughtlessness in a world of selfishness, and compassion to those facing unimaginable challenges," Uplifting Athletes Executive Director Rob Long said. "It is our honor to recognize these individuals that have gone above and beyond to be a beacon of hope for the Rare Disease Community."
Each member of the 2021 Rare Disease Champion Team will be honored and celebrated during the Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Temple Owls and NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
Nominees for the award were solicited from any NCAA FBS, FCS, Division II or Division III institution or college football program nationwide.
The Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA includes the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935.
About Uplifting Athletes
A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Uplifting Athletes inspires the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans and typically lacks financial incentive to make and market new treatments. Uplifting Athletes fulfills its mission through a network of college football student-athlete led chapters, Uplifting Ambassadors and Team UA participants.
Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $6 million to develop Uplifting Leaders, create Uplifting Experiences, fund rare disease research and expand rare disease awareness. To learn more about Uplifting Athletes visit upliftingathletes.org
For more than a dozen years, Uplifting Athletes has celebrated leaders in college football who have made a positive and lasting impact on the Rare Disease Community through its Rare Disease Champion initiative.
Uplifting Athletes is honored to have the opportunity to share Fraley's inspiring rare disease story.
In 2017, a week before he was scheduled to walk across the stage and receive his high school diploma, Fraley was rushed to the hospital and spent two weeks in emergency after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which Is a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks its nerves.
After finding out about his life-threatening disease, Fraley has lived a lifetime since graduating Sequoia (Calif.) High — a ceremony he didn't get to attend. The Texas native was set to attend the University of Texas but stayed in California to enroll in junior college with his twin brother, Tyson. He missed that graduation as well due to the global pandemic. He came to Temple as a preferred walk-on and saw his first game action in the 2021 season finale. He expects to walk in this spring's graduation with a degree in economics.
Joining Fraley on the 2021 Uplifting Rare Disease Champion Team are: Ole Miss punter Mac Brown, Florida State offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons, SMU running back Tyler Lavine, Northwestern long snapper Peter Snodgrass and Oklahoma State long snapper Zeke Zaragoza.
"The 2021 Rare Disease Champion Team represents some of the most high character student-athletes in college football. These individuals have shown fearlessness in the face of adversity, thoughtlessness in a world of selfishness, and compassion to those facing unimaginable challenges," Uplifting Athletes Executive Director Rob Long said. "It is our honor to recognize these individuals that have gone above and beyond to be a beacon of hope for the Rare Disease Community."
Each member of the 2021 Rare Disease Champion Team will be honored and celebrated during the Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Temple Owls and NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
Nominees for the award were solicited from any NCAA FBS, FCS, Division II or Division III institution or college football program nationwide.
The Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA includes the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935.
About Uplifting Athletes
A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Uplifting Athletes inspires the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans and typically lacks financial incentive to make and market new treatments. Uplifting Athletes fulfills its mission through a network of college football student-athlete led chapters, Uplifting Ambassadors and Team UA participants.
Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $6 million to develop Uplifting Leaders, create Uplifting Experiences, fund rare disease research and expand rare disease awareness. To learn more about Uplifting Athletes visit upliftingathletes.org
Players Mentioned
LS
/ FootballMBB Press Conference vs. Princeton (Adam Fisher)
Tuesday, December 23
MBB Press Conference vs.Princeton (Babatunde Durodola and Jordan Mason)
Tuesday, December 23
Temple Men's Basketball 2025-26 All Access | Game 12 at Davidson 12.18.2025
Sunday, December 21
Ep. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
