Texas Quarterback Passes Homecoming King Crown to Friend and Team Manager with Cerebral Palsy

A quarterback at Dallas' Keller Fossil Ridge High School has become a viral sensation for his selfless act off the field.

Max Akin was named homecoming king by his peers during Sept. 9's game at halftime, but instead of accepting the crown, he passed it on to K.L. Norwood, his friend and football team manager who has cerebral palsy.

The 17-year-old senior presented Norwood the crown on bended knee and bowed his head down as he raised it up to his fellow homecoming king nominee.





"He gave me a hug, and then he said, 'I love you,' and then he gave it to me," Norwood recalled to the Today show, adding, "It was really nice of him to do that, and I'm actually glad he did but yes, it did surprise me. It made me really, really happy."



Akin told local ABC affiliate WFAA that K.L. was deserving of the honor all along. "I didn't know when I would have the right time to do it," he said. "But I saw K.L., came over and gave him a hug, and I knew that he wanted that crown more than anything. I think it should've gone to the person who positively uplifts the school and everybody around him, and that person is K.L., for sure."



"My favorite quarterback right here," Norwood told WFAA. "It was absolutely terrific, I appreciate it."

Both students were nominated for homecoming king but Norwood was the only candidate who did not make a plug for himself in the video shared during the voting process.



"I think whoever positively uplifts this school the most should win," he explained.

And the cherry on top for Norwood and Akin? The Ridge High football team took home a 40-12 win that night.