A former University of Alabama football star has been nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, according to the NFL's website.

Roman Harper, who played at UA from 2002-05, is the award nominee for the New Orleans Saints. Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on the community.

The winner will be announced during a awards ceremony broadcast by the Fox TV network at 7 p.m. Feb. 4, the night before the Super Bowl.

The winner will receive $1 million donated in his name, with $500,000 going to a charity of his choice and $500,000 supporting the expansion of Character Playbook, a partnership between the United Way and the NFL that aims to teach students the skills they need to build character.

Nationwide, the sponsor of the award, is also promoting the Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity Challenge. Fans are encouraged to post on social media using their favorite nominee’s challenge hashtag between now and Jan. 8. The nominee who receives the most hashtag mentions will win an additional $25,000 donation to his charity of choice #HARPERWPMOYCHALLENGE.

Harper spearheaded efforts of the United Way's Hope for the Holidays initiative, which focused on re-building the homes of residents affected by the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans and its surrounding areas, through efforts of his foundation, Harper's Hope 4*1 Foundation.

Harper's foundation has continued to service individuals in the Gulf South and Charlotte areas. It is dedicated to preparing today's youth for tomorrow's challenges through various educational and extracurricular activities since its inception. Part of its mission is to support programs that promote reading in younger children.

Since 2009, Harper launched #ReadingwithRoman, an incentive-based reading program for students in kindergarten through ninthgrade. He also hosts annual free football camps and kids' days. Another of his major endeavors include a celebrity waiter dinner, to raise funds that will support his other charitable programs including 41 days of Christmas and Kleats for Kids. His new program, Mini Teacher Grants, will provide many essential  items for teachers' classrooms that are sometimes a struggle for them to purchase. Harper's most recent activity was his Substitute Teacher for the Day initiative, where he taught psychology, algebra, English, industrial technology and sociology.