On Tuesday, the finalists for many of the major college football awards were announced, including the Maxwell Award given to the most outstanding player in the country.
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The finalists for the award include Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, all three of whom are expected to be in New York City for the Heisman Trophy Award presentation.
Florida State, winners of 23 consecutive games, had just two players named as a finalist for an award, kicker Roberto Aguayo and tight end Nick O’Leary.
The Doak Walker Award, presented to the top running back in the nation, will go to a Big Ten running back, and rightfully so. The conference dominated the ground game this year, led by standout rushers Ameer Abdullah, Tevin Coleman and Melvin Gordon.
College football awards finalists:
Heisman Trophy — best player Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama) Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin) Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon)
Maxwell Award — best player Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin) Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) - Winner Dak Prescott (QB, Mississippi State)
Walter Camp Award — best player Trevone Boykin (QB, TCU) Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama) Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin) Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) - Winner Scooby Wright (LB, Arizona)
Davey O’Brien Award — quarterback Trevone Boykin (TCU) Marcus Mariota (Oregon) - Winner Dak Prescott (Mississippi State)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award — quarterback Brett Hundley (UCLA) Cody Kessler (USC) Marcus Mariota (Oregon) - Winner Bryce Petty (Baylor)
Doak Walker Award — running back Ameer Abdullah (Nebraska) Tevin Coleman (Indiana) Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin) - Winner
Fred Biletnikoff Award — wide receiver Amari Cooper (Alabama) - Winner Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) Kevin White (West Virginia)
John Mackey Award — tight end Nick O’Leary (Florida State) - Winner Clive Walford (Miami-FL) Maxx Williams (Minnesota)
Lou Groza Award — kicker Roberto Aguayo (Florida State) Brad Craddock (Maryland) - Winner Josh Lambert (West Virginia)
Ray Guy Award — punter Tom Hackett (Utah) - Winner Austin Rehkow (Idaho) JK Scott (Alabama)
Dave Rimington Trophy — center Jack Allen (Michigan State) David Andrews (Georgia) Reese Dismukes (Auburn) - Winner B.J. Finney (Kansas State) Andy Gallik (Boston College) Hroniss Grasu (Oregon)
Bronko Nagurski Award — defensive player Malcolm Brown (DE, Texas) Landon Collins (DB, Alabama) Senquez Golson (DB, Ole Miss) Gerod Holliman (DB, Louisville) Scooby Wright (LB, Arizona) - Winner
Chuck Bednarik Award — defensive player Vic Beasley (DE, Clemson) Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio State) Scooby Wright (LB, Arizona) - Winner
Butkus Award — linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha (Washington) Eric Kendricks (UCLA) - Winner Denzel Perryman (Miami-FL) Jake Ryan (Michigan) Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame)
Ted Hendricks Award — defensive end Vic Beasley (Clemson) Joey Bosa (Ohio State) Hau’oli Kikaha (Washington) Nate Orchard (Utah) - Winner Shane Ray (Missouri) Leonard Williams (USC)
Lombardi Award — linebacker or lineman Vic Beasley (DE, Clemson) Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio State) Hau’oli Kikaha (LB, Washington) Scooby Wright (LB, Arizona) - Winner
Jim Thorpe Award — defensive back Landon Collins (S, Alabama) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (CB, Oregon) Gerod Holliman (S, Louisville) - Winner
Outland Trophy — interior lineman Malcom Brown (DT, Texas) Reese Dismukes (C, Auburn) Brandon Scherff (OT, Iowa) - Winner
