College Football Awards 2024: Hunter, Jeanty Lead Winners; Full Results, Reaction
The College Football Awards was held on Thursday night, with most of the top awards outside of the Heisman Trophy handed out at the annual event.
Below, we'll break down the full results and reaction from the evening (spoiler alert: Travis Hunter cleaned up).
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Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year)
Winner: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Runners-up: Abdul Carter, Penn State; Caleb Downs, Ohio State
It is hard to ignore that Hunter has been deemed the best defensive player in the sport, likely will win the Heisman Trophy and... wasn't even a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back.
As for whether he should have won the Bednarik, however, fans were split:
Either way, Hunter had himself a lucrative Thursday night at the College Football Awards.
Biletnikoff Award (Outstanding Receiver)
Winner: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Runners-up: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona; Nick Nash, San Jose State
By the time Hunter won the Biletnikoff Award—despite having less receiving yards than both McMillan and Nash and less receptions and receiving touchdowns than Nash—some fans were feeling a bit fed up:
A history-making night for Hunter, nonetheless.
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award (Outstanding Placekicker)
Winner: Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana
Runners-up: Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State; Alex Raynor, Kentucky
Winner: Eddie Czaplicki, USC
Runners-up: Alex Mastromanno, Florida State; Brett Thorson, Georgia
Maxwell Award (Player of the Year)
Winner: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Runners-up: Travis Hunter, Colorado; Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Hunter remains the prohibitive favorite for the Heisman, but Jeanty nabbing the Maxwell certainly adds to the intrigue. There is no doubt who the two top players in college football were this season.
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (Best Quarterback)
Winner: Cam Ward, Miami
Runners-up: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon; Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
This was one of the harder races to call, given that all three players put together excellent seasons. But Ward's overall numbers—4,123 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 67.4 completion percentage, four rushing touchdowns—were hard to ignore.
Outland Trophy (Most Outstanding Interior Lineman)
Winner: Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Runners-up: Mason Graham, Michigan; Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)
Winner: Jahdae Barron, Texas
Runners-up: Caleb Downs, Ohio State; Malaki Starks, Georgia
Doak Walker Award (Premier Running Back)
Winner: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Runners-up: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina; Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
This was one of the most obvious selections of the evening. Jeanty's 2,497 rushing yards was tops in the FBS by over 800 yards, and his 29 rushing touchdowns was tied for tops in the nation with Army's Bryson Daily.
Hampton and Johnson were excellent, but anybody else getting this award would have been a joke.
John Mackey Award (Outstanding Tight End)
Winner: Tyler Warren, Penn State
Runners-up: Colston Loveland, Michigan; Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Butkus Award (Best Linebacker)
Winner: Jalon Walker, Georgia
Runners-up: Barrett Carter, Clemson; Chris Paul, Mississippi; Carson Schwesinger, UCLA; Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player)
Winner: Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
Runners-up: Jahdae Barron, Texas; Adbul Carter, Penn State; Mason Graham, Michigan
Rimington Trophy (Premier Center)
Winner: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
Runners-up: Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan; Cooper Mays, Tennessee
Walter Camp Player of the Year
Winner: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Runners-up: Cam Ward, Miami; Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Ho-hum—just another award for Hunter. Up next, the Heisman Trophy.
Home Depot Coach of the Year
Winner: Curt Cignetti, Indiana
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