Summer Predictions for Every Major College Football Award
National championships aren't won without a complete team effort, but players assert themselves among college football's best talents along the way.
Although they certainly would trade the hardware for a title, being recognized at the national level is a decent consolation prize.
In addition to a couple coaching honors, most of the awards are handed out to individuals at varying levels—like player of the year for either offense or defense as well as a specific positional unit.
Like games, accolades aren't won on paper. But looking ahead to the 2016 season, the following guys are in excellent position to claim a major national honor.
Excluding the projected winner of the Heisman Trophy, each player received one slide highlighting multiple awards, when necessary.
Frank Broyles Award
1 of 16
Award Type: Top assistant coach
Predicted Winner: Don Brown, Michigan
Following D.J. Durkin's departure, Jim Harbaugh filled the vacancy at defensive coordinator with Don Brown—a veteran coach with an aggressive mentality.
In 2015, Boston College had a formidable roster with a few notable talents but no superstars. But under Brown, the Golden Eagles finished as the No. 1 unit in total defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Michigan's roster is only better.
Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod writes the 2016 Michigan defense could be historically great. If the Wolverines are anywhere near that status, Brown is a shoo-in for the Frank Broyles Award.
Burlsworth Trophy and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
2 of 16
Award Type: Top former walk-on; Top senior quarterback (respectively)
Predicted Winner: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
During a season in which he racked up 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns through the air as well as 405 yards and seven scores on the ground, Baker Mayfield won the Burlsworth Trophy in 2015.
In 2016, the dual-threat gunslinger could become the first back-to-back winner of the award while claiming the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, which recognizes the nation's top senior quarterback.
Mayfield walked on at Texas Tech but was not offered a scholarship despite immediately winning the starting quarterback job. After sitting for one year because of transfer rules, he guided Oklahoma to a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth.
Although Sterling Shepard headed to the NFL, Mayfield should have a strong supporting cast helping him toward the awards.
Ray Guy Award
3 of 16
Award Type: Top punter
Predicted Winner: JK Scott, Alabama
Two-time Ray Guy Award winner and former Utah Utes punter Tom Hackett exhausted his eligibility, so the trophy is up for grabs.
While 2015 finalists Hayden Hunt (Colorado State) and Michael Carrizosa (San Jose State) return, the SEC is loaded with punters. Trevor Daniel (Tennessee) and Johnny Townsend (Florida) are excellent (both ranked top 10 in the country in punt average), but JK Scott (Alabama) is the best of the bunch.
He paced the nation with 48.0 yards per kick two years ago and averaged 44.2 last season. Scott will rebound from the disappointing year and be a leading contender for the Ray Guy.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Lou Groza Award
4 of 16
Award Type: Top kicker
Predicted Winner: Aidan Schneider, Oregon
Kickers must be reliable. Just one player, former Western Kentucky Hilltopper Garrett Schwettman, was more consistent than Aidan Schneider in 2015.
After connecting on 11-of-12 field goals as a freshman, he drilled 22-of-24 attempts last season. The former walk-on also buried all 67 extra points en route to first-team All-Pac 12 honors.
Schneider hasn't yet missed a kick during an Oregon loss and is a perfect 8-of-8 from 40 yards and farther.
Paul Hornung Award
5 of 16
Award Type: Most versatile player
Predicted Winner: Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
Jabrill Peppers (Michigan) and Adoree' Jackson (USC) will present intriguing—and likely worthy—cases, but Christian McCaffrey is the clear favorite for the Paul Hornung Award.
Last year, he collected 2,019 rushing yards, 45 receptions for 645 yards, 1,070 kick-return yards and 130 punt-return yards. McCaffrey established an FBS record with 3,864 all-purpose yards.
The Stanford star scored 17 touchdowns, and the total was only that low because he ceded 13 goal-line scores to Remound Wright.
McCaffrey carries an enormous—and unfair—burden in 2016, but the Cardinal's reliance on McCaffrey will translate to huge numbers and a second Hornung Award.
Jim Thorpe Award
6 of 16
Award Type: Top defensive back
Predicted Winner: Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
Desmond King, the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner, is back. A fellow Big Ten standout may steal the honor from Iowa's standout, though.
Last season, Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis edged King with 22 pass defenses compared to 21. However, King snatched eight interceptions, while Lewis managed just two.
Thanks to Don Brown's aggressive defense, the senior should find more opportunities to make a play on the ball—and potentially take advantage of a couple panicked throws.
Still, interceptions aren't the only thing that matters. Lewis—a second-team All-American—is the definition of a lockdown college corner, and he'll earn the ultimate recognition in 2016.
Dick Butkus and Chuck Bednarik Awards
7 of 16
Award Type: Top linebacker; Top defensive player (respectively)
Predicted Winner: Anthony Walker, Northwestern
Perhaps the best defender you've never heard of, Anthony Walker was an absolute force last year. Hopefully he will receive the deserved attention next season.
The Northwestern linebacker registered 120 tackles, including 20.5 for loss—which ranked fourth in the country. He also notched four sacks, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one interception.
According to Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald, head coach Pat Fitzgerald said Walker is "truly a three-way player. He's great against the run, great against the pass and he has the ability to rush the passer."
Walker, a 6'1", 235-pounder, is an elite college linebacker who will only become more dangerous after improving his ability to shed engaged blockers at the second level.
Ted Hendricks and Bronko Nagurski Awards
8 of 16
Award Type: Top defensive end; Top defensive player (respectively)
Predicted Winner: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Only two defensive linemen have won the Bednarik during the last decade. However, The Nagurski is seemingly more receptive to players lining up in the trenches (five defensive linemen have won the Nagurski award in the last decade).
There won't be many, if any, better than Myles Garrett in 2016.
During the last two seasons combined, he's piled up 33.5 tackles for loss with 24 sacks and 20 hurries. Last year, Garrett forced five fumbles—tied for the fourth-most nationally.
Since Daeshon Hall lines up opposite Garrett, opponents cannot effectively key on the disruptive junior. Garrett's numbers will be a direct reflection of his massive impact.
Lombardi Award
9 of 16
Award Type: Top lineman
Predicted Winner: Malik McDowell, Michigan State
The Lombardi Award goes to the top offensive lineman, defensive lineman or linebacker, but an offensive player hasn't won since 1996.
Additionally, interior players—meaning defensive tackles—are regular recipients of the honor (four interior players have won in the last decade). Malik McDowell, a versatile lineman for Michigan State, could add his name to the list.
Following the departure of three starters, the Spartans plan to use McDowell all over. "No maybes. He will play everywhere," position coach Ron Burton said, per Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press.
McDowell gathered 13 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks last season. He'll be even more impactful as the featured player.
Outland Trophy
10 of 16
Award Type: Top lineman
Predicted Winner: Dan Feeney, Indiana
College football's most dominant lineman over the past few seasons has donned crimson and white, but he's not from Tuscaloosa. Dan Feeney is in Bloomington, Indiana.
In 2012 as a freshman, he immediately earned a starting spot. According to the school, Feeney didn't allow a sack in 935 snaps.
After an injury caused a redshirt season in 2013, the right guard surrendered one sack in 801 snaps in 2014. The 2015 campaign included 475 pass blocks, zero sacks and third-team All-American honors.
Feeney is a dominant guard, and an Outland Trophy would be a tremendous parting gift for a wonderful college career.
John Mackey Award
11 of 16
Award Type: Top tight end
Predicted Winner: Jake Butt, Michigan
Jordan Leggett (Clemson), Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech) and O.J. Howard (Alabama) will be in the running, but the John Mackey Award may find a home in Ann Arbor.
Last season, Jake Butt was named the Big Ten Tight End of the Year and a second-team All-American. The 6'6", 250-pound target reeled in 51 receptions for 654 yards and three touchdowns.
Butt could've bolted for the NFL and been a second-round pick, but he elected to chase a national championship at Michigan. Considering the returning talent, that decision might pay off.
Even if the Wolverines fall short, Butt will be a favorite to bring home the hardware.
Fred Biletnikoff Award
12 of 16
Award Type: Top wide receiver
Predicted Winner: Gabe Marks, Washington State
The 2016 season might bring an outlier for the Biletnikoff. In the last decade, only three of the award's 30 finalists played for a non-power-conference school.
Bucking the trend of receiving the honor, however, is even more difficult. Since 1998 (Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech), no player from what we now call a Group of Five program has hoisted the Biletnikoff.
Instead, the winner will likely come from the Pac-12. Gabe Marks (Washington State) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC) lead their respective receiving units.
Marks has the advantage of playing in a pass-heavy offense with an established quarterback. He accumulated 104 receptions, 1,192 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Don't be surprised when those numbers climb in 2016.
Doak Walker Award
13 of 16
Award Type: Top running back
Predicted Winner: Leonard Fournette, LSU
Although you don't need to scavenge to find praise for the LSU running back, Leonard Fournette has never won a major national award.
He ought to leave the college ranks with the Doak Walker.
Fournette averaged 162.8 yards per game, which ranked first nationally and outpaced the No. 2 runner—Derrick Henry—by nearly 15. Fournette sliced, smashed and dashed his way to 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore.
While the Tigers must have a better performance against Alabama for an award to happen, Fournette should also avoid a cancelled game during another statistically dominant campaign.
Fournette, McCaffrey, Royce Freeman (Oregon), Dalvin Cook (Florida State) and Wayne Gallman (Clemson) will provide one heck of a battle for the Doak Walker.
Davey O'Brien, Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards
14 of 16
Award Type: Top quarterback; Player of the year; Outstanding player
Predicted Winner: Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Deshaun Watson was probably the runaway winner of the Davey O'Brien Award in 2015. Not only will he secure that honor again, Watson should sweep the non-Heisman player of the year awards—something that isn't a guarantee.
Last season, the quarterback amassed 4,104 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Watson also scampered for 1,105 yards and 12 scores, taking Clemson to the national championship.
What's relatively scary, though, is the offense should only be better next season. Mike Williams returns after practically missing all of 2015 because of a neck injury.
As long as Watson stays healthy, he should be the most productive player in college football.
Home Depot Award
15 of 16
Award Type: Coach of the year
Predicted Winner: Urban Meyer, Ohio State
One of the primary offseason storylines is the turnover at Ohio State. How will the Buckeyes respond to losing a roster riddled with NFL-bound talent? Can they ride J.T. Barrett and Raekwon McMillan to the College Football Playoff?
But we've learned an important lesson: It's typically not smart to doubt Urban Meyer.
He guided Utah to a BCS bowl win. He made the two-quarterback system work at Florida. He led an Ohio State team on probation to a 12-0 record, then won a championship with a third-string gunslinger.
Meyer has a chance for a signature victory on Sep. 17 at Oklahoma. If the Buckeyes triumph in Norman, the doubters will be quieted immediately—and he'll be on track for coach of the year.
Heisman Trophy
16 of 16
Award Type: College football's top player
Predicted Winner: Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Hype helps. Playing on the East Coast doesn't hurt. Being really, really good is also important. Watson has those areas covered.
Plus, Clemson only lost one receiver (Charone Peake) but replaces him with a 1,000-yard wideout (Mike Williams) who missed 2015. On paper, the offense will be more dangerous than last season—you know, when the Tigers averaged 514.5 yards and 38.5 points.
"Being able to improve on what we did this year with a lot more veterans, we have a chance to be one of the best offenses ever in college football," Watson said, per Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee. "That's our motivation. To be the best ever."
The dual-threat Watson won't have any trouble running away as the 2016 Heisman winner if Clemson's offense is close to or indeed matches its potential.
Stats courtesy CFBstats.com unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
