College Football Awards 2016: Results, Winners, Highlights and Twitter Reaction

College football celebrated the top players of 2016 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

A smattering of award winners had already been announced leading into Thursday night, but the bulk of the most prestigious prizes were saved for a televised ceremony on ESPN.

Below is a full list of Thursday's winners and an overview of the event:

Award	Category	Winner
Maxwell Award	Player of the Year	Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Davey O’Brien Award	Best Quarterback	Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Doak Walker Award	Best Running Back	D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas
Fred Biletnikoff Award	Best Wide Receiver	Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma
Outland Trophy	Best Interior Lineman	Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Chuck Bednarik Award	Defensive Player of the Year	Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
Jim Thorpe Award	Best Defensive Back	Adoree' Jackson, DB, USC
Lou Groza Award	Best Place-Kicker	Zane Gonzalez, K, Arizona State
Ray Guy Award	Best Punter	Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah
Holder of the Year Award	Best Holder	Garrett Moores, QB, Michigan
Home Depot Award	Coach of the Year	Mike MacIntyre, Colorado
Disney Spirit Award	Most Inspirational Player	James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh
John Mackey Award	Best Tight End	Jake Butt, TE, Michigan
Dick Butkus Award	Best Linebacker	Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
Rimington Trophy	Best Center	Pat Elflein, C, Ohio State
Wuerffel Trophy	Community Service	Trevor Knight, QB, Texas A&M
Frank Broyles Award	Assistant Coach of the Year	Brent Venables, Clemson

Reaction

In what could be a preview of Saturday's Heisman Trophy ceremony, Deshaun Watson beat out Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield to win the Davey O'Brien Award.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Watson is the fourth QB to win the honor on two occasions, joining Ty Detmer, Jason White and Danny Wuerffel. ESPN Stats & Info also noted why that distinction could be important for the Clemson Tigers star:

Jackson remains the overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman, with 1-40 odds on OddsShark. The Louisville Cardinals quarterback also collected the Maxwell Award, which goes to the best player in college football.

Jackson threw for 3,390 yards and 30 touchdowns and ran for 1,538 yards and 21 touchdowns. During the ceremony, the sophomore said his mother was partly responsible for making him tough, as ESPN College Football shared:

Looking ahead to the weekend, USA Today's Dan Wolken thought the Heisman will be a great way for Watson and Jackson to determine who has bragging rights:

The Associated Press' Ralph D. Russo noted recent history is trending in Jackson's direction:

On the defensive side, Alabama Crimson Tide lineman Jonathan Allen won the Bednarik Award. NCAA Football shared his stat line for the year:

During his speech, Allen shared an entertaining anecdote about Alabama's practices, per Charlie Potter of BamaOnLine:

Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers was already considered a long shot for the Heisman, and Thursday seemingly confirmed he won't follow in the footsteps of Michigan legend Charles Woodson after missing out on the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards.

Staying on defense, USC Trojans star Adoree' Jackson took home the Jim Thorpe Award for being college football's best defensive back.

Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller V, who faced off against Jackson twice during his time with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, congratulated the cornerback on Twitter:

Texas Longhorns running back D'Onta Foreman was one of the night's biggest winners. Not only did he capture the Doak Walker Award, but he was also unofficially the best-dressed finalist on hand.

ESPN College Football shared a look at Foreman's ensemble:

Foreman led the country with 2,028 rushing yards and ran for 15 touchdowns. Despite those impressive numbers, some might've hoped San Diego State Aztecs star Donnel Pumphrey would come out on top. Only Ron Dayne (6,397 yards) stands between Pumphrey and history after the senior reached 6,290 career rushing yards this season.

Pumphrey was gracious in defeat:

Another running back, James Conner of the Pittsburgh Panthers, received the Disney Spirit Award on Thursday night—almost a year to the day after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Conner announced he was cancer-free in May and ran for 1,060 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior in 2016.

Conner was joined onstage by ESPN's Holly Rowe and Shelley Smith, both of whom have had cancer. As SB Nation CFB suggested, there was probably not a dry eye inside the College Football Hall of Fame:

Conner received a shoutout from Eric LeGrand, the former Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive lineman who was paralyzed in 2010 and won the Jimmy V Award in 2012:

In one of the more hotly debated award races, Michigan quarterback Garrett Moores won Holder of the Year. Moores was unable to attend Thursday's ceremony but made sure he delivered a speech upon winning:

Pro Football Talk's Zac Jackson figured Moores will have a nice conversation-starter for the future:

College football fans will now play the waiting game until Saturday night, when the biggest individual award of all is handed out.

The Heisman ceremony will be the final hurdle before bowl season begins. The Gildan New Mexico Bowl will kick off proceedings Dec. 17, and it all leads up to the College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa, Florida, on Jan. 9.