A Breakdown of College Football's Awards
More than 20 awards were handed out to college football's best players leading into and during bowl season. With that many, it is tough to keep track of them so here is a breakdown of each award (in alphabetical order) and its history.
Several of the most prestigious awards were handed out during "The Home Depot College Football Awards," which was broadcast Dec. 12 on ESPN.
Biletnikoff Award
Honors: Top Receiver
Founded: 1994 by Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation
First Recipient: Bobby Engram, Penn State (1994)
Last Year’s Recipient: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
This Year’s Recipient: Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
Bronko Nagurski Award
Honors: Best Defensive Player
Founded: 1993 by Charlotte Touchdown Club and Football Writers Association of America
First Recipient: Rob Waldrop, Arizona (1993)
Last Year’s Recipient: Josh Allen, Kentucky
This Year’s Recipient: Chase Young, Ohio State
Broyles Award
Honors: Best Assistant Coach, selected by 1,500 coaches representing all FBS programs
Founded: 1996 by Downtown Rotary Club in Little Rock, Ark.
First Recipient: Mickey Andrews, Florida State (1996)
Last Year’s Recipient: Mike Locksley, Alabama
This Year’s Recipient: Joe Brady, LSU
Burlsworth Trophy
Honors: Nation's most outstanding player who began college career as a walk-on
Founded: 2010 by Brandon Burlsworth Foundation
First Recipient: Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech (2010)
Last Year's Recipient: Hunter Renfrow, Clemson
This Year's Recipient: Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
Butkus Award
Honors: Best Linebacker
Founded: 1985 by Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando
First Recipient: Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma (1985)
Last Year’s Recipient: Devin White, LSU
This Year’s Recipient: Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Chuck Bednarik Award
Honors: Defensive Player of the Year
Founded: 1995 by Maxwell Football Club
First Recipient: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern (1995)
Last Year’s Recipient: Josh Allen, Kentucky
This Year’s Recipient: Chase Young, Ohio State
Davey O'Brien Award
Honors: Best Quarterback
Founded: 1977 by Davey O’Brien Foundation
First Recipient: Earl Campbell, Texas (1977) – Became quarterback-only award in 1981
Last Year’s Recipient: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
This Year’s Recipient: Joe Burrow, LSU
Doak Walker Award
Honors: Best Running Back
Founded: 1990 by Southern Methodist University
First Recipient: Greg Lewis, Washington (1990)
Last Year’s Recipient: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
This Year’s Recipient: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
The Dodd Trophy
Honors: FBS football coach whose program represents three pillars of success: Scholarship, Leadership and Integrity
Founded: 1976, presented annually by Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
First Recipient: Vince Dooley, Georgia (1976)
Last Year’s Recipient: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
This Year's Recipient: Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award
Honors: Most Inspirational Individual or Team
Founded: 1996
First Recipient: Daniel Huffman, a high school student who gave up his college football career to donate his kidney to his grandmother (1996)
This Year’s Recipient: Casey O'Brien, Minnesota
Eddie Robinson Award
Honors: Best coach
Founded: 1957 by Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)
First Recipient: Woody Hayes, Ohio State (1957)
Last Year's Recipient: Bill Clark, UAB
This Year's Recipient: Ed Orgeron, LSU
Heisman Trophy
Honors: Most Outstanding Player
Founded: 1935 by Downtown Athletic Club
First Recipient: Jay Berwanger, Chicago (1935)
Last Year’s Recipient: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
This Year's Recipient: Joe Burrow, LSU
Home Depot Coach of the Year Award
Honors: Coach of the Year, selected by ESPN and ABC college football analysts
Founded: 1994
First Recipient: Bobby Bowden, Florida State (1994)
Last Year’s Recipient: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
This Year's Recipient: Ed Orgeron, LSU
Jim Thorpe Award
Honors: Best Defensive Back
Founded: 1986 by Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
First Recipient: Thomas Everett, Baylor (1986)
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Last Year’s Recipient: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
This Year’s Recipient: Grant Delpit, LSU
John Mackey Award
Honors: Best Tight End
Founded: 2000 by Nassau County Sports Commission
First Recipient: Tim Stratton, Purdue (2000)
Last Year’s Recipient: T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
This Year’s Recipient: Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Honors: Outstanding Senior or Fourth-Year Quarterback
Founded: 1987 by the Golden Arm Foundation
First Recipient: Don McPherson, Syracuse (1987)
This Year’s Recipient: Joe Burrow, LSU
Lombardi Award
Honors: Best Lineman or Linebacker
Founded: 1970 by Rotary International in Houston
First Recipient: Jim Stillwagon, Ohio State (1970)
Last Year’s Recipient: Ugochukwu Amadi, Oregon
Lott IMPACT Trophy
Honors: Defensive IMPACT (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity) Player of the Year
Founded: 2004 by Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation
First Recipient: David Pollack, Georgia (2004)
Last Year’s Recipient: Josh Allen, Kentucky
This Year's Recipient: Derrick Brown, Auburn
Lou Groza Award
Honors: Best Placekicker
Founded: 1992 by Palm Beach County Sports Commission
First Recipient: Joe Allison, Memphis (1992)
Last Year’s Recipient: Andre Szmyt, Syracuse
This Year’s Recipient: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
Maxwell Award
Honors: Player of the Year
Founded: 1937 by Maxwell Football Club
First Recipient: Clint Frank, Yale (1937)
Last Year’s Recipient: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
This Year’s Recipient: Joe Burrow, LSU
Outland Trophy
Honors: Best Interior Lineman
Founded: 1946 by Football Writers Association of America
First Recipient: George Connor, Notre Dame (1946)
Last Year’s Recipient: Quinnen Williams, Alabama
This Year’s Recipient: Penei Sewell, Oregon
Paul Hornung Award
Honors: Most Versatile Player
Founded: 2010 by Louisville Sports Commission
First Recipient: Owen Marecic, Stanford (2010)
Last Year’s Recipient: Rondale Moore, Purdue
This Year’s Recipient: Lynn Bowden Jr.
Ray Guy Award
Honors: Best Punter
Founded: 2000 by Greater August Sports Council
First Recipient: Kevin Stemke, Wisconsin (2000)
Last Year’s Recipient: Braden Mann, Texas A&M
This Year’s Recipient: Max Duffy, Kentucky
Rimington Trophy
Honors: Best Center
Founded: 2000 by Boomer Esiason Foundation
First Recipient: Dominic Raiola, Nebraska (2000)
Last Year’s Recipient: Garrett Bradbury, NC State
This Year's Recipient: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
Ted Hendricks Award
Honors: Best Defensive End
Founded: 2002 by Ted Hendricks Foundation
First Recipient: Terrell Suggs, Arizona State (2002)
Last Year’s Recipient: Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
This Year’s Recipient: Chase Young, Ohio State
Walter Camp Award
Honors: Player of the Year
Founded: 1967 by Walter Camp Football Foundation
First Recipient: O.J. Simpson, USC (1967)
Last Year’s Recipient: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
This Year's Recipient: Joe Burrow, LSU
William V. Campbell Trophy
Honors: Best Student-Athlete
Founded: 1990 by the National Football Foundation
First Recipient: Chris Howard, Air Force (1990)
Last Year’s Recipient: Christian Wilkins, Clemson
This Year’s Recipient: Justin Herbert, Oregon
Wuerffel Trophy
Honors: Player "who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement"
Founded: 2005 by All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach
First Recipient: Rudy Niswanger, LSU (2005)
Last Year’s Recipient: Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame
This Year’s Recipient: Jon Wassink, Western Michigan
