Aaron Donald of Pittsburgh, AJ McCarron of Alabama, Jameis Winston of Florida St. and Andre Willams of Boston College each claimed top awards during the 23^rd annual The Home Depot College Football Awards hosted by Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Tom Rinaldi and Samantha Steele on ESPN Thursday night live from the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Donald, a senior from Pittsburgh, Pa., took home two awards during the show – the Outland Trophy for the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman and the Chuck Bednarik Award for college defensive player of the year.  McCarron won the Maxwell Award for the college player of the year and Winston won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Thirty-six players have won the Maxwell and the Heisman Trophy in the same year, while sixteen players have won both the Davey O’Brien and Heisman.  Williams, a senior from Schnecksville, Pa., won the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s outstanding running back.
Other notable awards included the presentation of Auburn’s Gus Malzahn with The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award; former Saint John’s University (Minn.) head coach John Gagliardi was honored with the NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award; Tulane safety Devon Walker received the Disney Spirit Award; and Henderson State quarterback Kevin Rodgers was named the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Captain – one of college football’s most prestigious off-the-field honors determined by college football fan voters for the good work these players conduct, and their remarkable stories of service to others.

THE HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS WINNERS – (winner in bold)

The following players were also announced for the Walter Camp All-America Team:

Two additional awards were announced during The Cree LED Bulb Red Carpet Special at The Home Depot College Football Awards hosted by Steele, Rinaldi and Dari Nowkhah on ESPNU: 

• Rimington Trophy (nation’s outstanding center):  Bryan Stork, Florida State

Stork is the first Rimington Trophy winner from Florida State and first winner from the ACC.  Stork is also the sixth straight winner to play in a BCS bowl and the second straight winner to play in BCS National Championship game joining Barrett Jones of Alabama.

• John Mackey Award (nation’s outstanding tight end): Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington

In his three years playing at Washington, Seferian-Jenkins has totaled 143 receptions, 1,801 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns making him the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns by a Washington tight end.  He recorded 33 receptions for 413 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013, with 70 percent of his catches going for a first down or a touchdown.  All seven of his receiving touchdowns came in the red zone, tying for second most red zone touchdown catches in the Pac-12.

Several other awards were recognized during this year’s show:

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation’s outstanding defensive player): Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
• Frank Broyles Award (top assistant coach): Pat Narduzzi, Michigan State defensive coordinator
• Rotary Lombardi Award (nation’s outstanding lineman): Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
• William V. Campbell Trophy (academic success): John Urschel, Penn State

National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA)

The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football.  The 21 awards boast 678 years of tradition-selection excellence.  Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more about our story.

Notes:

Aaron Donald, winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year)
–  first player from Pitt to win the award

–  first defensive lineman to win the award since Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh in 2009

–  first ACC player to win the award since Maryland’s E.J. Henderson in 2002

Brandin Cooks, winner of the Biletnikoff Award (Nation’s Outstanding College Receiver)

–  second Biletnikoff winner from Oregon State, joining 2005 winner Mike Hass

–  Oregon State becomes just the second school to produce two different Biletnikoff winners (Pitt)

–  second straight winner from the Pac-12

Roberto Aguayo, winner of Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award (Nation’s Outstanding Placekicker)

–  third different Groza winner from Florida State

–  Florida State becomes the first team to produce three different Groza winners

Tom Hornsey, winner of the Ray Guy Award (College Punter of the Year)

–  first Ray Guy winner from Memphis

–  first The Home Depot College Football Awards winner from Memphis since Joe Allison won the Groza Award in 1992

AJ McCarron, winner of the Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year)

–  first player from Alabama to win the award

–  second straight senior to win the award

–  first player from the SEC to win the award since Cam Newton in 2010

Jameis Winston, winner of the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award

–  second freshman to ever win the award joining Johnny Manziel from last year

–  third Florida State player to win the award, joining Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke

–  Florida State joins BYU as the only school to produce three different Davey O’Brien winners

Aaron Donald, winner of the Outland Trophy (Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman)

–  first defensive lineman to win the award since Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh in 2009

–  joins ESPN’s Mark May as the only Outland Trophy winners from Pittsburgh

–  first ACC player to win the award since NC State’s Jim Ritcher in 1979

Darqueze Dennard, winner of the Jim Thorpe Award (Nation’s Best Defensive Back)

–  first player from Michigan State to win the award

–  first Big Ten player to win the award since Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins in 2008

–  fourth straight cornerback to win the award

Andre Williams, winner of the Doak Walker Award (Nation’s Premier Running Back)

–  first ever winner from Boston College

–  sixth 2,000-yd rusher to win Doak Walker award

–  first ever winner from the ACC

Contacts:

Gracie Blackburn, ESPN Communications, [email protected]

Liz McCollum, Brener Zwikel & Associates, 813-421-0550 or [email protected]