21 Programs Represented; Melvin Gordon, Marcus Mariota and Dak Prescott Receive Multiple Nominations
The Home Depot College Football Awards, now in its 24th year, will once again air on ESPN, Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. ET, highlighting the achievements of college football student-athletes in 2014. Twenty-four players were selected as finalists for the nine National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) awards given annually during the show. The nominees were announced during The Home Depot College Football Awards Nomination Special at 6 p.m. ET today on ESPNU.
Alabama and Oregon lead schools in nominations having three and two players nominated, respectively. Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin), Marcus Mariota (Oregon) and Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) are each finalists for two awards.
THE HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS FINALISTS – (listed alphabetically)
| Chuck Bednarik Award College Defensive Player of the Year |
Vic Beasley, Clemson (RS Graduate) Joey Bosa, Ohio State (So.) Scooby Wright III, Arizona (So.) |
| Biletnikoff Award Outstanding Receiver |
Amari Cooper, Alabama (Jr.) Rashard Higgins, Colorado State (So.) Kevin White, West Virginia (Sr.) |
| Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Nation’s Outstanding Placekicker |
Roberto Aguayo, Florida State* (RS So.) Brad Craddock, Maryland (Jr.) Josh Lambert, West Virginia (RS So.) |
| Ray Guy Award College Punter of the Year |
Tom Hackett, Utah (Jr.) JK Scott, Alabama (Fr.) Austin Rehkow, Idaho (So.) |
| Maxwell Award College Player of the Year |
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (RS Jr.) Marcus Mariota, Oregon (RS Jr.) Dak Prescott, Mississippi State (Jr.) |
| Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Nation’s Best Quarterback |
Trevone Boykin, TCU (Jr.) Marcus Mariota, Oregon (RS Jr.) Dak Prescott, Mississippi State (Jr.) |
| Outland Trophy Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman |
Malcom Brown, Texas (Jr.) Reese Dismukes, Auburn (Sr.) Brandon Scherff, Iowa (Sr.) |
| Jim Thorpe Award Nation’s Best Defensive Back |
Landon Collins, Alabama (Jr.) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon (Sr.) Gerod Holliman, Louisville (RS So.) |
| Doak Walker Award Nation’s Premier Running Back |
Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska (Sr.) Tevin Coleman, Indiana (Jr.) Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (RS Jr.) |
*2013 award winner
Additionally, the John Mackey Award (Outstanding Tight End), the Rimington Award (Outstanding Center) and the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Success) will be recognized during The Red Carpet Special at The Home Depot College Football Awards. Nick O’Leary (Florida State, Sr.), Clive Walford (Miami, Sr.) and Maxx Williams (Minnesota, RS So.) are finalists for the John Mackey Award and the 17 finalist for the Campbell Trophy were announced on Oct. 30. The Rimington finalists will be announced on Monday, Dec. 8.
The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award. the Disney Spirit Award will also be featured in the December show. Disney Sports previously announced that Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops and junior wide receiver Sterling Shepard will receive this year’s Disney Sports Spirit Award – an honor given annually by Disney Sports to college football’s most inspirational figure.
2014 The Home Depot College Football Awards Highlights
The 24th annual awards show – hosted by ESPN’s Rece Davis, and joined by Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Tom Rinaldi and Samantha Ponder – will originate from the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
- College Football Live will air from the BoardWalk at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. Host Chris Cotter will be joined by college football analysts’ Danny Kanell, David Pollack and Joey Galloway.
- The Red Carpet Special at The Home Depot College Football Awards – hosted by Ponder, Kanell, and Rinaldi – will air at 6m. on ESPNU.
- In addition to the nine awards listed above, The Home Depot College Football Awards will feature the live presentation of the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contribution to College Football Award; The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award; The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team; the Disney Spirit Award; the student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team; and Play of the Year as voted on live by viewers. It will air on ESPN Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
- New for 2014, Championship Drive: CFB Playoff Preview will follow the awards show at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Host Cotter will be joined by Kanell, Pollack and Galloway.
- Viewers can also follow and engage on Twitter by following @ESPNCFB and tagging their tweets using #CFBAwards for news, opinion and behind-the-scenes extras during and leading up to this year’s award show.
MEDIA NOTE: Media interested in attending The Home Depot College Football Awards can apply for credentials by emailing Liz McCollum at elizabethm@bzapr.com.
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.
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