• Travis Hunter wins the Heisman: Colorado’s two-way celebrity takes house school soccer’s highest particular person honor attributable to his dominance on each side of the ball.
• Ashton Jeanty runs away with the Doak Walker Award: Boise State’s star tailback had one of many best seasons ever by a collegiate working again.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all of our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Begin-Sit Optimizer and extra. Join now!
Estimated studying time: 7 minutes
Now that the faculty soccer common season is within the books, it’s time to show our consideration to who deserves school soccer’s highest particular person honors.
Utilizing PFF’s superior metrics, right here’s who we might give 23 of faculty soccer’s main awards to.
Heisman Trophy/Maxwell Award (Greatest Participant): WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado Buffaloes
Merely put, Hunter is the best two-way participant in school soccer historical past. He leads the Energy 4 with 14 receiving touchdowns this season whereas his 1,152 receiving yards are second to solely Tetairoa McMillan in that group. His 86.2 offensive grade is fifth amongst all wideouts within the nation.
On protection, Hunter’s 90.9 protection grade can also be the very best amongst all corners within the nation. His 42.0 passer score allowed is eighth amongst Energy 4 corners whereas his 4 interceptions are tied for third in that very same group.
Chuck Bednarik Award/Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Greatest Defensive Participant): DI Mason Graham, Michigan Wolverines
Not lots went proper for Michigan in its nationwide title protection this season, because the Wolverines completed with only a 7-5 document. Their line of defense stayed dominant, headlined by Graham within the center. His 92.4 run-defense grade led all FBS inside defensive linemen this season whereas his 34 pressures had been tied for third.
Davey O’Brien Award (Greatest Quarterback): QB Cam Ward, Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Ward launched himself up draft boards with a stellar season for the Hurricanes this season. The projected top-five decide leads all FBS quarterbacks with a 92.6 PFF grade and 36 passing touchdowns whereas inserting second with 4,123 passing yards. Ward’s 28 big-time throws are tied for third amongst all signal-callers within the nation as nicely.
Doak Walker Award (Greatest Operating Again): RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Broncos
Jeanty is having one of many best seasons we’ve ever seen from a collegiate working again, whether or not or not it’s by the normal stats or PFF’s superior metrics. His 2,288 dashing yards are presently fifth all-time whereas his 28 dashing touchdowns are tied for ninth. Jeanty’s additionally already set quite a few PFF School information.
Ashton Jeanty’s historic 2024 season within the PFF School period (Since 2014)
Jeanty’s 1,695 yards after contact are greater than some other FBS working again’s complete dashing yards this season. Understand that he nonetheless has no less than yet another recreation so as to add to his ridiculous season.
Biletnikoff Award (Greatest Receiver): WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Wildcats
McMillan was one of many few issues that went proper for Arizona this yr in its disappointing 4-8 season. The projected top-five decide within the 2025 NFL Draft leads all Energy 4 gamers with 1,316 receiving yards whereas his 18 contested catches are tied for probably the most in that very same group. McMillan was additionally extremely harmful after the catch, inserting third amongst FBS wideouts with 28 pressured missed tackles on receptions.
John Mackey Award (Greatest Tight Finish): TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Inexperienced Falcons
We had been splitting hairs between Fannin and Penn State’s Tyler Warren for this award, as every turned in unbelievable seasons. Bowling Inexperienced’s star will get the nod right here as his 1,342 receiving yards are second within the nation, no matter place. That determine can also be simply 10 yards away from the all-time single-season document for a decent finish, set by Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro in 2013. Fannin might simply break that document if he decides to play within the Falcons’ bowl recreation.
His 95.8 PFF grade is larger than anybody else in school soccer. And for these questioning Fannin’s degree of competitors, understand that he posted a 94.1 receiving grade with a mixed 282 receiving yards in opposition to Penn State and Texas A&M this season.
Outland Trophy (Greatest Inside Lineman): DI Mason Graham, Michigan Wolverines
Rotary Lombardi Award (Greatest Lineman): DI Mason Graham, Michigan Wolverines
Rimington Award (Greatest Heart): C Jake Slaughter, Florida Gators
Slaughter’s had a assassin’s row of a schedule this season, dealing with projected Day 1/Day 2 picks like Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, Deone Walker, Omarr Norman-Lott and Alfred Collins.
He responded by grading because the Energy 4’s greatest heart, posting an 82.6 mark this yr. Slaughter’s 79.1 run-blocking grade can also be one of the best within the Energy 4 and he’s solely allowed a strain on 2.3% of his pass-blocking snaps.
Ted Hendricks Award (Greatest Defensive Finish): EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State Nittany Lions
Carter is presently a top-five prospect on PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft huge board attributable to his unbelievable season. He’s presently probably the most useful edge defender within the nation in accordance with PFF’s wins above common metric and fourth in pass-rushing grade (91.0). Understand that this was Carter’s first season as a full-time edge rusher after spending his first two years as an off-ball linebacker.
Butkus Award (Greatest Linebacker): LB Jay Higgins, Iowa Hawkeyes
Higgins was each the highest-graded and most dear Energy 4 linebacker this yr in accordance with PFF’s wins above-average metric. He led the nation with a 93.9 protection grade whereas his 4 interceptions had been tied for probably the most within the Energy 4.
Jim Thorpe Award (Greatest Defensive Again): CB Travis Hunter, Colorado Buffaloes
Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Participant): WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado Buffaloes
Lou Groza Award (Greatest Placekicker): Okay Ben Sauls, Pittsburgh Panthers
Sauls led the nation with a 95.5 subject aim/additional level grade this season. He nailed 5 of his six tries from 50-plus yards whereas changing all 41 of his extra-point tries. Sauls was additionally good from inside 39 yards, making all six of his tries.
Ray Man Award (Greatest Punter): P Brett Thorson, Georgia Bulldogs
Thorson’s 93.3 punting grade was over three factors larger than anybody else in America this yr. He led the nation with a median hangtime of 4.53 seconds whereas his common internet yardage of 44.2 yards was fourth within the nation.
Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers Award (Greatest Return Specialist): WR Keelan Marion, BYU Cougars
Marion was the one Energy 4 participant and one in all two gamers in America with a number of return touchdowns this season. He pressured 10 missed tackles on simply 18 returns this season.
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the 12 months Award (Greatest Freshman): WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes
Contemplating Smith was the highest-rated broad receiver recruit ever, it shouldn’t be any shock that he hit the bottom working in Columbus. The highest general recruit within the 2024 highschool class leads all true freshmen with 930 receiving yards and 10 landing catches this yr. He’s the eighth-most useful receiver in accordance with PFF’s wins above common metric, the one true freshman within the top-10 of his place.
Burlsworth Trophy (Greatest participant who began his profession as a walk-on): LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo Bulls
One could make a robust argument Dolac deserves the Butkus Award as nicely. His 92.2 PFF grade leads all FBS linebackers as do his 5 interceptions and 99 performs the place he made first contact on the ball provider. Dolac’s 21 tackles for loss/no acquire are additionally tied for second amongst all linebackers as nicely.
Joe Moore Award (Greatest Offensive Line): Texas Longhorns
Texas’ offensive line has a 95.2 offensive line grade this yr, six factors larger than some other FBS entrance 5. The Longhorns are additionally sixth amongst Energy 4 offensive strains with an 80.7 run-blocking grade. Their 11.6% strain fee can also be fourth in America. These numbers are much more spectacular contemplating Texas has confronted some elite defensive fronts like Michigan, Oklahoma, Georgia and Texas A&M.
Residence Depot Coach of the 12 months Award (Greatest Coach): HC Curt Cignetti, Indiana Hoosiers
From 2021 to 2023, Indiana had only a 9-27 document. Of their first yr below Cignetti, the Hoosiers are 11-1 and will probably be within the School Soccer Playoff. The previous James Madison coach utterly remade the roster in a single offseason, bringing in 31 new gamers with many turning into key contributors. Indiana was second amongst FBS colleges in offensive grade, defensive grade, offensive EPA per play and defensive EPA per play.
Frank Broyles Award (Greatest Assistant Coach): DC Pete Kwiatkowski, Texas Longhorns
Many thought Texas’ offense must carry a protection that misplaced a pair of celebrity defensive tackles in Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat. As a substitute, it’s been the other. The Longhorns lead the FBS with a 94.6 defensive grade whereas their -0.314 EPA per play determine is well one of the best in America as nicely.
