Award To Honor Exemplary Leadership By A College Player

DALLAS (Oct. 22, 2024) – The semifinalists for the eighth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year were announced today, a group that includes 20 of the nation’s top leaders in college football.

Compiled by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee, the semifinalists have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.

Nineteen seniors and one junior make up the list. Among conferences, the SEC led the way with six selections, while the Mountain West had four. The Big Ten had three selections, while the ACC, American Athletic Conference and Big 12 had two each. The Pac-12 had one semifinalist.

The full list of semifinalists includes: Justin Barron (Syracuse), Dylan Black (Oregon State), Brady Cook (Missouri), Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati), Ajani Cornelius (Oregon), Luke Deal (Auburn), Jacob Gardner (Colorado State), Ahmed Hassanein (Boise State), Seth Henigan (Memphis), Isaiah Jacobs (UAB), Jake Majors (Texas), Bru McCoy (Tennessee), Devin Neal (Kansas), Kaimon Rucker (North Carolina), Cody Simon (Ohio State), Logan Taylor (Hawai’i), Dante Trader, Jr. (Maryland), Jalon Walker (Georgia), J.J. Weaver (Kentucky) and Jackson Woodard (UNLV).

Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, December 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 12, 2025.

Last year, Mike Hollins of Virginia won the seventh annual award. The first six Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year awards were presented to Shaquem Griffin of UCF in 2017, D’Cota Dixon of Wisconsin in 2018, Trey Smith of Tennessee in 2019, Sam Ehlinger of Texas in 2020, Joshua Paschal of Kentucky in 2021 and Deslin Alexandre of Pittsburgh in 2022.

The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player’s leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport, served as one of football’s most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.

“I’m honored to announce the semifinalists for the Collegiate Man of the Year,” said Witten. “These twenty young men perfect examples of what makes college football so great. They have all demonstrated exceptional leadership and character, often while overcoming large challenges. They are great representatives for their schools and the game of football, and I commend all nominees for getting to this point.”

The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school’s athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle. The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 16 years. The foundation operates its nationally-recognized SCOREkeepers program, which places trained male mentors on staff to work with children at family violence shelters, at nine shelters in the two states.

2024 JASON WITTEN COLLEGIATE MAN OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALISTS

Justin Barron, Syracuse (Sr., DB) – A first-team Phil Steele Preseason All-American, Barron ranks 13th all-time in tackles for the Orangemen. The 2023 ACC All-Academic Team member and three-time selection to the ACC Honor Roll originally came to Syracuse as a receiver but made the move to defensive back and overcame a broken hand last season to become Honorable Mention All-ACC while not missing any time due to the injury. He is heavily involved in the community in Syracuse, where he has raised more than $3,000 for charitable causes through an NIL promotion with a local smoothie shop.

Dylan Black, Oregon State (Sr., LS) – One of the nation’s top long snappers, Black is currently in remission after undergoing treatment for cancer, and still shows up every day and continues to put in as much work as he can while supporting his teammates. A two-time member of the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, Black is an excellent student who has already earned an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences. Off the field, he has participated in Beavers Without Borders, where he went overseas to help build a home for a family in need.

Brady Cook, Missouri (Sr., QB) – Only the fifth three-time captain in team history, Cook was on preseason watch lists for nearly every national quarterback award. He was a semifinalist for the Willia¬¬m V. Campbell Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award last season, when he also earned MVP honors for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl. He has already earned undergraduate and master’s degrees at Mizzou and was named the 2023 SEC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Cook overcame injuries and a quarterback controversy to become the Tigers’ unquestioned leader. That also extends to the community where he recently teamed with a local law firm to provide new back-to-school shoes for Columbia students.

Dontay Corleone , Cincinnati (Jr., DT) – Corleone was chosen as an Athlon Sports Preseason All-American and was named to the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy watch lists. A two-time captain, he was named second-team All-Big 12 in 2023. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and underwent treatment before returning to action a few weeks ago. During his recovery, he served as a mentor and role model to younger players, and he has been a regular community volunteer in his hometown of Cincinnati. He was also named to the 2023 Big 12 Fall All-Academic Team.

Ajani Cornelius, Oregon (Sr., OL) – A preseason All-American selection by several media outlets, Cornelius is one of the nation’s top offensive tackles, despite being lightly recruited coming out of high school. Now in his second season with the Ducks, he has emerged as a leader not only for the offensive line but for the team as a whole, both on the field and off if it. Hailing from Harlem, NY, he organized a “Back 2 School Jamboree” this Summer for young players on the Harlem Jets, the youth football team he got his start with. Kids received book bags, school supplies, and a chance to see Cornelius as an example of what is possible.

Luke Deal, Auburn (Sr., TE) – A two-time captain for the Tigers, Deal is also the team’s leader in the community, where he regularly volunteers with Project 412, an organization that provides home repairs to those in need, as well at events like school supply distributions, food giveaways and Holiday toy drives. Deal’s father passed away from ALS in 2022, one year after being diagnosed, and he helps other families going through similar circumstances. He has already earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from Auburn.

Jacob Gardner, Colorado State (Sr., OL) – A captain for the third consecutive season, Gardner has started every game he has ever played, both at CSU and at Nevada where he played previously. Gardner helped the Rams complete one of the greatest turnarounds in college football last season, giving up only 14 sacks on the season after having allowed 59 the year prior. He earned second-team All-Mountain West honors last season and is the most experienced player in the entire conference. Currently working on completing his second bachelor’s degree, Gardner is also active with the Boys and Girls Club.

Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State (Sr., DE) – Named to several preseason All-American teams prior to this season, Hassanein was also tabbed as the preseason co-defensive player of the year in the Mountain West. He was selected as a second-team Academic All-American last season. Hassanein was born in Cairo, Egypt, where he spent the first 16 years of his life. As a teenager, he moved to the United States, but did not speak English or have any football experience. He is now fluent in English and an all-conference defensive end who averages more than a sack a game. He regularly volunteers at local schools, juvenile detention centers and rescue missions, working to provide inspiration to youth members of the community.

Seth Henigan, Memphis (Sr., QB) – Henigan is a four-year starter who was selected to the All-American Athletic Conference second team last season and has thrown for more than 12,000 yards in a very successful career for the Tigers. A two-time Academic All-AAC selection, Henigan has already earned his undergraduate degree. He has assumed the role of team leader since becoming the first-ever freshman quarterback to win the starting job four seasons ago, and he has logged countless community service hours at various initiatives around the city of Memphis.

Isaiah Jacobs, UAB (Sr., RB) – The Blazers’ two-time captain and co-starter at running back, Jacobs was named to the 2023-24 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. Jacobs overcame homelessness as a child and also bounced back from a season-ending ACL injury last season. His greatest passion is serving others, and so far this season he has logged more than 30 community service hours with 13 different organizations.

Jake Majors, Texas (Sr., C) – The experienced leader on the top-ranked Longhorns’ offensive front, Majors has started 48 games in his career, is a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s Campbell Trophy and is on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation’s top center. As a group, the Texas offensive line is on this year’s Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll after having been a semifinalist for the award last year. Majors was also a second-team Academic All-American last season and was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection. Majors is a member of the Texas’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years and an active member of the Silver Spurs, which is an honorary service organization that seeks to provide a transformative learning experience that empowers students to become agents of positive change in their communities.

Bru McCoy, Tennessee (Sr., WR) – The veteran leader of the Vols’ wide receiver corps, McCoy has played in 29 games with 26 starts. McCoy’s determination to return from a gruesome ankle fracture-dislocation last season has inspired his teammates, and countless others as he made the return to the field this year. Already a graduate, McCoy has also used his platform to benefit others in need through his “Huddle for Hearts” initiative, which has helped provide youth athletic organizations with AEDs (automated external defibrillator), a medical device designed to save those experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Devin Neal, Kansas (Sr., RB) – A preseason All-American, Neal was a second-team All-Big 12 selection last season. A native of Lawrence, Kansas, Neal has been one of the building blocks for his hometown Jayhawks, helping lead them into back-to-back bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023 for just the second time in program history. The program has excelled because of his leadership, and his off-the-field presence is equally impactful. Over the past year, he has helped put together a back-to-school supply drive as well as a winter coat and toy drive for kids in Lawrence.

Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina (Sr., DE) – A second-team All-ACC performer in 2023, Rucker is on the watch lists for the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards, and he is the leader of UNC’s defensive unit. He is a true standout in the community as well, where he provided personal hygiene items from his personal funds for fifth graders at his old elementary school who are experiencing physical changes to their bodies. He conducted a seminar with the fifth graders, primarily males, in an effort to educate them on this phase of their life. Rucker already earned his undergrad degree and is currently pursuing his master’s.

Cody Simon, Ohio State (Sr., LB) – Ohio State’s most experienced linebacker, Simon has registered more than 160 tackles over his career for the Buckeyes. A 2023, Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar, he has been named Academic All-Big Ten three years in a row. Not only is he a team captain, but he was selected by the coaching staff to wear the Block O jersey in 2024, an honor that is among the highest in Ohio State’s program. Simon regularly makes hospital visits on the Fridays before home games and reads to elementary school-aged children.

Logan Taylor, Hawai’i (Sr., LB) – A two-time captain, Taylor was the team’s leading tackler in 2022 and was primed for a breakout season in 2023 until suffering a season-ending knee injury in the third game of the season. His return to the field, as well as his strong faith and excellence in the classroom has made him the team’s unquestioned leader. Taylor is a three-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete and two-time academic all-conference honoree. He recently became a campus missionary at UH and he occasionally preaches Sunday services at his church in Honolulu.

Dante Trader, Jr., Maryland (Sr., S) – A Phil Steele preseason All-Big Ten selection, Trader has been among the Terps’ leading tacklers each of the last three seasons, while also earning All-American honors on Maryland’s lacrosse team. A 2023 CSC Academic All-District member, Trader helped organize and lead the One Speed Backpack Drive last year, raising over $10,000 for it and supplying over 200 fully-loaded backpacks. He also co-hosts a podcast discussing topics outside of football like mental health and the challenges that come with being a student-athlete.

Jalon Walker, Georgia (Jr., LB) – Walker has played in all 36 games since the 2022 season and has five starts this year, helping the No. 2 Bulldogs compile a 34-2 record over that three-year stretch including the 2022 national championship. He made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (3.0 or higher term GPA) in Spring ’22 and Spring ’24. Walker is a member of the SEC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition, he was selected for the second year in a row to be one of four SEC student-athlete voices in the Just Means More SEC ads. Off the field, he regularly goes to local schools and reads to children.

J.J. Weaver, Kentucky (Sr., LB) – Weaver is a four-year letterwinner and a standout linebacker for the Cats and a member of the Wuerffel Trophy and Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch Lists. Elected as a captain in three straight seasons by his teammates, Weaver overcame a torn ACL as a freshman then the sudden loss of both his father and his beloved high school coach a year later. His strong will to return established him as a leader, and he has become an advocate for mental health and grief counseling. He has established a foundation that has organized a bike drive and a back-to-school event in his hometown of Louisville. Last year, he launched a peer-led, first-of-its-kind grief counseling group on UK’s campus.

Jackson Woodard, UNLV (Sr., LB) – The 2024 Preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, Woodard had an all-conference season last year in leading UNLV to its most wins since 1984, including leading the Rebels to a bowl game for the first time in a decade. A two-time captain, Woodard became UNLV football’s first-ever First Team Academic All-America last year from CSC, and he is UNLV’s 2024 nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy and AFCA Good Works Team. He hosted a free football camp in his home state of Arkansas this Summer and has also helped build beds for children in need.