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As Alabama prepares for Monday’s national championship game, several Crimson Tide players were honored with individual awards Thursday at the Home Depot College Football Awards.
As expected, Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith took home the Fred Biletnikoff Award (top receiver), while quarterback Mac Jones (Davey O’Brien), left tackle Alex Leatherwood (Outland) and running back Najee Harris (Doak Walker) were also honored for their exceptional seasons.
Here is the list of individual awards whose winners were announced on Thursday:
Davey O’Brien Award: An Associated Press All-American first team, Jones threw for 4,036 yards with 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, who finished ahead of Jones in the Heisman Trophy vote, and Florida’s Kyle Trask were also finalists.
Fred Biletnikoff Prize: It was fitting that Smith, who was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard won it while playing for Michigan in 1991, also won the Biletnikoff. The other two finalists, Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore and Kyle Pitts of Florida, were also finalists. Smith caught 105 passes for 1,641 yards with 20 touchdowns with the championship game yet to be played.
Doak Walker Prize: Harris racked up 1,387 yards (6.1 yards per carry) with 24 of the nation’s best touchdowns. He’s added 303 yards in Alabama’s last two wins, over Florida in the SEC Championship (178) and Notre Dame in the college football playoff semifinals (125). Breece Hall of Iowa State, the nation’s leader, and Travis Etienne of Clemson were also finalists.
Outland Trophy: Leatherwood is the third Crimson Tide member to win Outland since 2016, joining Quinnen Williams (2018) and Cam Robinson (2016). One of the NFL’s top left tackle prospects, Leatherwood defeated Liam Eichenberg of Notre Dame and Daviyon Nixon of Iowa. Last season’s winner, Penei Sewell of Oregon, retired ahead of the season.
Chuck Bednarik Prize: Zaven Collins of Tulsa won the nation’s best defensive player award ahead of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah of Notre Dame and Patrick Surtain II of Alabama. In eight games, Collins finished with 53 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks and four interceptions. Collins also received the Bronko Nagurski Award two weeks ago.
Lou Groza Prize: Miami’s Jose Borregales was named the nation’s top kicker after an almost perfect season. He converted 20 of 22 field goals – including 2 of 2 from over 50 yards – and converted the 37 extra point attempts. Will Reichard and BYU Jake Oldroyd of Alabama were the other finalists.
Ray Guy Prize: Georgia Tech’s Pressley Harvin III made history as the first African American to win the award, awarded to the country’s top punter. He’s averaging 48.0 yards per punt and 18 of his 45 punters have been down inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He beat Jake Camarda of Georgia and Lou Hedley of Miami.
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