College Football
Every Major College Football Award: From Heisman to Bednarik

In 2019, more than 20 awards were distributed to the best college football players leading into and throughout the bowl season. We’ve compiled a list of every major college football award from Heisman to Bednarik, in alphabetical order.
Biletnikoff Award
- It honors the Top Receiver.
- It was founded in 1994 by Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.
- The first recipient was Bobby Engram, Penn State (1994)
- The 2019 winner was Ja’Marr Chase, LSU.
Bronko Nagurski Award
- It honors the best Defensive Player.
- It was founded in 1993 by Charlotte Touchdown Club and Football Writers Association of America.
- The first recipient was Rob Waldrop, Arizona (1993).
- The 2019 winner was Chase Young, Ohio State.
Broyles Award
- It honors the best Assistant Coach, selected by 1,500 coaches representing all FBS programs.
- It was founded in 1996 by Downtown Rotary Club in Little Rock, Arkansas.
- The first recipient was Mickey Andrews, Florida State (1996).
- The 2019 winner was Joe Brady, LSU.
Burlsworth Trophy
- It honors the nation’s most outstanding player who began college career as a walk-on.
- It was founded in 2010 by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation.
- The first recipient was Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech (2010).
- The 2019 winner was Kenny Willekes, Michigan State.
Butkus Award
- It honors the Best Linebacker.
- It was founded in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando.
- The first recipient was Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma (1985).
- The 2019 winner was Isaiah Simmons, Clemson.
Chuck Bednarik Award
- It honors the Defensive Player of the Year.
- It was founded in 1995 by Maxwell Football Club.
- The first recipient was Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern (1995).
- The 2019 winner was Chase Young, Ohio State.
Davey O’Brien Award
- It honors the Best Quarterback.
- It was founded in 1977 by Davey O’Brien Foundation and became a quarterback-only award in 1981.
- The first recipient was Earl Campbell, Texas (1977).
- The 2019 winner was Joe Burrow, LSU.
Doak Walker Award
- It honors the Best Running Back.
- It was founded in 1990 by Southern Methodist University.
- The first recipient was Greg Lewis, Washington (1990).
- The 2019 winner was Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin.
The Dodd Trophy
- It honors the FBS football coach whose program represents three pillars of success.
- It was founded in 1976 and is presented annually by Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
- The first recipient was Vince Dooley, Georgia (1976).
- The 2019 winner was Kyle Whittingham, Utah.
Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award
- It honors the most inspirational individual or team.
- It was founded in 1996.
- The first recipient was Daniel Huffman, a high school student who gave up his college football career to donate his kidney to his grandmother (1996).
- The 2019 winner was Casey O’Brien, Minnesota.
Eddie Robinson Award
- It honors the best coach.
- It was founded in 1957 by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
- The first recipient was Woody Hayes, Ohio State (1957).
- The 2019 winner was Ed Orgeron, LSU.
Heisman Trophy
- It honors the Most Outstanding Player.
- It was founded in 1935 by Downtown Athletic Club.
- The first recipient was Jay Berwanger, Chicago (1935).
- The 2019 winner was Joe Burrow, LSU.
Home Depot Coach of the Year Award
- It honors the Coach of the Year, selected by ESPN and ABC college football analysts.
- It was founded in 1994.
- The first recipient was Bobby Bowden, Florida State (1994).
- The 2019 winner was Ed Orgeron, LSU.
Jim Thorpe Award
- It honors the Best Defensive Back.
- It was founded in 1986 by Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
- The first recipient was Thomas Everett, Baylor (1986).
- The 2019 winner was Grant Delpit, LSU.
John Mackey Award
- It honors the Best Tight End.
- It was founded in 2000 by Nassau County Sports Commission.
- The first recipient was Tim Stratton, Purdue (2000).
- The 2019 winner was Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic.
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
- It honors the Outstanding Senior or Fourth-Year Quarterback.
- It was founded in 1987 by the Golden Arm Foundation.
- The first recipient was Don McPherson, Syracuse (1987).
- The 2019 winner was Joe Burrow, LSU.
Lombardi Award
- It honors the Best Lineman or Linebacker.
- It was founded in 1970 by Rotary International in Houston.
- The first recipient was Jim Stillwagon, Ohio State (1970).
- The 2019 winner was Joe Burrow, LSU.
Lott IMPACT Trophy
- It honors the Defensive IMPACT (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity) Player of the Year.
- It was founded in 2004 by Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.
- The first recipient was David Pollack, Georgia (2004).
- The 2019 winner was Derrick Brown, Auburn.

Lou Groza Award
- It honors the Best Placekicker.
- It was founded in 1992 by Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
- The first recipient was Joe Allison, Memphis (1992).
- The 2019 winner was Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia.
Maxwell Award
- It honors the Player of the Year.
- It was founded in 1937 by Maxwell Football Club.
- The first recipient was Clint Frank, Yale (1937).
- The 2019 winner was Joe Burrow, LSU.
Outland Trophy
- It honors the Best Interior Lineman.
- It was founded in 1946 by the Football Writers Association of America.
- The first recipient was George Connor, Notre Dame (1946).
- The 2019 winner was Penei Sewell, Oregon.
Paul Hornung Award
- It honors the Most Versatile Player.
- It was founded in 2010 by Louisville Sports Commission.
- The first recipient was Owen Marecic, Stanford (2010).
- The 2019 winner was Lynn Bowden Jr.
Ray Guy Award
- It honors the Best Punter.
- It was founded in 2000 by Greater August Sports Council.
- The first recipient was Kevin Stemke, Wisconsin (2000).
- The 2019 winner was Max Duffy, Kentucky.
Rimington Trophy
- It honors the Best Center.
- It was founded in 2000 by Boomer Esiason Foundation.
- The first recipient was Dominic Raiola, Nebraska (2000).
- The 2019 winner was Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin.
Ted Hendricks Award
- It honors the Best Defensive End.
- It was founded in 2002 by Ted Hendricks Foundation.
- The first recipient was Terrell Suggs, Arizona State (2002).
- The 2019 winner was Chase Young, Ohio State.
Walter Camp Award
- It honors the Player of the Year.
- It was founded in 1967 by Walter Camp Football Foundation.
- The first recipient was O.J. Simpson, USC (1967).
- The 2019 winner was Joe Burrow, LSU.
William V. Campbell Trophy
- It honors the Best Student-Athlete.
- It was founded in 1990 by the National Football Foundation.
- The first recipient was Chris Howard, Air Force (1990).
- The 2019 winner was Justin Herbert, Oregon.
Wuerffel Trophy
- It honors the Player “who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement”.
- It was founded in 2005 by All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach.
- The first recipient was Rudy Niswanger, LSU (2005).
- The 2019 winner was Jon Wassink, Western Michigan.