Ten players from the ACC are on the watch list for the National Man of the Year award. The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year panel has released it first list of the 2024 process and 10 ACC players have made the cut.
The Award
The award, named after the former Dallas Cowboys tight end, is designed to focus primarily on a player’s leadership skills on and off the field. Statistics play only a minor role in the consideration, according to the SCORE Foundation, Witten’s organization in charge of the award.
When Witten was with the Cowboys, he became the first player ever to win the Bart Starr Award and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in the same season, (2012).
ACC Nominees
The ACC players on the watchlist are:
Fernando Mendoza, Cal, Quarterback
Phil Mafah, Clemson, Running back
Kevin Knowles II, Florida State, Defensive back
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina, Edge Rusher
Brandon Cleveland, NC State, Defensive tackle
Brandon George, Pitt, Linebacker
Tristan Sinclair, Stanford, Linebacker
Justin Barron, Syracuse, Defensive back
Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech, Wide receiver
Taylor Morin, Wake Forest, Wide receiver
The Process
There are 50 players on this first list of nominees. The last two winners of the award have come from the ACC. Running back Mike Hollins from Virginia won it in 2023. Deslin Alexandre, the defensive end from Pitt won it in 2022. This will be the eighth year the award is presented. The winner will get a $10,000 contribution made in his name to his school’s athletic scholarship fund.
The watch list will be pared down to 20 semifinalists that will be announced on Tuesday, October 22. 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 Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
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