Big 12 boys add hardware to the trophy case
- Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh
Last night, ESPN hosted the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards. The live show had many football faces from throughout the country, vying for some of the most prestigious awards handed out each college football season. The Big 12 represented themselves well, with both awards-winners and others who were there as nominees.
Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh was most certainly one of the players most decorated on the evening, taking to the stage twice, winning back-to-back honors. He was also recognized for two earlier trophies he has received this post-season. Suh earned recognition as the best defensive player in winning the Chuck Bednarik Award. Moments later, he was called to the stage as the winner of the Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman. Suh was also recognized for winning the Rotary Lombardi Award for best lineman and the Bronko Nagursky Trophy for outstanding defensive player. Suh is also hoping to add one more trophy to the case, when the Heisman is announced this weekend.
Texas quarterback Colt McCoy also made his presence known when he took home the Davey O’Brien Award for best quarterback and the Maxwell Award for best all-around player during the program. McCoy will also be in New York for the Heisman trophy presentation this Saturday, after being runner-up to Sam Bradford for the 2008 trophy.
Other men for the Big 12 Conference were up for various awards, with Texas’ Jordan Shipley (Biletnikoff Award – best receiver *won by Golden Tate, Notre Dame) and Earl Thomas (Jim Thorpe Award – best defensive back *won by Eric Berry, Tennessee) and Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung (Outland Trophy – best interior lineman * won by Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska) being named as finalists for their respective awards.
The 2009 Walter Camp All-America team was also introduced and the Big 12 was well represented on the roster. Colt McCoy was tabbed as the Walter Camp Player of the Year for the second year in a row. McCoy is just the third repeat winner, joining Archie Griffin and O.J. Simpson with this distinct honor.
The first team is dotted with seven men from the conference, with quarterback Colt McCoy (Texas), wide receiver Jordan Shipley (Texas), offensive linemen Russell Okung (OSU) and Trent Williams (OU), defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh (NU) and Gerald McCoy (OU) and defensive back Earl Thomas (Texas) earning recognition.
The second-team also has Big 12 representation, with Missouri’s Danario Alexander and Sean Weatherspoon and Texas A&M’s Von Miller getting tapped for honors.
