Football Writers Association of America News

For the second time in the award’s history, a repeat winner has claimed the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. has once again been chosen as the nation’s top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The Southeastern Conference leader in sacks and tackles for loss will be honored Tuesday night with the award here.

OMAHA (FWAA) – A center on the nation’s fifth-best rushing offense and national title contender, the highest-graded offensive tackle throughout the season and one of the nation’s top pass rushing threats are the three finalists for the 2022 Outland Trophy by the Football Writers Association of America. Calijah Kancey of Pitt, a defensive tackle with 14.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks; Olusegun Oluwatimi, a center who has helped guide Michigan to consecutive Big Ten East division titles, and Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski, a perennial Big Ten stalwart and pro scout favorite, are this season’s superior linemen.

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 13, the weekend of Nov. 26:

The Michigan Wolverines beat arch-rival Ohio State on the road for the first time since 2000 with a 45-23 win in Columbus. In outscoring the Buckeyes 28-3 in the second half and take the Big Ten East Division title for a second consecutive season, Michigan (12-0) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 26, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Bob Stoops Announced As Spurrier Legends Award Recipient; Semfinalists for First-Year Coach Chosen  

Roosevelt University coach Jared Williamson is this week’s nominee for the 2022 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Williamson was seriously injured in a car accident in October, resulting in several broken bones and multiple surgeries.

The South Carolina Gamecocks stunned No. 5 Tennessee with touchdowns on all five of their first-half drives, winning the SEC East battle 63-38 and setting records in the process. For its school-record point total against a top-five opponent and its second-highest ever against an SEC foe, South Carolina (7-4) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 19, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 12, the weekend of Nov. 19

Seven semifinalists for the 77th Outland Trophy – five offensive linemen and two defensive tackles – were announced Wednesday by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. The seven come from different schools within four separate conferences – the Big Ten has four of the seven – and represent all four positions eligible for the award.

Ohio State’s Kamryn Babb is this week’s nominee for the 2022 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Babb, a fifth-year graduate student, played for the first time since the 2020 season Saturday vs. Indiana, caught his first collegiate pass and scored his first career touchdown after undergoing four different knee surgeries.

Four finalists for the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, one of them last year’s winner, another representing the top team in the current College Football Playoff rankings and two of the nation’s premier defensive linemen were named Wednesday by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club as candidates for the award honoring the nation’s top defensive player. One finalist’s team has already clinched a spot in his conference championship game and another can clinch a spot with a win on Saturday. 

The Washington Huskies snapped No. 6 Oregon’s eight-game win steak as Peyton Henry kicked a 43-yard field goal with 51 seconds left, keeping the Huskies in Pac-12 title contention with a gritty 37-34 win in Eugene, Ore. For beating a ranked Oregon team for the first time in 13 games since 2002 in the divisional rivalry, Washington (8-2) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 12, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 11, the weekend of Nov. 12:

The Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation has been selected as the 11th recipient of the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

North Carolina’s Tylee Craft is this week’s nominee for the 2022 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Craft, a junior wide receiver, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer earlier this year but has been heavily involved with the football program while sharing his journey with the public to raise awareness for the disease.

Jaylan Ford had a hand in three Texas takeaways and a team-leading 10 tackles to lead the Texas defense in a 34-27 win at No. 13 Kansas State. For an interception and a fumble recovery that sealed the win in the final minute, Ford earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Nov. 5, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had two 100-yard rushers, held Clemson scoreless in the first half for the first time in three seasons and scored on special teams in dominating the No. 5 Tigers, 35-14, in South Bend. For posting its third straight win this season and its 27th straight regular-season win against Atlantic Coast Conference foes, Notre Dame (6-3) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 5, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 10, the weekend of Nov. 5:

DALLAS (FWAA) – Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau notched one of the most dominant games for a defensive lineman in recent seasons Saturday in Ohio State’s 44-31 win at Penn State. Tuimoloau had six tackles, three for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and a pass breakup, forced a fumble and recovered another one as the Buckeyes rallied to stay perfect in Big Ten play. For forcing or gaining four takeaways that led to 21 Ohio State points, Tuimoloau earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 29, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 9, the weekend of Oct. 29: