DALLAS (FWAA) – Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports is the sixth recipient of the Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award, which is presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America. The award is named after Edward Aschoff, the beloved ESPN college football reporter who died on Christmas Eve in 2019 on his 34th birthday from previously undetected Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in his lungs.
Jeyarajah, 31, a Baylor graduate and 2025 First Vice President of the FWAA, has been a national college football writer for CBS Sports for the past four seasons and has established himself as one of the top voices in the sport on various platforms.
During the 2024 football season, he utilized his deep institutional knowledge of his home state of Texas to contextualize some of the biggest moments in college football, including the return of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry game and emergence of Texans Ashton Jeanty and Cameron Ward as Heisman finalists.
"I am thrilled Shehan is our winner this year," said ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson, the 2024 FWAA President. "Shehan shares so many of the same qualities that made Ed a natural as a sports journalist. Shehan is personable, curious and passionate, and he always stands up for what he believes--whether it is popular or not. Edward did the same, taking immense pride in bringing attention to issues that were challenging or difficult, always unafraid of what others might say. I know Shehan will carry forward the Aschoff legacy with gratitude and honor."
“Ed was a giant in this industry,” Jeyarajah said. “While I never had the privilege of meeting him, I take a lot of inspiration from the way he approached his work, especially his profound ability to connect the dots between the sports we cover and the internal lives of the people who make them. It’s an honor to have my name mentioned beside Ed’s and join an incredibly impressive fraternity of writers and reporters who have won the award. I hope I can do them proud.”
Examples of Jeyarajah's recent work:
Meet Eric Morris, the QB guru who discovered Cam Ward
How college football’s new helmet communication will change the game
Why Texas vs. Texas A&M was a rivalry worth changing conferences
"Shehan is a tireless worker across multiple platforms who knows the college landscape as well as anyone,” said veteran Dennis Dodd, who recently retired from CBS Sports and was a co-worker of Jeyarajah’s. “He lives in a college football hot bed in Dallas but also has a feel for the national picture. His work has shown through. He is a multi-time nominee who reminds me a lot of Ed. Friendly, intelligent, inquisitive and a hell of a writer."
Prior to working for CBS Sports, he worked as college football editor and insider at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine, leading comprehensive coverage of 47 institutions that play college football at all levels. He previously covered Big 12 and SEC football for Cox Media Group and contributed college coverage to the Dallas Morning News.
In addition to his work for CBS Sports, Jeyarajah has a deep passion for supporting young journalists. Inspired by his experiences as a student at Baylor with former FWAA President, the late Tim Griffin, Jeyarajah affirmatively reaches out to early-career writers to express support and offer mentorship. A member of the Asian American Journalists Association, he has helped several journalists of underrepresented backgrounds find success in the industry.
“When I was first trying to enter this industry and unsure of my path, Shehan was one of the first people I talked to,” said FWAA member Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star beat writer for Jayhawk sports. “He was kind, let me tell my whole career story and listened to a college senior yap about his dreams and aspirations. He’s constantly helped younger journalists with their careers whether that’s with advice, constructive feedback or contacts. He never demands anything in return. I know I wouldn’t have gotten this far – especially without a journalism degree – without his help.”
Jeyarajah, who has served on the FWAA’s All-America Team Committee for several years, is a National Board Rep of the Asian American Journalism Texas Chapter and also is an engaged member of the AAJA Sports Task Force.
Last year’s Rising Star recipient Nick Kelly, now of AL.com, was recognized for his outstanding work on the Alabama football beat and coverage in the aftermath of Nick Saban's retirement. Kelly previously worked at the Tuscaloosa News and accepted a writing position with AL.com ahead of the 2024-25 football season.
Other past winners include The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander (2023), Sports Illustrated's Richard Johnson (2022), The Athletic's Grace Raynor (2021) and The Athletic's David Ubben (2020) – the first recipient of the Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award.
Remembering Edward Aschoff
Aschoff graduated from the University of Florida in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. After covering Gators football, basketball and baseball from 2007 to 2011 for The Gainesville Sun, he joined ESPN in 2011 as an SEC reporter and distinguished himself as a rising star.
Aschoff moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to begin a more expanded national role that included television coverage. Over three seasons, he reported from campuses across the country for ESPN.com, SportsCenter, SEC Network and ESPN Radio, and he worked as a television and radio sideline reporter during college football games.
Aschoff inspired us through his storytelling, brightened our lives with his gregarious personality, and uplifted our spirits with his energy. The FWAA hopes to honor his memory and his commitment to aspiring journalists with this award.
"Edward epitomized everything you want in a sports journalist: He knew how to build relationships, to gain trust, to break stories but also to tell stories," said ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson, 2024 FWAA President. "And he did it all with a flair that made you want to watch his television pieces or read his written stories right away. His dogged determination and relentless work ethic allowed him to rise to the top at ESPN, and all his exemplary qualities serve as a model for young journalists everywhere about what truly can be achieved if you go after what you want."
The University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications has established the Edward Aschoff Memorial Fund, which will provide support for students involved in sports journalism.
"Edward was one of our stars – not just because he was so talented as a journalist and storyteller, but also because of everything he did to help people around him. He always had a good word of advice for young journalists, he was always willing to give back, and he always made people smile," said Ted Spiker, chair of the department of journalism at the University of Florida who taught Edward in several classes at UF.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and game-day operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.