College Football Awards 2024: Hunter and Jeanty lead winners; Full results, reaction | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors
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College Football Awards 2024: Hunter and Jeanty lead winners; Full results, reaction | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 29: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates after a score in the third quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field on November 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

The College Football Awards took place Thursday night, with most of the top honors outside of the Heisman Trophy presented at the annual event.

Below we’ll break down the full results and reactions from the evening (spoiler alert: Travis Hunter cleaned up).

Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year)

winner: Travis Hunter, Colorado

Second: Abdul Carter, Penn State; Caleb Downs, Ohio State

It’s hard to ignore that Hunter is considered the best defensive player in the game, is likely to win the Heisman Trophy and…wasn’t even a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back.

However, fans were divided on the question of whether he should have won the Bednarik:

Nuggets Nation @nuggetsfan4ever

It was a shame that Travis Hunter was rejected for the Thorpe Award

Mac @Bigmacsmackers

I have a question for all the people who said Travis Hunter isn’t even one of the best cornerbacks in CFB…then how did he win DPOY? 🤡s

Cory Giger @Cory Giger

Travis Hunter will win the Heisman. As it should be, as the most versatile player in the country.
But he is by no means the best defensive player in the country. This is just crazy talk.

Gedeon @everyo03

Travis Hunter didn’t even lead college football in picks, but he was named Defensive Player of the Year

Gedeon @everyo03

As much as I love Travis Hunter’s game, he doesn’t deserve the Defensive Player of the Year award

Snyds ✨️〽️ @ChopChop570

Giving Travis Hunter the Heisman because he plays both ways is one thing. Giving him the Bednarik Award is a nasty, nasty job. We can’t make all these awards a joke, man.

Tea Hennee @TeaHennee

If Travis Hunter isn’t the best defensive player, who is?

Either way, Hunter had a lucrative day at the College Football Awards on Thursday night.

Biletnikoff Award (Outstanding Recipient)

winner: Travis Hunter, Colorado

Second: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona; Nick Nash, San Jose State

When Hunter won the Biletnikoff Award – despite having fewer receiving yards than McMillan and Nash and fewer receptions and receiving touchdowns than Nash – some fans were already fed up:

Tommy Bahama @tommybahama3005

Travis Hunter is a great football player, but come on, guys

Austen @Akkonz16

Does anyone else think that Travis Hunter winning the Biletnikoff invalidates this award for the foreseeable future?

frank @sdot8888

Lol Travis Hunter who won the Bilitnekoff Prize is so stupid.

Nick Amatulli @nick_ama22

Did Travis Hunter just win the Biletnikoff? What are we doing there?

Kevin Flaherty @KFlahertyKCSN

If Travis Hunter truly was the best defensive player in the country (Bednarik winner) and best wide receiver in the country (Biletnikoff), the Heisman vote shouldn’t be close.

Nonetheless, it was a historic evening for Hunter.

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award (Outstanding Placekicker)

winner: Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana

Second: Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State; Alex Raynor, Kentucky

Ray Guy Award (Punter of the Year)

winner: Eddie Czaplicki, USC

Second: Alex Mastromanno, Florida State; Brett Thorson, Georgia

Maxwell Award (Player of the Year)

winner: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Second: Travis Hunter, Colorado; Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

Hunter remains the prohibitive favorite for the Heisman, but Jeanty nabbing the Maxwell certainly adds to the intrigue. There is no doubt who the two best players in college football were this season.

Aiden Petterson @AidenPetterson

Jay is spot on.
Winning the Maxwell makes me more hopeful for Jeanty’s Heisman chances on Saturday.
I’m curious to see if this win changes Vegas’ odds in any way. https://t.co/XSVDDc4MuN

🏄🏾‍♂️ @ReyZach_

They gave Jeanty the Maxwell Award as the Constellation Prize because they knew he wouldn’t win the Heisman Trophy

Lou @lou3o0x

Giving Jeanty the Maxwell Award is crazy…. Trav should have swept everything…

💯 @billyr09

You got that right… Congrats to Jeanty, that gives me hope that he wins the Heisman, but that could be a smokescreen. I was surprised about that after Hunter got Fred and Chuck

Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (Best Quarterback)

Second: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon; Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

This was one of the more difficult races considering all three players had excellent seasons. But Ward’s totals – 4,123 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 67.4 completion percentage, four rushing touchdowns – were hard to ignore.

Outland Trophy (Most Outstanding Interior Lineman)

winner: Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Second: Mason Graham, Michigan; Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defender)

winner: Jahdae Barron, Texas

Second: Caleb Downs, Ohio State; Malaki Starks, Georgia

Doak Walker Award (Premier Running Back)

winner: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Second: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina; Caleb Johnson, Iowa

This was one of the most obvious decisions of the evening. Jeanty’s 2,497 rushing yards led the FBS with over 800 yards, and his 29 rushing touchdowns were tied nationally with Army’s Bryson Daily.

Fletch 🏈🇬🇧 @LionsGuyFletch

Ashton Jeanty wins the Doak Award?
*feigns to be shocked*

Hampton and Johnson were excellent, but anyone else to receive this award would have been a joke.

John Mackey Award (Outstanding Tight End)

winner: Tyler Warren, Penn State

Runners-up: Colston Loveland, Michigan; Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green

Butkus Award (Best Linebacker)

winner: Jalon Walker, Georgia

Second: Barrett Carter, Clemson; Chris Paul, Mississippi; Carson Schwesinger, UCLA; Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player)

winner: Kyle Kennard, South Carolina

Second: Jahdae Barron, Texas; Adbul Carter, Penn State; Mason Graham, Michigan

Daniel Gallen @danieljtgallen

Abdul Carter went 0-fer as a finalist for the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Nagurski Trophy. He had 19.5 tackles for loss (No. 3 nationally) and 10 sacks (T-No. 12).
He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the conference and the Associated Press. https://t.co/ati91qDgRg

Rimington Trophy (Premier Center)

winner: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State

Second: Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan; Cooper Mays, Tennessee

Walter Camp Player of the Year

winner: Travis Hunter, Colorado

Second: Cam Ward, Miami; Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Ho-hum – just another accolade for Hunter. Next up is the Heisman Trophy.

Home Depot Trainer of the Year

winner: Curt Cignetti, Indiana

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