I thought it would be interesting for all to see the list of college awards that are handed out every year and whom they have been awarded to for the past 10 years. Below are the results along with the total number of players from that list who have been selected to at least 1 pro-bowl (an imperfect metric I know but just to put in basic perspective of quality of the award).
Heisman Memorial Trophy (Outstanding Player):
2015: Derrick Henry
2014: Marcus Mariota
2013: Jameis Winston
2012: Johnny Manziel
2011: Robert Griffin III
2010: Cam Newton
2009: Mark Ingram
2008: Sam Bradford
2007: Tim Tebow
2006: Troy Smith
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 3 (Winston, Griffin, Newton)
Maxwell Award (Outstanding player):
2015: Derrick Henry
2014: Marcus Mariota
2013: AJ McCarron
2012: Manti Te'o
2011: Andrew Luck
2010: Cam Newton
2009: Colt McCoy
2008: Tim Tebow
2007: Tim Tebow
2006: Brady Quinn
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 2 (Luck, Newton)
Walter Camp Award (Player of the Year Award):
2015: Derrick Henry
2014: Marcus Mariota
2013: Jameis Winston
2012: Manti Te'o
2011: Andrew Luck
2010: Cam Newton
2009: Colt McCoy
2008: Colt McCoy
2007: Darren McFadden
2006: Troy Smith
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 3 (Winston, Luck, Newton)
Doak Walker Award (Best RB):
2015: Derrick Henry
2014: Melvin Gordon
2013: Andre Williams
2012: Montee Ball
2011: Trent Richardson
2010: LaMichael James
2009: Toby Gerhart
2008: Shonn Greene
2007: Darren McFadden
2006: Darren McFadden
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 0
Davey O'Brien Award (National QB Award):
2015: Deshaun Watson
2014: Marcus Mariota
2013: Jameis Winston
2012: Johnny Manziel
2011: Robert Griffin III
2010: Cam Newton
2009: Colt McCoy
2008: Sam Bradford
2007: Tim Tebow
2006: Troy Smith
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 3 (Winston, Griffin, Newton)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Outstanding Senior QB):
2015: Connor Cook
2014: Marcus Mariota
2013: AJ McCarron
2012: Collin Klein
2011: Andrew Luck
2010: Scott Tolzien
2009: Colt McCoy
2008: Graham Harrell
2007: Matt Ryan
2006: Brady Quinn
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 2 (Luck, Ryan)
Fred Biletnikoff Award (Outstanding WR):
2015: Corey Coleman
2014: Amari Cooper
2013: Brandin Cooks
2012: Marquise Lee
2011: Justin Blackmon
2010: Justin Blackmon
2009: Golden Tate
2008: Michael Crabtree
2007: Michael Crabtree
2006: Calvin Johnson
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 2 (Cooper, Johnson)
John Mackey Award (Outstanding TE):
2015: Hunter Henry
2014: Nick O'Leary
2013: Austin Seferian-Jenkins
2012: Tyler Eifert
2011: Dwayne Allen
2010: D.J. Williams
2009: Aaron Hernandez
2008: Chase Coffman
2007: Fred Davis
2006: Matt Spaeth
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 2 (Eifert, Hernandez - alternate)
Outland Trophy (Outstanding Interior Lineman):
2015: Joshua Garnett
2014: Brandon Scherff
2013: Aaron Donald
2012: Luke Joeckel
2011: Barrett Jones
2010: Gabe Carimi
2009: Ndamukong Suh
2008: Andre Smith
2007: Glenn Dorsey
2006: Joe Thomas
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 3 (Donald, Suh, Thomas)
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award (Outstanding Lineman):
2015: Carl Nassib
2014: Scooby Wright III
2013: Aaron Donald
2012: Manti Te'o
2011: Luke Kuechly
2010: Nick Fairley
2009: Ndamukong Suh
2008: Brian Orakpo
2007: Glenn Dorsey
2006: Lamarr Woodley
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 6 (Donald, Kuechly, Fairley - alternate, Suh, Orakpo, Woodley)
Rimington Trophy (Outstanding Center):
2015: Reese Dismukes
2014: Bryan Stork
2013: Barrett Jones
2012: David Molk
2011: Jake Kirkpatrick
2010: Maurkice Pouncey
2009: A.Q. Shipley
2008: Jonathon Luigs
2007: Dan Mozes
2006: Greg Eslinger
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 1 (Pouncey)
Chuck Bednarik Award (DPOY):
2015: Tyler Matakevich
2014: Scooby Wright III
2013: Aaron Donald
2012: Manti Te'o
2011: Tyrann Mathieu
2010: Patrick Peterson
2009: Ndamukong Suh
2008: Rey Maualuga
2007: Dan Conner
2006: Paul Posluzny
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 5 (Donald, Mathieu, Peterson, Suh, Posluzny)
Bronko Nagurski Award (DPOY):
2015: Tyler Matakevich
2014: Scooby Wright III
2013: Aaron Donald
2012: Manti Te'o
2011: Luke Kuechly
2010: Da'Quan Bowers
2009: Ndamukong Suh
2008: Brian Orakpo
2007: Glenn Dorsey
2006: James Laurinaitis
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 4 (Donald, Kuechly, Suh, Orakpo)
Dick Butkus Award (Outstanding LB):
2015: Jaylon Smith
2014: Eric Kendricks
2013: C.J. Mosley
2012: Manti Te'o
2011: Luke Kuechly
2010: Von Miller
2009: Rolando McClain
2008: Aaron Curry
2007: James Laurinaitis
2006: Patrick Willis
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 4 (Mosley, Kuechly, Miller, Willis)
Jim Thorpe Award (Outstanding DB):
2015: Desmond King
2014: Gerod Holliman
2013: Darqueze Dennard
2012: Jonathan Banks
2011: Morris Claiborne
2010: Patrick Peterson
2009: Eric Berry
2008: Malcolm Jenkins
2007: Antoine Cason
2006: Aaron Ross
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 3 (Peterson, Berry, Jenkins)
Lou Groza Award (Outstanding PK):
2015: Ka'imi Fairbairn
2014: Brad Craddock
2013: Roberto Aguayo
2012: Cairo Santos
2011: Randy Bullock
2010: Dan Bailey
2009: Kai Forbath
2008: Graham Gano
2007: Thomas Weber
2006: Arthur Carmody
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 1 (Bailey)
Ray Guy Award (Outstanding Punter):
2015: Tom Hackett
2014: Tom Hackett
2013: Tom Hornsey
2012: Ryan Allen
2011: Ryan Allen
2010: Chris Henry
2009: Drew Butler
2008: Matt Fodge
2007: Durant Brooks
2006: Daniel Sepulveda
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 0
Ted Hendricks Award (Outstanding DE):
2015: Carl Nassib
2014: Nate Orchard
2013: Jackson Jeffcoat
2012: Jadeveon Clowney
2011: Whitney Mercilus
2010: Da'quan Bowers
2009: Jerry Hughes
2008: Brian Orakpo
2007: Chris Long
2006: Lamarr Woodley
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 3 (Orakpo, Long, Woodley)
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Outstanding Defensive Player):
2015: Carl Nassib
2014: Eric Kendricks
2013: Anthony Barr
2012: Manti Te'o
2011: Luke Kuechly
2010: J.J. Watt
2009: Jerry Hughes
2008: James Laurinaitis
2007: Glenn Dorsey
2006: Daymien Hughes
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 3 (Barr, Kuechly, Watt)
Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Player):
2015: Christian McCaffrey
2014: Shaq Thompson
2013: Odell Beckham Jr.
2012: Tavon Austin
2011: Brandon Boykin
2010: Owen Marecic
2009: N/A
2008: N/A
2007: N/A
2006: N/A
Pro Bowl Nominated Players: 2 (Beckham, Austin - alternate)
Conclusion
There are way too many college awards given to the same people year after year. It is so redundant I honestly just don't understand what the point of having multiple player of the year awards is if you give them to the same person more than 50% of the time. With that said, I am not surprised that Heisman winners normally don't pan out in the NFL - but I am impressed by the DPOY award (Nagurski and Bednarik awards) winners. 7/12 college DPOY winners have gone on to be nominated to the pro bowl so far in their careers. This bodes well for Scooby Wright III and Tyler Matakevich - of course both must be looked at purely as prospects with awards ignored.
Let me know what you all think of these awards and which winners in the 2016 draft you are most excited to see in the NFL.
