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David Hale, ESPN staff writer
Before we start bowl season, we need to get through awards season, and this year’s group of nominees is among the best in college football.
Michael Penix Jr., Jayden Daniels, Brock Powers, Marvin Harrison Jr. and more will look to take home appliances at this year’s Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday (7 p.m. ET on the ESPN/ESPN app).
Here are our picks for who should be honored — and who will actually receive awards.
Chuck Bednarek Award (Defensive Player of the Year)
Finalists: UCLA’s Laiato, Alabama’s Dallas Turner and NC State’s Payton Wilson
Who should win: Wilson
It’s easy to look at something as simple as sacks and tying Lato or Turner as the favorites here, but the award goes to the best defender overall, and Wilson’s overall dominance is impossible to ignore. He’s one of only 24 players on a Power 5 team to have at least 75 snaps as a pass-rusher and 250 or more in coverage, and of that group, Wilson has the best tackle rate (94.9%), the most turnovers (25), the most number of tackles for loss (17.5), most tackles (5) and most passes defended (8) – not to mention the most tackles overall (138). He’s one of just two players to make or assist a TFL in every game this season, and he leads all Power 5 defenders in tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage (37). Since 2018, he has become one of only three players to have 100 tackles, 15 fumbles, 5 sacks, and 3 interceptions in the same season. He did it all.
who will win: Latitude
We’re not saying voters are easily swayed by one or two gaudy stats, but Latu has the most attractive numbers of any of the candidates: 13 sacks (most in the Power 5) and 21.5 tackles for loss (most in the FBS). He’s more of a one-trick pony than Wilson – but it’s a neat and impressive trick.
Fred Biletnikoff Award (Distinguished Recipient)
Finalists: Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Roma Udunze
Who should win: Udunze
All due respect to the other finalists, but when Washington’s season – the No. 2 seed in the playoffs – was on the line, I put the ball in Udunze’s hands because, as coach Calen DeBoer said, he was the better player. in the field. Odunze’s 81 catches, 1,428 yards and 13 touchdowns are impressive — though to be fair, they’re all below the stats compiled by Nabers. But Odunze has a higher catch rate on contested throws and a higher rate of first downs, and it’s impossible to ignore how important some of his catches will be in shaping the playoff race in 2023.
who will win: Harrison
Honestly, choose any of the three, and you’ll get little to no reaction. They all have a compelling case, all are over-deserving, and all three have been among the best players at any position this season. But it’s hard to imagine Harrison’s Ohio State career coming and going without him getting that trophy. He’s been so dominant — and at times this year, as the only true offensive threat on the field — that this award feels as much a lifetime achievement award as it does the 2023 receiver of the year award.
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award
Finalists: Graham Nicholson of Miami (Ohio), Jose Pizano of UNLV, and Will Richard of Alabama
Who should win: Pisano
He’s only missed two kicks all season, and was a perfect 16 of 16 from anything under 40 yards. In both his attempts he got beyond 50, so he has the leg. But the most impressive thing about Pisano’s efforts is the impact his kicks have had on UNLV’s season. Six of his field goals put the Rebels ahead. In the playoff era, Pisano is one of only 10 players to have made at least 20 field goals, made at least 90% of their attempts and had six or more of those kicks that put his team ahead. Three of them won the Groza, and the others all came in seasons in which another player with the same marks won. Pisano is the only player to reach those marks in 2023.
who will win: Richard
Kicks at Alabama tend to be much more noticeable than kicks at Miami (Ohio) or UNLV.
Ray Jay Award (Gambler of the Year)
Finalists: Vanderbilt’s Matthew Highball, Florida State’s Alex Mastromano and Iowa’s Tori Taylor
Who should win: Taylor
Have you watched any Iowa State football lately? The kick is kind of a big deal. In fact, when a fanbase openly encourages kicks, it is both a condemnation of the crime and a serious point of pride for the man taking those kicks. Taylor certainly gave his fans their money’s worth. He has scored 86 times this season – 11 more than any other player in the country. He racked up 4,119 yards, 752 more than anyone else and 1,014 more than the Iowa offense was able to accomplish. (In fact, Taylor punted for more yards than 33 offenses in the FBS.)
who will win: Taylor
Not only should he win, but maybe they should name a street after him in Iowa City.
Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year)
Finalists: LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Oregon State’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
Who should win: Daniels
There are a lot of ways to measure who is the best player in college football, but here’s a pretty simple metric: Who has the most receiving yards? That would be Daniels… by 74 yards per game. Well, another question: who was responsible for most of the landings? Once again, it’s Daniels with 50 assists (40 assists, 10 rushing), who had four more total points than the Knicks despite playing one fewer game. Here’s another amazing LSU QB statistic: In the history of college football, there has only been one player who had 50 touchdowns, committed five or fewer turnovers and averaged 400 yards of offense per game. This is Daniels. No one else is close.
who will win: Daniels
In eight of the past nine years, the Maxwell Trophy winner has also captured the Heisman. Here I think Daniels makes it a nine out of 10.
Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (Best Quarterback)
Finalists: LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Oregon State’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
Who should win: Daniels
As mentioned earlier, he was very good at almost everything.
who will win: Pinix
Unlike the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien’s tends to vary slightly from the Heisman and leans toward quarterbacks who have also won a bunch of games. This may be the advantage Penix needs to win. Because while Nix has a fantastic completion percentage, he has lost head-to-head to Penix twice. And while Daniels’ stat line is on another planet, LSU has never even sniffed a playoff berth, while Penix has his own Washington Huskies in the mix for a national title shot.
Outland Trophy Award (Most Outstanding Interior Lineman)
Finalists: Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Kansas State’s Cooper Bibby and Texas’ Tevondre Sweat
Who should win: substitute
The Notre Dame left tackle has arguably been the best offensive lineman in the country over the past two seasons. He was ranked as Pro Football Focus’ top tackle for the second straight season, and his numbers support the position. He allowed just three pressures and one sack all season from the left tackle spot, and in 347 run-blocking snaps, he blew just two.
who will win: substitute
All three finalists have had great seasons, but sometimes the obvious choice is obvious for a reason.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)
Finalists: Iowa State’s Cooper Degen, Georgia’s Malachi Starks and Air Force’s Trey Taylor
Who should win: Taylor
He’s the odd man out when it comes to tough defenses, but the numbers make Taylor’s case very easy. He has more interceptions (3) than DeJean or Starks. He has 30 more tackles (71) than Starks and 40 more than Degen. He allowed just 72 total yards on 21 targets in coverage, posting an eye-catching 0.22 yards per coverage snap.
who will win: Starks
DeJean missed three games down the stretch. Taylor plays for the Mountain West. Starks played in a team that spent the better part of the season at the top of the world rankings. At the end of the day, Starks was certainly good enough to win — 51 tackles, 7 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 0.4 yards per coverage snap — but the extra eyeballs in his games certainly don’t hurt.
Doc Walker Award (first comeback)
Finalists: Ollie Gordon II of Oklahoma State, Omarion Hampton of North Carolina and Cody Schrader of Missouri.
Who should win: Gordon
Gordon led the nation in rushing yards (1,614), was second in rushing TDs (20) and ranked third among Power 5 backs in yards per rush. He has reached 100 receiving yards in eight of his past 10 games and had one stretch of three straight games with more than 270 yards of total offense.
who will win: Gordon
Among the finalists, he has the most rushing yards, most touchdowns, best average yards per carry, and most scrimmage yards, while also being the only one of the three to play for a conference title. Sometimes it’s easy.
John Mackey Award (Outstanding Tight End)
Finalists: Cade Stover at Ohio State, Brock Powers at Georgia, and Dallin Holker at Colorado State
Who should win: Powers
Well, he missed three games. What Powers does in 10 games is more than most tight ends do in a… lifetime? Despite running nearly half as many routes as Holker, Bowers finished with the same number of receiving TDs (six), eight fewer catches and 43 fewer receiving yards.
who will win: Powers
He’ll take home his trophy and every defensive coordinator in the SEC will breathe a sigh of relief that they won’t have to see him again in a Georgia uniform.
College football award season is nearly upon us, and with it comes the speculation and anticipation of who will take home the prestigious honors. From the Heisman Trophy to the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards, there are a number of standout players who have put together impressive seasons. As we enter the final stretch of the season, the debate over who should and who will win these coveted awards is reaching a fever pitch. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top candidates and make our predictions for who will come out on top.