Tag: award

Kirby Smart named to Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award watchlist

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award watchlist.

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has been named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award watchlist.

Joining Smart are 19 other head coaches across the nation.

Smart is one of six SEC coaches named to the watchlist. The award was given to Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell last year after led the Bearcats to its first College Football Playoff appearance.

Nick Saban is the most recipient of the award from the SEC, having won it in 2014.

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CBS Sports predicts Jameis Winston for Comeback Player of the Year

CBS Sports HQ believes Jameis Winston could be Comeback Player of the Year. Here’s why they’re right. – via @RossJacksonNOLA

The last four NFL Comeback Player of the Year winners have been quarterbacks. According to CBS Sports HQ’s Ryan Harris, New Orleans Saints signal caller Jameis Winston could be the fifth in a row. Winston is considered the odds-on favorite to win the award this year as he returns from a season-ending ACL injury in last year’s Week 7 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Harris, a former NFL offensive tackle who has protected the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Alex Smith and Peyton Manning recently shared why he’s “fired up” about Winston’s return:

“I’ve got Jameis Winston as the Comeback Player of the Year. Last season, the Saints had over nine starters at different times on the (injured reserve list), and two of them were quarterbacks. So this was a championship-now team. They have a championship focus this year. Plus, they (add Jarvis Landry). They secure Michael Thomas long-term. I think Jameis Winston could be playing in that NFC Championship, they could even be hosting that game. So, look for Jameis Winston to have an amazing season after that surgery and the talent that’s around him. Plus a defense that even got improved. I really like the Saints and what Jameis Winston has as an opportunity.”

Winston certainly has the cast of characters around him to help support his revenge tour throughout the 2022 season. The Saints invested a lot to make sure they snagged wideout Chris Olave in this year’s draft in addition to the return of Thomas and addition of Landry. The question will be whether or not the absence of Sean Payton will factor in negatively to Winston’s progress.

He certainly looked good with his 14 touchdown passes to only 3 interceptions last year while not lacking in any big time throws. Last year, Winston ranked second in the NFL amongst qualifying passers (more than 100 dropbacks) in Pro Football Focus’ “Big Time Throw” metric. The rate measures accurately thrown passes downfield and in tight windows. Sure, Winston did not get to throw a ton of passes last year, but the quality of those he did let loose speak in his favor. Not to mention a defense that looks ready to put the ball back in his hands as often as possible.

The next level will be to see if Winston’s 2022 success translates in additional awards across the team. A great year by the former first-overall selection could translate into end-of-year recognition for receivers like Olave and Thomas. The last five quarterbacks to play a full season and win the comeback player award averaged over 4,600 passing yards, 36 touchdowns thrown and fewer than 14 interceptions surrendered. If Winston is able to hit around those marks, it’s not out of the question to assume he won’t be the one accepting an award at next year’s awards ceremony.

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Chiefs playoff win over Bills up for ‘Best Game’ at 2022 ESPYS

The #Chiefs’ iconic overtime win over the #Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs has been nominated for an award at the 2022 ESPYS in July.

One of the most talked-about Kansas City Chiefs games from last postseason is up for an award at the 2022 ESPYS.

The Chiefs’ overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round has been nominated for the “Best Game” award at the ESPYS. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that many believe it was one of the best and most memorable football games they’d ever seen.

It featured a ton of action-packed moments, but the ending of the game was something to behold for Kansas City. In just 13 seconds, Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce marched down the field to put Harrison Butker in range to tie the game up and force overtime. From there the coin flip decided the fate of the Buffalo Bills. The game was so iconic that the NFL even went on to change overtime rules during the playoffs so that both teams get a possession.

The Chiefs have some stout competition in this category, with the other nominees as follows:

  • UConn defeats NC State in double OT (Elite 8 NCAA Women’s Basketball)
  • Kansas’ 16-point rally, which was the biggest comeback in championship game history (NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship)
  • Bryce Young rallies Alabama to beat Auburn in four OTs (NCAA Football Iron Bowl)

Fans are able to cast their vote now over on ESPN.com. You can watch the ESPYS on Wednesday, July 20TH at 7:00 p.m. CT on ABC.

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USFL names former Saints RB Darius Victor its Offensive Player of the Year

USFL names former Saints RB Darius Victor its Offensive Player of the Year:

Now this is cool to see. The spring-league USFL announced its inaugural award-winners, with former New Orleans Saints running back Darius Victor named Offensive Player of the Year for the 2022 season. Victor has taken 127 carries for 577 yards through 10 games with the New Jersey Generals, third-most in the USFL, while leading the league with 9 touchdown runs. His rate of 4.5 yards gained per carry ranks second-best among players with 100-plus attempts.

Victor has also scored on a touchdown reception and totaled 113 receiving yards, combining for 690 scrimmage yards (second-most in the USFL behind his teammate Trey Williams), which certainly helped build his case. He and Williams helped form a terrific one-two punch at running back with another teammate, wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (a standout at Neville High School in Monroe, La.), winning the title as the league’s Most Valuable Player, and head coach Mike Riley being named Coach of the Year.

It’s an impressive second turn for the former Saints running back, who turned pro with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland’s Towson  University back in 2017. Victor ran hard for the Saints during training camp and preseason that year but was slotted behind a veteran starter in Mark Ingram II, a rookie draft pick in Alvin Kamara, and a much-hyped free agent pickup in Adrian Peterson. There wasn’t room for him in that rotation, which the Saints themselves needed some time to figure out.

After being waived by New Orleans Victor briefly caught on with the Arizona Cardinals and later kept his career going with the XFL’s New York Guardians. Now he’s earning more recognition in the USFL, and helping lead the 9-1 Generals towards a win-or-go-home matchup with the 6-4 Philadelphia Stars in Saturday’s playoff semifinal elimination game. If Victor’s squad finds a win, they’ll advance to the USFL championship game next week with either the 6-4 New Orleans Breakers or the 9-1 Birmingham Stallions. We’ll be pulling for him.

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Broncos odds and ends: Nik Bonitto a long shot for DROY award

Nik Bonitto is a long shot for DROY, but Nathaniel Hackett is an early favorite for Coach of the Year, per @Tipico Sportsbook.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto might contend for league-wide awards one day, but it’ll be hard for him to generate much national attention as a rookie while playing behind Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory this fall.

That explains why Bonitto has been given +6000 odds to take home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, according to Tipico Sportsbook. Twenty-nine other rookie defenders have better odds than Bonitto.

Elsewhere on the odds front at Tipico, quarterback Russell Wilson is +1500 to win the MVP award, marking the seventh-best odds in the NFL.

Meanwhile, running back Javonte Williams has +1500 odds to lead the NFL in rushing, also seventh-best in the league. His odds of taking home Offensive Player of the Year are much lower (+6000), 32nd-best.

On defense, Chubb (+4000) and Gregory (+7000) have the 11th- and 19th-best odds, respectively, for Defensive Player of the Year honors. Broncos defensive backs Justin Simmons (+10000) and Pat Surtain (+10000) are considered extreme long shots.

As a team overall, Denver has been given an over/under line of 10.5 wins this year and they have +260 odds to win the AFC West. That ranks above the Las Raiders (+600) but behind the Kansas City Chiefs (+155) and Los Angeles Chargers (+240). The Broncos have the sixth-best odds (+1500) to win the Super Bowl this season.

If Denver does have a big season, Nathaniel Hackett will be a strong candidate for Coach of the Year honors. Hackett has +1500 odds for the award, tied for second-best in the NFL, trailing only Brandon Staley (+1300).

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Former Broncos QB coach Greg Knapp posthumously receives ‘Dr. Z’ award

A well-deserved honor for the late Broncos quarterbacks coach.

Former Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Gregg Knapp posthumously received the 2022 Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award from the Pro Football Writers of America earlier this week.

He was one of two coach recipients. The award prioritizes assistant coaches and recognizes their lifetime achievements as part of the NFL.

The award is named after Zimmerman, who spent nearly three decades as a Sports Illustrated writer and is viewed as one of the game’s most important football writers.

Knapp coached the Broncos’ quarterbacks from 2013 to 2016. He led quarterback rooms that included Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. In addition to coaching for the Broncos, Knapp spent time with the San Fransisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, the Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans and New York Jets.

Knapp died last July after he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in California. He was 58 years old and is survived by his wife and three daughters.

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Jack Coan wins Pat Tillman Award

Jack Coan did Notre Dame proud this week

Before his strong showing in Thursday night’s East-West Shrine Game, former Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan received the game’s Pat Tillman Award.

The Pat Tillman Award goes to a competing player in the game that represents some of the same qualities as Tillman: intelligence, sportsmanship, and service.

Coan started for the West and completed 10 of 13 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in the game as he continues to work to try and impress NFL scouts ahead of the draft.

Related:

Notre Dame’s all-time Super Bowl team

Super Bowl points scored by each college all-time

Broncos RBs Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams nominated for weekly awards

Broncos RB Melvin Gordon has been nominated for Ground Player of the Week and Javonte Williams has been nominated for Rookie of the Week!

Both of the Denver Broncos’ top two running backs have been nominated for weekly awards on NFL.com following the team’s 38-10 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 14.

Melvin Gordon has been nominated for the Ground Player of the Week award after rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. Gordon will face tough competition going up against Dalvin Cook’s 205 yards and two touchdowns. Fans can vote for Gordon at NFL.com/FedEx.

Fellow running back Javonte Williams has been nominated for the Rookie of the Week award after totaling 83 yards from scrimmage and scoring two touchdowns. Fans can vote for Williams at NFL.com/Rookies.

Williams has been nominated for Rookie of the Week honors in three-straight weeks. The talented running back has already topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season despite playing in a shared backfield.

Gordon and Williams have combined to total 1,904 yards from scrimmage this season with 15 touchdowns. They could become just the eighth duo in NFL history to each rush for 1,000 yards in a single season this year.

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Alabama QB Bryce Young named AP Football Player of the Year

Bryce Young continues to get the much-deserved recognition!

Alabama’s first-year starting quarterback, sophomore Bryce Young, has been named the 2021 AP Football Player of the Year.

This season, Young has set records as he leads the Crimson Tide into another College Football Playoff with National Championship No. 19 in the crosshairs for Nick Saban and the historic program in Tuscaloosa.

According to the AP website, “Young received 42 of 53 first-place votes from AP Top 25 voters and 137 points to easily finish ahead of Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (four first-place votes, 67 points) for the AP Player of the Year honor presented by Regions Bank.”

This comes just days after Young was named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Young and the Crimson Tide will head to Arlington, Texas to face the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Cotton Bowl CFP Semifinal and compete for a national title.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams nominated for Rookie of the Week award

Go vote for Javonte Williams for Rookie of the Week!

For a second consecutive week, Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams has been nominated for the Rookie of the Week award on NFL.com.

Filling in for an injured Melvin Gordon, Williams had a big day in his first NFL start, totaling 178 yards from scrimmage and scoring a touchdown in Week 13.

Williams’ competition for the award this week includes New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (226 yards, three touchdowns), Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (86 yards, game-winning TD) and Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips (two sacks).

Last week, Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain took home Rookie of the Week honors after recording two interceptions (including a pick-six) against the Los Angeles Chargers. Williams finished third in the voting in Week 12.

Through 12 games this season, Williams has rushed for 670 yards while adding 269 receiving yards. He’s just 61 yards away from 1,000 scrimmage yards despite playing in a shared backfield. Fans can vote for Williams at NFL.com.

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