Texas QB, Nebraska DL rake in honors
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Colt McCoy capped a big Thursday night for the Big 12, winning the Maxwell Award honoring the nation’s best all-around player.
It was just the latest in a series of postseason honors for McCoy, who also is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He won the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s player of the year award for the second consecutive season earlier in the day.
Before he beat out fellow Heisman finalists Mark Ingram of Alabama and Tim Tebow of Florida for the Maxwell, he picked up the Davey O’Brien Award at the annual college football awards at Disney World, given to the nation’s best quarterback.
“To win awards like this shows that you’re greatly respected,” McCoy said. “It means people see the things that you do, and you’re rewarded for them.”
The Longhorns (13-0) needed a field goal as time expired to beat Nebraska 13-12 in the Big 12 title game Saturday.
The player chasing him all night made out just fine Thursday night, too.
Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh, also a Heisman finalist, won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player, and took home the Outland Trophy for the best interior lineman. He previously won the Lombardi Award as the nation’s top lineman and Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player.
The powerhouse defensive lineman put together his best performance of the year against No. 2 Texas. He matched his career high with 12 tackles and had 4½ sacks as the Cornhuskers nearly upset the Longhorns.
“I guess maybe that helped a little bit,” said Suh, a graduate of Grant High School in Portland.
Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly won the Coach of the Year award. Stanford’s Toby Gerhart won the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s best running back. Tennessee star Eric Berry accepted the Jim Thorpe Award honoring the best defensive back.
Notre Dame’s Golden Tate won the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver. UCLA’s Kai Forbath took home the Lou Groza Award for the best kicker.
Georgia’s Drew Butler won the Ray Guy Award honoring the nation’s best punter. Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich won the Disney Spirit Award given to college football’s most inspirational figure. Herzlich overcame a rare form of bone cancer and is expected to return next season.
