Major National Awards
National Award Winners at Penn State—
Heisman Trophy (est. 1935)—1973 John Cappelletti TB (presented to the best player in college football originally by the Downtown Athletic Club of NYC & since 2003 by the Heisman Trophy Trust) LINK TO PSU HEISMAN TROPHY INFORMATION
Maxwell Award (est. 1937)—1959 Richie Lucas QB, 1964 Glenn Ressler OL, 1969 Mike Reid DT, 1973 John Cappelletti TB, 1978 Chuck Fusina QB, 1994 Kerry Collins QB, & 2002 Larry Johnson TB (presented to the best player in college football by the Maxwell Club of Philadelphia)—Other PSU Finalists: Ki-Jana Carter TB 1994 (same year as Collins win) & Saquon Barkley RB 2017
Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year Award (est. 1967)—1973 John Cappelletti TB & 2002 Larry Johnson TB—Saquon Barkley was 2017 Finalist
Outland Trophy (est. 1946)—1969 Mike Reid DT (presented to the best interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America)—Devon Still DT was 2011 Finalist
Lombardi Award (est. 1970)—1978 Bruce Clark DT & 2015 Carl Nassib DE (presented to the best lineman/linebacker of the year by the Rotary Club of Houston)—Matt Millen DT was 1978 Finalist when Clark won (Paul Posluszny LB was 2-time Finalist in 2005 & 2006)
Sullivan Award (est. 1930)—2013 John Urschel OG PSU Football—also 1952 Horace Ashenfelter Penn State & Olympic Distance Running/Steeplechase (presented by the AAU to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States)
Campbell Trophy (est. 1990)—2013 John Urschel OG (the so-called “Academic Heisman” presented to the best all-round player for academics, on-field competition, & community service by the National Football Foundation)—Urschel was also the 2013 Senior Class Award winner
Additional Major Award Winners—
Biletnikoff Award (est. 1994)—1994 Bobby Engram SE, inaugural winner in ‘94 & finalist in ‘95 (presented to the most outstanding receiver in college football by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation)
Paul Hornung Award (est. 2010)—2017 Saquon Barkley RB/Return Specialist (presented to the most versatile all-round player in college football by the Louisville Sports Commission)—Tyler Warren TE was a finalist in 2024 as was KJ Hamler WR in 2018
Doak Walker Award (est. 1990)—2002 Larry Johnson TB (presented to the nation’s top running back by a select panel on behalf of SMU Athletic Forum)—Other PSU Finalists: Ki-Jana Carter 1994, Curtis Enis 1997, & Saquon Barkley 2017
Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (est. 1977)—1982 Todd Blackledge QB & 1994 Kerry Collins QB (since 1981, presented to the best college football quarterback by the Davey O’Brien Foundation of Ft. Worth)
Chuck Bednarik Award (est. 1995)—1999 LaVar Arrington LB, 2005 Paul Posluszny LB, 2006 Paul Posluszny LB (the award’s 2nd two-time winner), and 2007 Dan Connor LB (presented to the nation’s best defensive player by the Maxwell Club of Philadelphia)
Dick Butkus Award (est. 1985)—1999 LaVar Arrington LB & 2005 Paul Posluszny LB-was also a finalist in 2006 (presented to the best linebacker in college football originally by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando & since 2008 by the Butkus Foundation)—an NFL version of this award debuted in 2008 with PSU winners in 2013 NaVorro Bowman 49ers LB & 2021 Micah Parsons Cowboys LB
Ted Hendricks Award (est. 2002)—2015 Carl Nassib DE (presented to the best defensive end in college football by the Hendricks Foundation)
Lott IMPACT Trophy (est. 2004)—2015 Carl Nassib DE (presented to the best defensive player exhibiting both character & athleticism by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation)
John Mackey Award (est. 2000)—2024 Tyler Warren TE (presented to the best tight end in college football by the Nassau County, NY Sports Commission)
Dave Rimington Trophy (est. 2000)—2008 A.Q. Shipley C (presented to the most outstanding offensive center in college football by the Boomer Esiason Foundation)
Patrick Mannelly Award (est. 2019)—2022 Chris Stoll LS (presented to the best long snapper in the nation by the award’s organization)
Brian Westbrook Regional College Football Player of the Year (est. 2001)—2022 Sean Clifford QB (presented by the Maxwell Club of Philadelphia to the top player in Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware)
Burlsworth Trophy (est. 2010)—2012 Matt McGloin QB (presented to the nest player who began his college career as a walk-on by the Burlsworth Foundation)
Wuerffel Trophy (est. 2005)—2024 Nick Dawkins C (presented to the top player for community service, leadership, athletic & academic achievement by Allstate and the Fort Walton Beach, FL All Sports Association)—Dawkins was also named Captain of the 2024 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team
Defunct National Awards with Penn State Winners—
UPI College Football Player of the Year Award (1950-1991)—1973 John Cappelletti TB (presented by United Press International based on a vote of NCAA coaches)
Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Year Award (1971-2008)—1973 John Cappelletti TB, 1994 Kerry Collins QB, & 2002 Larry Johnson TB (associated with ABC-TV coverage of college football with monetary award to school’s general fund)
Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year Award (1971-2008)—1974 Mike Hartenstine DT, 1978 Bruce Clark DT, & 2007 Dan Connor LB (associated with ABC-TV coverage of college football with monetary award to school’s general fund)
Chic Harley Award (1955-2018)—1973 John Cappelletti TB (presented by the Columbus, OH Touchdown Club to the college football player of the year)
Jim Brown Trophy (1991-2018)—2002 Larry Johnson TB (presented by the Columbus, OH Touchdown Club to the college football running back of the year)
Paul Warfield Award (1991-2018)—1992 OJ McDuffie FL (presented by the Columbus, OH Touchdown Club to the college football receiver of the year)
Sammy Baugh Trophy (1959-2018)—1994 Kerry Collins QB (presented by the Columbus, OH Touchdown Club to the best passer in college football)
Kellen Moore Quarterback of the Year Award (1991-2018/renamed in 2012)—1994 Kerry Collins QB (presented by the Columbus, OH Touchdown Club to the college football quarterback of the year)
Jack Lambert Trophy (1991-2018)—1999 LaVar Arrington LB (presented by the Columbus, OH Touchdown Club to the college football linebacker of the year)
Freshman of the Year Award (2001-2018)—2013 Christian Hackenberg QB (presented by the Columbus, OH Touchdown Club)
Vlade Award (2010-2018)—2016 Tyler Davis PK (presented by the Columbus, OH Touchdown Club to the most accurate kicker in college football)
Swede Nelson Award (1946-1981)—1969 Steve Smear DT (presented by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston for Sportsmanship on a national basis prior to 1982 when it shifted to regional honor)
Major Awards never won by a Penn Stater—
AP College Football Player of the Year (est. 1998)—No Penn State winners
Sporting News College Football Player of the Year (est. 1942)—No Penn State winners
Bronko Nagurski Trophy*(est. 1993)—Defensive Player of the Year presented by the Charlotte, NC Touchdown Club & FWAA
Jim Thorpe Award (est. 1986)—Most Outstanding Defensive Back presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
Lou Groza award (est. 1992)—Top College Placekicker presented by the Palm Beach County, FL Sports Commission
Ray Guy Award*(est. 2000)—Most Outstanding College Punter presented by the Greater Augusta, GA Sports Council
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award*(est. 1987)—Best Upperclassman (4th or 5th yr.) College Quarterback presented by the Golden Arm Foundation
Manning Award*(est. 2004)—Best College Quarterback presented by the Sugar Bowl Committee
*Asterisk indicates Penn State has at least one Finalist for the award
Nittany Notes:
The Chevrolet Players of the Game Awards are now one of those forgotten little slices of college football history. But they used to be a big deal in the era of limited national TV exposure.
They were first handed out with the opening of the 1971 season on games televised live on ABC-TV (national & regional broadcasts). Two players were honored every TV game—1 on offense and 1 on defense. And the general scholarship funds of the schools in question would collect a cool $1,000 for every winner. Eventually, the NCAA weighed in and made Chevy hand out a check to each university to prevent some of the big-time teams from getting all the money every weekend.
Penn State cashed in for the first time in week 2 of the ‘71 season at Iowa. The Nittany Lions picked up both checks in the 44-14 victory. PSU’s first Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Game was Lydell Mitchell TB who rushed for 211 yards on 29 carries with 1 TD on a 19-yard run. This was no easy decision, however, because Franco Harris FB put on an impressive show, too. Franco ran the ball 28-times for 145 yards and 4 TDs. If Harris had not fumbled at the 2-yard line on the game’s first drive, his “5” TDs might have clinched the cash. Both Lydell and Franco broke the PSU record for most carries in a game—Dave McNaughton FB had previously set the mark with 27 rushes for 137 yards, 2 TDs at Syracuse in 1965.
Penn State’s first Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Game was Charlie Zapiec LB who racked up 17 total tackles and a forced fumble at Iowa. Zapiec was a 5th year Senior playing his only season as a linebacker. He was an offensive guard in 1968 & ‘69. He had missed all but 1 game of the 1970 season following an appendectomy. Zapiec would go on to become a 4-time CFL All-Star and winner of two Grey Cup Championships with Montreal.