ESPY Award for Best College Athlete, Men's Sports
Awarded forbest male college athlete
LocationThe Rooftop at Pier 17, New York City (2021)[1]
Presented byESPN
First awarded2002
Currently held byCaleb Williams (USA)
Websiteespn.com/espys/

The ESPY Award for Best College Athlete, Men's Sports, known before 2021 as the Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award, is an annual award honoring the achievements of a male individual from the world of collegiate sports.[2] It was first presented as part of the ESPY Awards in 2002, following the subsumption of the Best College Football Player and Best Male College Basketball Player ESPY Awards, each of which had been presented annually between 1993 and 2001, inclusive.[3] The award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan,[4] is awarded to the sportsman adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year of those contesting collegiate sport in the United States through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[2]

From 2004 until its subsumption with the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award to create the Best College Athlete ESPY Award for the 2018 ceremony,[5] and again since the award was reestablished in 2021, the winner has been chosen by online voting through choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee.[6][7] Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts.[8] Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.[a][9]

The inaugural winner of the Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award in 2002 was Iowa State Cyclones wrestler Cael Sanderson who ended his collegiate career that year.[10] In that period, he surpassed numerous NCAA records, clinched four NCAA wrestling championships, and went 159–0 undefeated in his final season.[11] Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow received the trophy in 2008, and won it again the following year, becoming the only sportsman in the history of the award to have won it more than once.[12] American footballers have been the most successful at the awards with nine victories and 14 nominations, closely followed by basketball players who have been recognized on seven occasions, and were nominated a further 19 times. The most recent winner of the award is USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams.[13]

Beginning in 2021, the awards were again separated into men's and women's versions using the current naming scheme.[14]

Winners

ESPY Award for Best College Athlete, Men's Sports winners and nominees
Year Image Winner University Sport Other nominees Ref(s)
2002 – Cael Sanderson Iowa State Cyclones Wrestling Shane Battier – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball)
Eric Crouch – Nebraska Cornhuskers (American football)
Juan Dixon – Maryland Terrapins (Basketball)
Jay Williams – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball) 		[10][15]
2003 Carmelo Anthony in 2011 Carmelo Anthony Syracuse Orangemen Basketball T. J. Ford – Texas Longhorns (Basketball)
Eric Larkin – Arizona State Sun Devils (Wrestling)
Carson Palmer – USC Trojans (American football) 		[16]
2004 Emeka Okafor playing for the Washington Wizards in 2012 Emeka Okafor Connecticut Huskies Basketball Larry Fitzgerald – Pittsburgh Panthers (American football)
Jameer Nelson – Saint Joseph's Hawks (Basketball)
Jason White – Oklahoma Sooners (American football) 		[17][18]
2005 =Matt Leinart holding a championship trophy above his head in 2005 Matt Leinart USC Trojans American football Andrew Bogut – Utah Utes (Basketball)
Alex Gordon – Nebraska Cornhuskers (Baseball)
Steve Mocco – Oklahoma State Cowboys (Wrestling)
Marty Sertich – Colorado College Tigers (Ice hockey) 		[19][20]
2006 Reggie Bush in 2009 Reggie Bush USC Trojans American football Matt Leinart – USC Trojans (American football)
Adam Morrison – Gonzaga Bulldogs (Basketball)
J. J. Redick – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball)
Vince Young – Texas Longhorns (American football) 		[21][22]
2007 Kevin Durant playing for the Texas Longhorns in 2007 Kevin Durant Texas Longhorns Basketball Ben Askren – Missouri Tigers (Wrestling)
Greg Oden – Ohio State Buckeyes (Basketball)
Troy Smith – Ohio State Buckeyes (American football) 		[23][24]
2008 Tim Tebow in 2007 Tim Tebow Florida Gators American football Michael Beasley – Kansas State Wildcats (Basketball)
Tyler Hansbrough – North Carolina Tar Heels (Basketball) 		[25][26]
2009 Tim Tebow at the White House in 2009 Tim Tebow (2) Florida Gators American football Sam Bradford – Oklahoma Sooners (American football)
Matt Gilroy – Boston University Terriers (Ice hockey)
Blake Griffin – Oklahoma Sooners (Basketball)
Stephen Strasburg – San Diego State Aztecs (Baseball) 		[12]
2010 John Wall playing for the Washington Wizards in 2010 John Wall Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Blake Geoffrion – Wisconsin Badgers (Ice hockey)
Mark Ingram II – Alabama Crimson Tide (American football)
Evan Turner – Ohio State Buckeyes (Basketball)
Garrett Wittels – FIU Panthers (Baseball) 		[27]
2011 Jimmer Fredette playing for the Sacramento Kings in 2013 Jimmer Fredette BYU Cougars Basketball Andy Miele – Miami RedHawks (Ice hockey)
Cam Newton – Auburn Tigers (American football)
Rob Pannell – Cornell Big Red (Lacrosse)
Kemba Walker – Connecticut Huskies (Basketball) 		[28]
2012 Robert Griffin III attending the 2012 NFL Draft Robert Griffin III Baylor Bears American football Jack Connolly – Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs (Ice hockey)
Anthony Davis – Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball)
Andrew Luck – Stanford Cardinal (American football)
Mike Zunino – Florida Gators (Baseball) 		[29][30]
2013 Johnny Manziel training for the Cleveland Browns in 2014 Johnny Manziel Texas A&M Aggies American football Trey Burke – Michigan Wolverines (Basketball)
Kyle Dake – Cornell Big Red (Wrestling)
Drew LeBlanc – St. Cloud State Huskies (Ice hockey) 		[31][32]
2014 Doug McDermott scoring in a basketball game in 2014 Doug McDermott Creighton Bluejays Basketball Johnny Gaudreau – Boston College Eagles (Ice hockey)
David Taylor – Penn State Nittany Lions (Wrestling)
Lyle Thompson – Albany Great Danes (Lacrosse)
Jameis Winston – Florida State Seminoles (American football) 		[33]
2015 Marcus Mariota playing for the Oregon Ducks football team in 2013 Marcus Mariota Oregon Ducks American Football Jack Eichel – Boston University Terriers (Ice hockey)
Frank Kaminsky – Wisconsin Badgers (Basketball)
Logan Stieber – Ohio State Buckeyes (Wrestling)
Dansby Swanson – Vanderbilt Commodores (Baseball) 		[34]
2016 Buddy Hield playing for the Oklahoma Sooners in a basketball game in 2016 Buddy Hield Oklahoma Sooners Basketball Alex Dieringer – Oklahoma State Cowboys (Wrestling)
Derrick Henry – Alabama Crimson Tide (American football)
Jarrion Lawson – Arkansas Razorbacks (Track and field)
Jordan Morris – Stanford Cardinal (Soccer) 		[35]
2017 Deshaun Watson in 2016 Deshaun Watson Clemson Tigers American football Ian Harkes – Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Soccer)
Frank Mason III – Kansas Jayhawks (Basketball)
Matt Rambo – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse)
Zain Retherford – Penn State Nittany Lions (Wrestling) 		[36]
2018-2020 - Not Awarded Not Awarded Not Awarded Not Awarded
2021 DeVonta Smith in 2019 DeVonta Smith Alabama Crimson Tide American football Gloire Amanda – Oregon State Beavers (Soccer)
Luka Garza – Iowa Hawkeyes (Basketball)
Trevor Lawrence – Clemson Tigers (American football) 		[7][14]
2022 Young in 2021 Bryce Young Alabama Crimson Tide American football Chet Holmgren – Gonzaga (Basketball)
Dante Polvara – Georgetown (Soccer)
Logan Wisnauskas – Maryland (Lacrosse) 		[37][13]
2023 Caleb Williams USC Trojans American football Duncan McGuire – Creighton (Soocer)
Brennan O'Neill – Duke (Lacrosse)
Zach Edey – Purdue (Basketball) 		[38]

Statistics

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Because of the rescheduling of the ESPY Awards ceremony, the award presented in 2002 was given in consideration of performance betwixt February 2001 and June 2002.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Actor-producer Anthony Mackie named host of the 2021 ESPYS". ESPN.com. June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Nelson, Murry R. (2013). American Sports: A History of Icons, Idols and Ideas. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 399–401. ISBN 978-0-313-39753-0. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  3. ^ Blevins, Dave (2012). College Football Awards: All National and Conference Winners Through 2010. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-7864-4867-8. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  4. ^ Avard, Christian (August 2, 2013). "Sculptor commissioned to complete Joe Frazier statue has died". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Keith, Branden (July 16, 2018). "Katie Ledecky Nominated For Best College Athlete ESPY". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "The 2004 ESPY Awards - Fans to decide all 2004 ESPY Award winners". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "The 2021 ESPYS Nominees" (Press release). ESPN. June 12, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  8. ^ "Committee is newly found". ESPN. February 3, 1999. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "New categories unveiled for The 2002 ESPY Awards" (Press release). ESPN. 2002. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Fuller, John (July 11, 2002). "Sanderson Becomes Second Wrestler To Win ESPY Award; Named "Best Male College Athlete"". The Mat. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  11. ^ Anderson, Kelli (April 1, 2002). "The Top 10: SI picks the most impressive college sports feats ever". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 16, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Tebow, Debose take home ESPY awards". The Gainesville Sun. July 16, 2009. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "2022 ESPYS: Full list of award winners". ESPN.com. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "2021 ESPYS award winners". ESPN.com. July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  15. ^ "ESPYS Move Here, Will Honor 4 Victims". Los Angeles Daily News. July 10, 2002. Retrieved February 3, 2018 – via The Free Library.
  16. ^ "Tillman Brothers Honored With Arthur Ashe Courage Award". Pac-12 Conference. July 17, 2003. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  17. ^ "Taurasi nets 2 ESPYs, including Best Female Athlete". The Arizona Republic. Associated Press. July 15, 2004. p. 172. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Jameer Nelson and Saint Joseph's Nominated for ESPYS" (Press release). Atlantic 10 Conference. June 29, 2004. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  19. ^ Hoffarth, Tom (July 14, 2005). "Leinart Adds to Awards". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved February 3, 2018 – via The Free Library.
  20. ^ NU Athletic Communications (July 7, 2005). "Gordon Named ESPY Award Finalist" (Press release). Nebraska Huskers. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  21. ^ "14th annual ESPY Award's list". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 13, 2006. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  22. ^ "Nominees Announced and Fan Voting Begins for 14th Annual ESPYs". ESPN. June 28, 2006. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  23. ^ "Sports Digest". Austin American-Statesman. July 12, 2007. p. C02. Retrieved February 3, 2018 – via Infotrac Newsstand.
  24. ^ Watson, Graham (July 4, 2007). "Missouri's Askren would like your vote Two-time national champion is one of four finalists for ESPY award". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. D2. Retrieved February 3, 2018 – via Infotrac Newsstand.
  25. ^ D'Aniello, Chris (July 21, 2008). "2008 ESPY Awards: The Winners & The Other (Real) Winners". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  26. ^ "Baseball top heat pick Beasley up for ESPY". The Palm Beach Post. July 2, 2008. p. C002. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Biggers, Adam (July 14, 2010). "ESPY for Male College Athlete of the Year eludes Flint's Mark Ingram". The Flint Journal. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  28. ^ Morton, Aaron (July 13, 2011). "ESPYS: Jimmer Fredette awarded Best Male College Athlete". Deseret News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  29. ^ Harris, Beth (July 12, 2012). "LeBron is king of the 2012 ESPY Awards". The Durango Herald. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  30. ^ "Former UMD hockey star Jack Connolly nominated for ESPN ESPY award". Duluth News Tribune. June 27, 2012. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  31. ^ Heim, Mark (July 17, 2013). "SEC's Johnny Manziel, Jadeveon Clowney win ESPYs, while Heat beats Tide, others for best team". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  32. ^ Hanson, Pete (June 30, 2013). "Former SCSU Hockey Star Nominated for ESPY". KLZZ. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  33. ^ "Doug McDermott wins ESPY for Best Male College Athlete". Omaha World-Herald. July 16, 2014. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  34. ^ Greif, Andrew (July 15, 2015). "Marcus Mariota, former Oregon Ducks QB, wins ESPY for best male college athlete". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  35. ^ Smith, Randy (July 15, 2016). "Hield wins ESPY for Best Male College Athlete". The Nassau Guardian. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  36. ^ Wilson, Aaron (July 13, 2017). "Texans rookie Deshaun Watson wins ESPY for Best Male College Athlete". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  37. ^ "The 2022 ESPYS Nominees". espnpressroom.com. June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  38. ^ "The 2023 ESPYS Winners". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved July 3, 2022.

External links

ESPY Awards
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