FWAA USC News

Freshman Focus: First-year player, coach preview

The Football Writers Association of America has released a list of top candidates for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team. The Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award, presented by Chris Doering Mortgage, goes to the best first-year coach (at his school) in FBS football. The recipients of the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year, the FWAA Freshman of the Year and a Spurrier Legends Coach awardee will be honored at a special reception on Feb 25 in Gainesville, Fla.

Arizona's Fifita, Purdue's Thieneman highlight 2023 FWAA Freshman All-America Team

In a crowded field of outstanding quarterbacks in the Pac-12 Conference this season, Arizona's Noah Fifita stood tall guiding the Wildcats into title contention and a 10-win season while rewriting his school’s record book. Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman was a national interceptions and tackles leader leaving his mark as one of the top playmaking defenders in the Big Ten Conference. For their dynamic play on both sides of the ball, the Football Writers Association of America awarded the pair as its Offensive and Defensive Freshman Players of the Year presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Fifita and Thieneman headline the FWAA’s 2023 Freshman All-America Team, a list of 32 players who had standout seasons among their more experienced peers.

Seven repeat honorees highlight 2023 FWAA All-America Team presented by the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

The 2023 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, is highlighted by seven repeat All-Americans and a record 10 players from the four teams competing in the College Football Playoff at the front of players from 36 different schools. There are 22 schools represented from eight Football Bowl Subdivision conferences on the first team and all 10 conferences plus an Independent are included on the overall 54-man team.

FWAA, Goodyear Cotton Bowl unveil 2022 All-America Team

The 2022 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, is headlined by nine first-teamers from the four teams competing in the College Football Playoff, three repeat All-Americans and a record 16 total selections from the Big Ten Conference. There are 19 schools represented from six Football Bowl Subdivision conferences on the first team and 34 different schools and eight conferences plus an Independent included on the overall 54-man team.

Eight finalists named for Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award

The Football Writers Association of America, in conjunction with the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced eight finalists for the 2022 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award on Tuesday. The award will have a first-time winner this season chosen from among a list of three repeat finalists from 2021, five former finalists overall, three coaches competing in this season’s College Football Playoff and five who are leading conference champions. Four of them will face other finalists in their bowl games.

Freshman Focus: Week 13

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 13, the weekend of Nov. 26:

Freshman Focus: Week 12

Four finalists named for 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Four finalists for the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, one of them last year’s winner, another representing the top team in the current College Football Playoff rankings and two of the nation’s premier defensive linemen were named Wednesday by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club as candidates for the award honoring the nation’s top defensive player. One finalist’s team has already clinched a spot in his conference championship game and another can clinch a spot with a win on Saturday.