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The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday night, but there was plenty of other hardware to hand out in the meantime. Here are the winners from the 2022 Home Depot College Football Awards show:
Bednarik Award (Best defensive player)
Will Anderson Jr., LB, Alabama
Anderson made everything look easier on defense for the Crimson Tide this season, constantly wreaking havoc on opponents’ offenses. The star defender, who was also a finalist for this award last year, finished 2022 with 10 sacks – eighth most in the nation – to go along with one interception and a defensive touchdown. He also generated 59 pressures, ranking fourth in the country, according to PFF.
Other finalists: Tuli Tuipulotu (DL, USC), Ivan Pace Jr. (LB, Cincinnati)
Davey O’Brien Award (Best quarterback)
Max Duggan, TCU
Few expected that Duggan, who began the year as TCU’s No. 2 signal-caller, would win this award heading into the season. But the Horned Frogs star put on a show in 2022, passing for 3,321 yards and 30 touchdowns against just four interceptions while leading TCU to a perfect regular season. He’s the school’s first player to win the Davey O’Brien Award, which was named after the former TCU star.
Other finalists: C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Caleb Williams (USC)
Doak Walker Award (Best running back)
Bijan Robinson, Texas
Robinson set career highs with 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing this year. He ranked fifth and fourth in the nation in those categories, respectively. While Corum’s rushing stats are very similar to Robinson’s, the Texas star had a bigger impact as a pass-catcher, finishing the campaign with 314 yards and two touchdowns on 19 receptions. Robinson eclipsed 100 rushing yards in all but three games this year and topped the 200-yard mark in two of his four appearances in November.
Other finalists: Chase Brown (Illinois), Blake Corum (Michigan)