Wikiwand AI

Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award

Annual athletic award From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

Awarded forbest male college athlete
LocationThe Rooftop at Pier 17, New York City (2021)[1]
Presented byESPN
First award2002
Quick facts ESPY Award for Best College Athlete, Men's Sports, Awarded for ...
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 award2002
Currently held byCooper Flagg (Basketball)
Websiteespn.com/espys/
Close

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 football players have been the most successful at the awards with 12 wins. The most recent winner of the award is LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels.[13]

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

Winners

More information Year, Image ...
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 (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 (Football)
[16]
2004 Emeka Okafor playing for the Washington Wizards in 2012 Emeka Okafor Connecticut Huskies Basketball Larry Fitzgerald – Pittsburgh Panthers (Football)
Jameer Nelson – Saint Joseph's Hawks (Basketball)
Jason White – Oklahoma Sooners (Football)
[17][18]
2005 =Matt Leinart holding a championship trophy above his head in 2005 Matt Leinart USC Trojans 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 Football Matt Leinart – USC Trojans (Football)
Adam Morrison – Gonzaga Bulldogs (Basketball)
J. J. Redick – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball)
Vince Young – Texas Longhorns (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 (Football)
[23][24]
2008 Tim Tebow in 2007 Tim Tebow Florida Gators 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 Football Sam Bradford – Oklahoma Sooners (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 (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 (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 Football Jack Connolly – Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs (Ice hockey)
Anthony Davis – Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball)
Andrew Luck – Stanford Cardinal (Football)
Mike Zunino – Florida Gators (Baseball)
[29][30]
2013 Johnny Manziel training for the Cleveland Browns in 2014 Johnny Manziel Texas A&M Aggies 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 (Football)
[33]
2015 Marcus Mariota playing for the Oregon Ducks football team in 2013 Marcus Mariota Oregon Ducks 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 (Football)
Jarrion Lawson – Arkansas Razorbacks (Track and field)
Jordan Morris – Stanford Cardinal (Soccer)
[35]
2017 Deshaun Watson in 2016 Deshaun Watson Clemson Tigers 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
2021 DeVonta Smith in 2019 DeVonta Smith Alabama Crimson Tide Football Gloire Amanda – Oregon State Beavers (Soccer)
Luka Garza – Iowa Hawkeyes (Basketball)
Trevor Lawrence – Clemson Tigers (Football)
[7][14]
2022 Young in 2023 Bryce Young Alabama Crimson Tide Football Chet Holmgren – Gonzaga (Basketball)
Dante Polvara – Georgetown (Soccer)
Logan Wisnauskas – Maryland (Lacrosse)
[37][38]
2023 Williams in 2021 Caleb Williams USC Trojans Football Duncan McGuire – Creighton (Soocer)
Brennan O'Neill – Duke (Lacrosse)
Zach Edey – Purdue (Basketball)
[39]
2024 Daniels in 2024 Jayden Daniels LSU Tigers Football
[13]
2025 Flagg in 2025 Cooper Flagg Duke Blue Devils Basketball
[40]
Close

Statistics

More information Team, Wins ...
Close

See also

Notes and references

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks