Twenty College Football Players Named Semifinalists for Witten Award

Twenty college football players have been named semifinalists for the 2026 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership, courage, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field. The semifinalists represented in the reports include Kentucky’s Willie Rodriguez, UTSA’s Camron Cooper, Florida State’s Duce Robinson, Pittsburgh’s Mason Heintschel and NC State’s Isaiah Shirley. Their off-field efforts include Cooper’s mentoring and community service, Robinson’s fundraising for Special Olympics Florida, and Heintschel’s campaign supporting the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Hospital. Three finalists are scheduled to be announced Dec. 15, with the winner to be revealed at a ceremony on March 11, 2027.