Football Candidates Announced for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award
October 12, 2016
Download in PDF formatOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (October 12, 2016) – Thirty NCAA® Football Bowl Subdivision student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were selected today as candidates for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate football along with the Senior CLASS Award’s first-ever honorary nominee. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Of the 30 candidates, 18 have grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher with seven of those holding above a 3.5. Five are returning All-Americans, and 22 were all-conference selections in 2016. Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.
This year, the Senior CLASS Award also will honor deceased Nebraska student-athlete Sam Foltz by making him an honorary candidate. The 2015 Big Ten Punter of the Year and a preseason candidate for the Ray Guy Award, Foltz was killed in an automobile accident on July 23, 2016, after attending a kicking camp in Wisconsin. A standout on the field as well as in the classroom and community, Foltz was a five-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll, a member of both the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship teams, and earlier this year was awarded a Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award, which recognizes exceptional leadership, consistent and dedicated community service and positive influence on the team.
To determine the final Senior CLASS Award winner, the 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. Along with the winner, the 10 finalists will be awarded Senior CLASS Award first- or second-team honors.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the football bowl season in early January. For more information on the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
Football 2016 Candidates
Name | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Zach Banner | Offensive Tackle | University of Southern California |
Adam Bisnowaty | Right Tackle | University of Pittsburgh |
Matt Breida | Running Back | Georgia Southern |
Richie Brown | Linebacker | Mississippi State University |
Roman Buchanan | Linebacker | University of South Alabama |
Joe Burger | Linebacker | Ohio State University |
Jake Butt | Tight End | University of Michigan |
Mike Caprara | Linebacker | University of Pittsburgh |
Nick Cuthbert | Linebacker | Kent State |
DeVon Edwards | Safety/ Kickoff Returner | Duke University |
Jake Elliott | Place Kicker | Memphis |
Evan Engram | Tight End | Ole Miss |
Jordan Evans | Linebacker | University of Oklahoma |
Dane Evans | Quarterback | The University of Tulsa |
Sam Foltz | Punter | University of Nebraska |
Skyler Howard | Quarterback | West Virginia University |
O.J. Howard | Tight End | The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa |
Ryan Janvion | Safety | Wake Forest |
Zay Jones | Wide Receiver | East Carolina University |
Chad Kelly | Quarterback | Ole Miss |
KeVonn Mabon | Wide Receiver | Ball State University |
Viliami “Laiu” Moeakiola | Linebacker/ Defensive Back | Arizona State University |
Tyler Orlosky | Center | West Virginia University |
Mitchell Paige | Wide Receiver/ Kickoff Returner | Indiana |
Josiah Price | Tight End | Michigan State |
Travis Seefeldt | Nose Guard | Utah State University |
Fish Smithson | Safety | University of Kansas |
Weston Steelhammer | Defensive Back | Air Force |
Justin Vogel | Punter | University of Miami |
Greg Ward Jr | Quarterback | Houston |
Tre’Davious White | Defensive Back | LSU |