ATLANTA — Alabama running back Derrick Henry was the biggest star of college football’s awards night, as he won the Maxwell Award, given to the college player of the year, and the Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s top running back.
The awards were presented for the first time at the College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Henry, Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson were the finalists for the Maxwell Award and also are the finalists for the Heisman Trophy, to be presented Saturday.
Davey O’Brien Award
ATLANTA — Deshaun Watson of Clemson has won the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s best quarterback.
The prize was presented Thursday night.
Watson is the first Clemson quarterback to win the award. He is the second Atlantic Coast Conference player in three years to earn the honor. Florida State’s Jameis Winston took it in 2013.
Watson, a sophomore, threw for more than 3,500 yards with 30 touchdowns and ran for almost 900 yards with 11 touchdowns to lead Clemson (13-0) to a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The other finalists were Trevone Boykin of TCU and Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma.
Biletnikoff Award
ATLANTA — Baylor’s Corey Coleman has won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s outstanding receiver.
Coleman is the first Baylor player to win the award.
Coleman, a junior, had 74 receptions for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. It was his second straight season with more than 1,000 yards receiving.
Other players from the Big 12 to win the award include Michael Crabtree, who won back-to-back awards in 2007-08 for Texas Tech, and Justin Blackmon, who also won two straight years in 2010-11 for Oklahoma State.
Thorpe Award
ATLANTA — Iowa’s Desmond King has won the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation’s best defensive back.
King, a junior cornerback, led Iowa with eight interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown, this season. He is the first Iowa player to win the honor. He became the Big Ten’s seventh winner, tying the Southeastern Conference for the lead.
King was selected over Duke’s Jeremy Cash and Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III.
Bednarik Award
ATLANTA — Tyler Matakevich of Temple has won the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s defensive player of the year.
Matakevich, a linebacker, is the first Temple player to win the award. The award was presented on Thursday night at the College Football Hall of Fame.
It was the second major award for Matakevich. On Monday, he won the Bronko Nagurski Award, also given to the nation’s top defensive player.
The 6-foot-1, 232-pound Matakevich had 126 tackles this season, including 15 for loss, along with five interceptions, 4.5 sacks and five pass breakups.
The other finalists were Penn State’s Carl Nassib and Alabama’s Reggie Ragland.
Outland Trophy
ATLANTA — Stanford’s Joshua Garnett has won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman.
Garnett, a senior offensive guard and team captain, was presented the award Thursday night. Garnett (6-foot-5, 321 pounds) was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection.
Garnett helped clear running room for Stanford’s star running back Christian McCaffrey, who was a finalist for the Maxwell Award given to the nation’s top player.
The other Outland Trophy finalists were Baylor’s Spencer Drango and Alabama’s D’Shawn Robinson.
Groza Award
ATLANTA — UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn has won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker.
Fairbairn made 20 of 23 field-goal attempts and each of his 44 extra points in 2015. His longest field goal was from 60 yards.
Fairbairn, a senior from Kailua, Hawaii, scored more than 100 points in four straight seasons for the Bruins.
The other finalists were Jake Elliott of Memphis and Auburn’s Daniel Carlson. The award was presented on Thursday at the College Football Hall of Fame.
Ray Guy Award
ATLANTA — Utah’s Tom Hackett has won the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top punter.
It was the second straight year Hackett won the award, presented Thursday night.
The Australian-born punter became the first Utah player and the first from the Pac-12 to win the award in 2014. The only other player to win the honor in consecutive seasons was Louisiana Tech’s Ryan Allen in 2011-12. Baylor’s Daniel Sepulveda also won two Ray Guy Awards, but not in consecutive seasons (2004 and 2006).
Hackett, a senior, averaged a career-best 47.8 yards this season, including a long punt of 76 yards.
The other finalists were Michael Carrizosa of San Jose State and Hayden Hunt of Colorado State.
