There are some 25 major awards to be given out at the end of the 2012 NCAA Football season. Here is a brief rundown on how they stand at the beginning of November.
The Disney Spirit Award is given to the Most Inspirational Player or team.
Last years’ winner was the Alabama Crimson Tide who won the national title.
Top teams to be considered in 2012 are the Penn State Nittany Lions, the Florida Gators & the Alabama Crimson Tide. 2012 most inspirational player to be considered is Marcus Lattimore. While a player’s inspirational value can usually be determined by pure grit on the football field and his unwillingness to quit, there are times when a player’s heart is tested far more off the football field.
South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore gave us some footage and pictures that many of us would rather not have gotten. His emotion on the football field following his injury during the Tennessee game was palpable in living rooms across the nation.
The circumstances surrounding his 2012 season were already inspirational, as he had spent almost a year in rehab to come back from a left knee injury as it was. To see him go down with an injury to his right knee was devastating to the nation. It is never good when one of our kids is in a career-threatening situation like that.
His resolve to return to the football field showed us all his value as an inspirational role model. So, the predicted winner of Disney Spirit Award is Marcus Lattimore.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to the Outstanding Defensive Player.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list has already been narrowed down to 20 quarterfinalists. While there are a lot of deserving names on that list, one in particular stands head-and-shoulders above the rest.
He’s been named the “Lott IMPACT Player of the Week” a stunning three times.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy will go to Manti Te’o, Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Ted Hendricks Award is given to the NCAA Defensive End of the Year.
Previous winner: 2011 Whitney Mercilus (Illinois).
2012 Players of note include Jadeveon Clowney of South Carolina, Ben Gardner of Stanford, Bjoern Werner of Florida State, Barkevious Mingo of LSU, Sam Montgomery also of LSU and Damontre Moore of Texas A&M.
Any one of these players could have one great game that pops them back toward the top of the list.
