All National College Football Award Winners Played Multiple Sports in High School

100% of 2016 college football award winners played another sport in high school. Nine award winners were track and field athletes, eight played basketball, one played soccer, one wrestled, and one played Australian Rules football. In addition seven award winners played three different sports in high school.

Here is Tracking Football’s multi-sport breakdown of each of the winners:

Bednarik Award – Defensive Player of the Year

Jonathan Allen, Alabama

Track & Field and Basketball Player at Stone Bride HS in Virignia

• 3.7 / 5.0 PAI
• 45-08 Shot Put ( > 53%)
• 143-08 Discus Throw ( > 69%)

Biletnikoff Award – Best Wide Receiver

Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma

Track & Field and Basketball Player at C.H. Yoe HS in Texas

• 4.0 / 5.0 PAI
• 21.87 200m ( > 89%)

Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Defensive Player of the Year

Jonathan Allen, Alabama

Track & Field and Basketball Player at Stone Bride HS in Virignia

• 3.7 / 5.0 PAI
• 45-08 Shot Put ( > 53%)
• 143-08 Discus Throw ( > 69%)

Butkus Award – Best Linebacker

Reuben Foster, Alabama

Track & Field Athlete at Auburn HS in Alabama

• 2.8 / 5.0 PAI
• 45-00 Shot Put ( > 50%)

Davey O’Brien Award – Best Quarterback

DeShaun Watson, Clemson

Track & Field (MS) and Basketball Player at Gainesville HS in Florida

• 3.6 / 5.0 PAI
• 6-02 High Jump (MS) ( > 67%)

Doak Walker Award – Best Running Back

D’Onta Foreman, Texas

Track & Field and Basketball Player at Texas City HS in Texas

• 5.0 / 5.0 PAI
• 21.76 100m ( > 91%)

Jim Thorpe Award – Best Defensive Back

Adoree’ Jackson, USC

Track & Field and Basketball Player at Serra HS in California

• 4.5 / 5.0 PAI
• 10.68 100m ( > 93%)
• 21.59 200m ( > 94%)
• 50.29 400m ( > 79%)
• 6-00 High Jump ( > 54%)
• 25-05 Long Jump ( > 99%)

John Mackey Award – Best Tight End

Jake Butt, Michigan

Basketball Player at Pickering North in Ohio

Lou Groza Award – Best Placekicker

Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State

Soccer Player at Deer Park in Texas

Maxwell Award – Player of the Year

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Track & Field Athlete at Boynton Beach in Florida

• 3.6 / 5.0 PAI
• 11.38 100m ( > 49%)
• 19-05 Long Jump ( > 32%)

Outland Trophy – Best Interior Lineman

Cam Robinson, Alabama

Basketball Player at West Monroe in Louisiana

Paul Hornung Award – Most Versatile Player

Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

Track & Field and Basketball Player at Paramus Catholic & Don Bosco Prep HS in New Jersey

• 10.51 100m ( > 98%)
• 21.13 200m ( > 99%)
• 50.34 400m ( > 78%)
• 20-11 Long Jump ( > 57%)

Ray Guy Award – Best Punter

Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah

Australian Football Player at Lumen Christi

Rimington Trophy – Best Center

Pat Elflein, Ohio State

Track & Field Athlete and Wrestler at Pickering North in Ohio

• 4.3 / 5.0 PAI
• 50-11 Shot Put ( > 77%)
• 113-01 Discus Throw ( > 32%)

Walter Camp Award – Player of the Year

Lamar Jackson, Louisville

Track & Field Athlete at Boynton Beach in Florida

• 3.6 / 5.0 PAI
• 11.38 100m ( > 49%)
• 19-05 Long Jump ( > 32%)

When football players do track and field it gives recruiters and scouts the ability to objectively assess and compare athleticism. Tracking Football has spent decades collecting the high school track and field data of over 30,000 Division 1 and NFL football players. This database allowed us to create a 0.0 to 5.0 Player Athletic Index for football players that is rooted in high school track data as well as height, weight and football position. Currently Big 12 & Big Ten football programs use our PAI score to assist in recruiting prospects.

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