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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