South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Utah State’s Asher Cunningham Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 6 (Oct. 13)

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 10.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                               

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

LANORRIS SELLERS, SOUTH CAROLINA

Senior, Quarterback, Florence, SC

The SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, LaNorris Sellers accounted for 299 yards of total offense and five touchdowns as the Gamecocks defeated 16th-ranked Florida, 38-19, on the road.  Sellers was 23-of-35 passing for 279 yards and four touchdowns and added 20 rushing yards and one score.   With the win, South Carolina improved to 3-3, 1-3 in the SEC.

Notes: It is the eighth time since 2004 that a South Carolina player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. It is also the second time that Sellers has earned Offensive Player of Week honors (Nov. 19, 2024).

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

ASHER CUNNINGHAM, UTAH STATE

Junior, Linebacker, Asheville, NC

The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, Asher Cunningham recorded a team-best 17 tackles, including two for losses, 0.5 quarterback sacks as Utah State came-from-behind to defeat Pac-12 rival Washington State, 17-16. Cunningham also forced two fumbles in the second half, recovering one, as the Aggies overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to improve to 2-4, 1-1 in the Pac-12.

Notes: It is the first time since 2004 that a Utah State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.  

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Iowa State’s Aiden Flora and Tennessee’s Dejuan Lane Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 5 (Oct. 6)

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 3.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                             

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

AIDEN FLORA, IOWA STATE

RS Sophomore, Running Back, Adel, IA

Aiden Flora was responsible for five total touchdowns (3 rushing, 2 passing) in Iowa State’s 45-42 win over West Virginia.  He rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a pair of touchdowns to become the ninth FBS player, and first Big 12 player since 1996, with two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and 200 yards rushing in a game (and he is the first non-quarterback to do so).

Notes: It is the fifth time since 2004 (and first since Oct. 8, 2017 – linebacker Joel Lanning) that an Iowa State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.  The Cyclones’ last offensive honoree was former wide receiver Todd Blythe on Oct. 30, 2005.

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DEJUAN LANE, TENNESSEE

Junior, Defensive Back, Jessup, MD

Dejuan Lane registered a team high nine tackles, two quarterback sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, one QB hurry and one interception to help lead Tennessee past SEC-rival Auburn, 24-14. Lane’s nine tackles were also career high. With the victory, the Volunteers improved to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the SEC.

Notes: It is the ninth time since 2004 (and first since Oct. 16, 2022 – wide receiver Jalin Hyatt) that a Tennessee player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.   The last defensive honoree was former linebacker Darrell Taylor on Nov. 10, 2018.

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

 

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Texas’ Colin Simmons Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 4 (Sept. 29)

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 26.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                              

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

JEREMIAH SMITH, OHIO STATE

Junior, Wide Receiver, Miami Gardens, FL

The Big Ten Offensive Player of Week, Jeremiah Smith recorded 12 receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns in Ohio State’s 42-19 victory against Illinois. His 217 yards tied for the sixth most in a single game in Ohio State history.  Smith became the first player in program history to surpass 3,000 career receiving yards and now has 3,175.

 Notes: It is the 16th time since 2004 that a Ohio State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.  Smith is the first Buckeye offensive honoree since former quarterback C.J. Stroud was honored on Nov. 20, 2021.

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

COLIN SIMMONS, TEXAS

Junior, Edge, Dallas, TX

Colin Simmons recorded a Texas single-game record with 5.5 quarterback sacks as the top-ranked Longhorns (4-0, 1-0 in SEC) defeated 14th-ranked Tennessee, 20-17. For the game, Simmons recorded nine total tackles (6 solo), forced one fumble and had 10 quarterback pressures. The 5.5 sacks also tied for the third-most in FBS history (since sacks became an official NCAA state in 2000).

Notes: It is the 16th time since 2004 that a Texas player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.   The last defensive honoree was former Longhorn linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. on October 27, 2025.

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

 

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Walter Camp Named to Inaugural Hopkins Hall of Fame

/in /by
Walter Camp, the Father of American Football, a 1876 graduate of Hopkins Grammar School, is one of the inaugural inductees into the Hopkins Athletics Hall of Fame, it was announced by the school.  The induction ceremony will be Friday, Oct. 23 on the Hopkins campus.
Walter Camp 1876 HGS
A three-year football letterwinner and team captain at Hopkins Grammar School, Walter Camp went on to star at Yale before becoming one of the most influential figures in the history of American football. His work developing many of the rules and structures that shaped the modern game earned him the enduring nickname “The Father of American Football.”

For the first time in its storied history, Hopkins School will induct a class into the Hopkins Athletics Hall of Fame this fall, honoring eight inaugural inductees whose achievements span more than a century of Hilltopper athletic history.

The newly created Hall of Fame will recognize distinguished student-athletes, coaches, teams, administrators, and community contributors from Hopkins School and its predecessor institutions, Hopkins Grammar School and Day Prospect Hill School. Those selected have distinguished themselves through athletic achievement, leadership, character, sportsmanship, perseverance, service, and their lasting impact on Hopkins and beyond.

West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr. and Louisville’s Kaleb Beasley Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 3 (Sept. 22)

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 19.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                              

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MICHAEL HAWKINS JR., WEST VIRGINIA

RS Sophomore, Quarterback, Austin, TX

Guiding the WVU offense in its 38-27 win over then-No. 25 Virginia, Michael Hawkins Jr. threw for 190 yards and two scores. Named the Big 12 Offensive Player of Week, Hawkins Jr. also set career highs in rushing with 123 yards and three touchdowns. He became the first Big 12 quarterback to score five touchdowns against a ranked opponent since 2019 and the first FBS signal caller to achieve the feat this season.

Notes: It is the eighth time since 2004 (and first since September 2, 2018 – Will Grier, QB) that a West Virginia player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. 

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KALEB BEASLEY, LOUISVILLE

Junior, Defensive Back, Nashville, TN

Kaleb Beasley finished with a team-high 10 tackles and two interceptions in the Louisville’s 41-31 win over No. 16 SMU.  Beasley recorded an interception in the second quarter and added another late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Cardinals, who improved to 3-0.  Beasley was also honored as the ACC Defensive Back of the Week.

Notes: It is the sixth time since 2004 (and first since November 6, 2016 – Lamar Jackson, QB) that a Louisville player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.   The last defensive honoree was former safety Gerod Holliman on November 9, 2014.

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and California’s Kingston Lopa Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 2 (Sept. 15)

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 12.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                             

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DREW MESTEMAKER, OKLAHOMA STATE

RS Sophomore, Quarterback, Austin, TX

Drew Mestemaker led the Cowboys to a 39-31 victory over No. 6 Oregon, finishing with 426 total offensive yards (317 passing yards and 109 rushing yards) and three touchdowns.  Mestemaker, who was 26-of-43 passing, became the first OSU quarterback with 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game since 2022.

Notes: It is the 10th time since 2004 (and first since Sept. 17, 2024 – Alan Bowman, QB) that an Oklahoma State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. 

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KINGSTON LOPA, CALIFORNIA

RS Sophomore, Defensive Back, Sacramento, CA

Kingston Lopa recorded five tackles and three interceptions, including a 53-yard return for a touchdown, as California defeated ACC-rival Syracuse, 21-18.  Lopa, who also earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors, secured the victory with his third interception with 53 seconds remaining in the contest.

Notes: It is the sixth time since 2004 (and first since Sept. 8, 2019 – Evan Weaver, LB) that a California player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. 

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Miami’s Malachi Toney and Colorado’s Lamont Lester, Jr. Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 1 (Sept. 9)

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 7.

 About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.

                                               

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MALACHI TONEY, MIAMI

Sophomore, Wide Receiver, Liberty City, FL

Malachi Toney turned in a record-setting performance in Miami’s 45-6 road win at Stanford, catching 12 passes for a program-record 234 receiving yards and three touchdowns.  His 234 yards broke a 42-year-old school record.  In the first half along, Toney accumulated 10 receptions for 182 yards and two touchdowns as the Hurricanes raced to 21-point lead.

Notes: It is the seventh time since 2004 (and first since Oct. 16, 2022 – Akheem Mesidor, DT) that a Miami player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. 

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

LAMONT LESTER, JR., COLORADO

Junior, Defensive Line, Jersey City, NJ

Lamont Lester, Jr. record five tackles, including 3.5 for losses, and three quarterback sacks as Colorado opened up the 2026 season with a thrilling 14-13 victory at Georgia Tech.  Lester’s three sacks were the most by a CU player in his debut game since 2003.  For the game, the CU defense held Georgia Tech to just 5-of-13 on third down conversions and caused three fumbles.

Notes: It is the fourth time since 2004 (and first since Sept. 2, 2023 – Shedeur Sanders, QB) that a Colorado player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. 

 

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  

 The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Walter Camp 2026 FBS Player of Year Preseason Watch List

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of fifty “players to watch” for its 2026 Player of the Year award, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade. The 2026 watch list includes 41 offensive players (22 quarterbacks, 11 running backs and eight receivers/tight ends) along with nine from the defensive side of the ball.

Players from 38 different schools representing 11 conferences (including independents) are represented on the preseason watch list.   Texas has four players on the watch list, while Miami has three.  Seven schools (Georgia, Indiana, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M) each have two.

“We are proud to continue the great work of Walter Camp, considered the father of American football, and recognize the very best college football players in the nation,” Foundation president Michael Madera said. “This watch list is a great start to what is shaping up to be another exciting year of college football.”

Earlier in the summer, the Foundation announced its 2026 preseason All-American teams.  Walter Camp is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious collegiate football All-America team.

The 2026 Player of Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in early November and three finalists will be announced in early December. The 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 138 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced in the second week of December.

Walter Camp Player of Year Facts

  • First awarded in 1967, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the 59th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year award in 2025.
  • Mendoza was the 24th quarterback to win the award. There have been 25 running backs, five wide receivers, one wide receiver/defensive back, one tight end and three defensive players to earn the honor.
  • Colorado’s Travis Hunter (2024) was the first two-way player to win the award.
  • Three players – USC’s OJ. Simpson (1967, 1968), Ohio State’s Archie Griffin (1974, 1975) and Texas’ Colt McCoy (2008, 2009) have been multiple winners.
  • Three defensive players have won the award – Pittsburgh’s Hugh Green (1980), Michigan’s Charles Woodson (1997) and Notre Dame’s Manti Teo (2012).
  • Players from 26 different schools have earned the award. USC has won the most Player of Year awards (7), followed by Oklahoma, Ohio State and Notre Dame with four each.

Please note: Appearing on the preseason Watch List is not a requirement for a player to win the Walter Camp award or be named to the All-America team.

2026 Walter Camp Player of Year Preseason Players to Watch  

Micah Alejado, QB, sophomore, Hawaii

Xavier Atkins, LB, junior, Auburn *

C.J. Bailey, QB, junior, North Carolina State

Charlie Becker, WR, junior, Indiana

Rasheem Biles, LB, senior, Texas *

DeSean Bishop, RB, junior, Tennessee

Isaac Brown, RB, junior, Louisville

Sammy Brown, LB, junior, Clemson *

C.J. Carr, QB, junior, Notre Dame

Trinidad Chambliss, QB, senior, Ole Miss

Cam Coleman, WR, junior, Texas #

Cam Cook, RB, senior, West Virginia #

Mario Craver, WR, junior, Texas A&M

Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, QB, senior, Marshall

Devon Dampier, QB, senior, Utah

Cameron Dickey, RB, junior, Texas Tech

KJ Duff, WR, junior, Rutgers #

Noah Fifita, QB, senior, Arizona

Mark Fletcher, Jr., RB, senior, Miami

Trey’Dez Green, TE, junior, LSU *

Ahmad Hardy, RB, junior, Missouri *

Caleb Hawkins, RB, sophomore, Oklahoma State #

Kevin Jennings, QB, senior, SMU

Kewan Lacy, RB, junior, Ole Miss *

Broc Lowry, QB, junior, Western Michigan

Maddux Madsen, QB, senior, Boise State

Jayden Maiava, QB, senior, USC

Arch Manning, QB, sophomore, Texas *

LJ Martin, RB, senior, BYU

John Mateer, QB, senior, Oklahoma

Owen McCown, QB, senior, UTSA

Darian Mensah, QB, Junior, Miami

Nick Minicucci, QB, senior, Delaware

Dante Moore, QB, senior, Oregon

Leonard Moore, DB, junior, Notre Dame *

Marcel Reed, QB, junior, Texas A&M

Duce Robinson, WR, senior, Florida State

Ellis Robinson IV, DB, sophomore, Georgia #

Julian Sayin, QB, sophomore, Ohio State #

LaNorris Sellers, QB, junior, South Carolina

Colin Simmons, Edge, junior, Texas *

Anthony Smith, Edge, senior, Minnesota #

Jeremiah Smith, WR, junior, Ohio State *

Dylan Stewart, Edge, junior, South Carolina *

Gunner Stockton, QB, Senior, Georgia

Lucky Sutton, RB, senior, San Diego State

Jai’Den Thomas, RB, senior, UNLV

Malachi Toney, WR/PR, sophomore, Miami *

Tyrique Tucker, DL, senior, Indiana *

Bryce Underwood, QB, sophomore, Michigan

 

* 2026 Walter Camp Preseason First Team All-American

# – 2026 Walter Camp Preseason Second Team All-American

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.

 

The Walter Camp Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:

Mon., Aug. 3: Maxwell Award                                      

Tue., Aug. 4: Outland Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Wed., Aug. 5: John Mackey Award                              

Thu., Aug. 6: Rimington Trophy
Fri., Aug. 7: Lou Groza Award                                        

Mon., Aug. 10: Paul Hornung Award
Tue., Aug. 11: Allstate Wuerffel Trophy                     

Wed., Aug. 12: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Thu., Aug. 13: Butkus Award                                         

Fri., Aug. 14: Ray Guy Award
Mon., Aug. 17: Walter Camp Award                         

Tue., Aug. 18: Doak Walker Award
Wed., Aug. 19: Biletnikoff Award                                 

Thu., Aug. 20: Davey O’Brien Award
Fri., Aug. 21: Bednarik Award

For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA and Instagram @TheNCFAA.

Former Walter Camp All-Americans Enshrined to Pro Football Hall of Fame

/in /by

Three former Walter Camp All-Americans were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 8.

Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh, 2003 Walter Camp Player of Year/First Team All-American

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was the first sophomore the Walter Camp Player of the Year award in 2003.  Fitzgerald was virtually unstoppable in 2003 during his sophomore campaign, compiling 92 catches for 1,672 yards (18.2 avg.) and 22 touchdowns.

The third overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent his entire 17-year pro career with the Arizona Cardinals (2004-20). An 11-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL 100 All-Time Team, he ranks second in NFL history in receiving yards (17,492) and receptions (1,432). In 2018, Fitzgerald was named as the Walter Camp Alumni Award winner.  

Luke Kuechly, Boston College, 2010 and 2011 First Team All-American

Luke Kuechly concluded his career at Boston College as one of the most accomplished defensive players in college football history. In 38 career games, including 37 starts, he amassed an ACC and school-record 532 total tackles, the second-highest total in NCAA history. As a junior in 2011, Kuechly earned the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player, the Butkus Award as the nation’s outstanding linebacker and the Rotary Lombardi Award as the nation’s top lineman or linebacker.

In eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Kuechly was a seven-time All-Pro, a seven-time Pro Bowler, Defensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl runner-up. He was named to the All-Decade team for the 2010s.  Kuechly led the NFL in tackles in 2012 as a rookie with 202 stops, a Panthers franchise record, and again in 2014. In addition, Kuechly won the Butkus Award given to the NFL’s top linebacker three times in his career (2014, 2015, 2017) and received the Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship in 2017. 

Drew Brees, Purdue, 1999 and 2000 Second Team All-American

At Purdue, Drew Brees led the Boilers to their second-ever Rose Bowl to close out the 2000 season. He was an Academic All-American as a senior, as well as the 2000 Maxwell Award winner (nation’s most outstanding player). His name tops numerous career passing categories in Purdue’s record book: yards, completions, attempts and touchdowns.

The San Diego Chargers selected Brees in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. His career started slowly, finally gaining some momentum in 2004, when he earned the 2004 AP Comeback Player of the Year award, PFWA Most Improved Player of the Year award and a Pro Bowl invitation.  After joining the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Brees began to flourish. Over the next 15 seasons, he led the league in passes completed and passing percentage (including five seasons in excess of 70.6 percent). He led the NFL in passing yards seven times and tallied five seasons in which he exceeded 5,000 yards passing. In the 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons, Brees led the league in passing touchdowns.

Throughout the course of his 20-season career, Brees accumulated 80,358 yards passing and 571 passing touchdowns — both second all time for NFL quarterbacks.  His on-field efforts led to 13 Pro Bowl selections, AP first-team All-Pro recognition (2006), two AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards (2008, 2011), and a Super Bowl XLIV title and MVP award. In 2009, Brees earned the Bert Bell Award as the NFL Player of the Year.

Walter Camp Foundation Announces New Leadership Slate; Madera to Lead Organization

/in /by

The Walter Camp Foundation recently announced its new slate of leadership officers for 2026-27.

President:  Michael Madera, member since 1996 (President, 2017-19)

President-elect:  Dr. Greg Rocchio,  member since 2009

Vice-President:  Michael Leone, member since 2013

Vice-President: Jim Monico, member since 1997 (President, 2013-15)

Treasurer:  Jeremy Rosner, member since 2009

Secretary:  Tony Mortali, member since 1992 (President, 2022-24)

 

Note:  Outgoing President John Barbarotta was the first two-time President in the history of the Foundation…. Madera, Monico and Mortali are all Past Presidents of the Foundation.

Be sure to follow the Walter Camp Football Foundation official social media accounts

X (formerly Twitter) – @WalterCampFF

Facebook – Walter Camp FF

Instagram – @waltercampfootball 

LinkedIn – Walter Camp Football Foundation

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.