Washington QB Michael Penix, Jr. and Wake Forest LB Jacob Roberts named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week, presented by The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley

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The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 16, presented by The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley.    

About the Award: This is the 20th 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.  Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Foundation.   It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MICHAEL PENIX, JR., WASHINGTON

Senior, Quarterback, Tampa, FL

Senior Michael Penix, Jr. threw for 473 yards and four touchdowns as 8th-ranked Washington (3-0) cruised to a 41-7 road victory at Michigan State.  Penix, who completed 27-of-35 passes, led the Huskies to five first-half scoring drives and a 35-0 halftime lead.  In all, Washington accumulated 713 yards of total offense in the contest.

Notes: Michael Penix, Jr. is the fifth Washington player to earn Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors since 2004, and the first since former linebacker Azeem Victory (Oct. 29, 2016).  Penix, Jr. is also the first Husky to earn Offensive Player of week honors.  

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

JACOB ROBERTS, WAKE FOREST

Senior, Linebacker, Charlotte, NC

Senior linebacker Jacob Roberts recorded a game-high 13 tackles (4 solo), including 4.0 for losses, three quarterback sacks and forced one fumble as Wake Forest came-from-behind to defeat Old Dominion, 27-24.  Roberts’ play led a Demon Deacon defense that recorded 10 sacks on the day, as they improved to 3-0.

Notes: It is the third time a Wake Forest player has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004.  Safety Nick Anderson (Oct. 25, 2020) earned Defensive honors, while former quarterback Sam Hartman was the Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 24, 2021.

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org) – 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 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Global Sports & Entertainment is a dedicated division of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management that focuses exclusively on the complex financial needs of professional athletes and entertainers. Our division grew out of an understanding that every sports and entertainment profession has its own unique characteristics, earnings profile and career span. Our clients need the support of advisors who understand how their money flows from their work to their wallet and can help them craft innovative financial strategies that match their lifestyle and career trajectory.

The Heights Group is led by brothers Ryan Heald and Brooke Heald, both of whom are former collegiate student-athletes and have earned the rare distinction of Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment Director, a designation earned by fewer than 1% of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors. Ryan is a NFLPA Registered Institutional Player Financial Advisor with more than 20 years of experience working with top performers in sports and entertainment. The Heights Group started working with many talented clients and their families before they signed their first pro contracts, helping them understand, and prepare for, the complex financial challenges they would face as their careers progressed. The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley serves as their go-to advisors, always ready to help them sort through any financial issue and make informed decisions while pursuing their most important life goals.

The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley is the presenting sponsor of Walter Camp’s National FBS Players of Week

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The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley is the presenting sponsor of Walter Camp’s National FBS Players of Week program, the longest running college football weekly award.

This is the 20th 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.  

Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and announced each Sunday afternoon by the Foundation.   It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.

Global Sports & Entertainment is a dedicated division of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management that focuses exclusively on the complex financial needs of professional athletes and entertainers. Our division grew out of an understanding that every sports and entertainment profession has its own unique characteristics, earnings profile and career span. Our clients need the support of advisors who understand how their money flows from their work to their wallet and can help them craft innovative financial strategies that match their lifestyle and career trajectory.

The Heights Group is led by brothers Ryan Heald and Brooke Heald, both of whom are former collegiate student-athletes and have earned the rare distinction of Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment Director, a designation earned by fewer than 1% of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors. Ryan is a NFLPA Registered Institutional Player Financial Advisor with more than 20 years of experience working with top performers in sports and entertainment. The Heights Group started working with many talented clients and their families before they signed their first pro contracts, helping them understand, and prepare for, the complex financial challenges they would face as their careers progressed. The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley serves as their go-to advisors, always ready to help them sort through any financial issue and make informed decisions while pursuing their most important life goals.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers and Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week (Sept. 10)

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The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 9.      

About the Award: This is the 20th 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.  Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Foundation.   It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

QUINN EWERS, TEXAS

Sophomore, Quarterback, Southlake, TX

Quinn Ewers completed 24-of-38 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns as 11th-ranked Texas defeated third-ranked Alabama, 34-24.   Ewers threw two scoring passes to highlight the Longhorns’ 21-point fourth quarter that lifted them to victory, which snapped the Crimson Tide’s 21-game home winning streak.

Notes: Quinn Ewers is the 12th Texas player to earn Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors since 2004, and the first Longhorn since former running back Bijan Robinson was recognized on Sept. 5, 2021.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DANNY STUTSMAN, OKLAHOMA

Junior, Linebacker, Windermere, FL

Junior linebacker Danny Stutsman recorded a game-high 17 tackles (5 solo), including 2.5 for losses, one quarterback sack and one quarterback hurry as 18th-ranked Oklahoma defeated SMU, 28-11.  Stutsman also recovered a fumble as the Sooners (2-0) held the Mustangs scoreless over the game’s final 12 minutes to seal the victory.

Notes: It is the 11th time an Oklahoma player has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004. Danny Stutsman is the first Sooner defensive POW honoree since LB Kenneth Murray (Sept. 23, 2018).

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org) – 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 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and North Carolina LB Kaimon Rucker Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week (Sept. 3)

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The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 2.  Please note:  Outstanding performances from games played on September 3 and 4 will be considered for next week’s awards.

About the Award: This is the 20th 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.  Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Foundation.   It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

SHEDEUR SANDERS, COLORADO

Junior, Quarterback, Dallas, TX

Shedeur Sanders passed for a school-record 510 yards and threw for four touchdowns as Colorado defeated 17th-ranked TCU, 45-42.  Sanders, who completed 38-of-47 passes in the game, led the Buffs to their first win against a ranked opponent since 2019, connected to four different CU receivers who totaled over 100 yards each.   Sanders also became the first player since 1996 to throw for 500+ yards in his FBS debut.

Notes: Shedeur Sanders is the third Colorado player (and first offensive honoree) to earn Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors since 2004, joining former Buffaloes Terrence Wheatley (DB, Oct. 28, 2007) and Nate Landman (LB, Nov. 29, 2020).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KAIMON RUCKER, NORTH CAROLINA

Senior, Linebacker, Hartwell, GA

Senior linebacker Kaimon Rucker recorded eight tackles (6 solo), including 5.5 tackles for loss, and two quarterback sacks as North Carolina opened the 2023 season with a 31-17 victory over South Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.  Rucker led a Tar Heel defense that tallied nine sacks and limited South Carolina to -2 yards rushing.

Notes: It is the seventh time a North Carolina player has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Year honors since 2004. Kaimon Rucker is the first Tar Heel defensive POW honoree since DE Kareem Martin (Nov. 17, 2013).

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org,@WalterCampFF) – 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). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s website, www.ncfaa.org

Walter Camp Foundation Mourns the Passing of Honorary Member Gil Brandt

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The all-volunteer membership of the Walter Camp Foundation mourns the passing of honorary member Gil Brandt, who passed away at the age of 91.

Brandt, the pioneering NFL executive who helped turn the Dallas Cowboys into “America’s Team,” was recognized by the Foundation as its 1999 Man of the Year.

In January 2020, the Foundation recognized Brandt for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Forty Five Players Named to Walter Camp 2023 Player of Year Preseason Watch List

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The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of forty-five “players to watch” for its 2023 Player of the Year award, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams was the 2022 Walter Camp Player of Year.  Williams headlines the 2023 watch list, which includes 38 offensive players (20 quarterbacks, 11 running backs, five receivers/tight ends and two offensive lineman) along with seven from the defensive side of the ball. 

Players from 35 different schools representing 11 conferences (including independents) are represented on the preseason watch list.   Ohio State has four players on the watch list, while eight schools (Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and Washington) each have two.

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

The 2023 watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in mid-November.  The 2023 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 133 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on ESPN’s College Football Awards Show in December.  The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation’s 57th annual national awards banquet in New Haven, Conn in early 2024.

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.

2023 Walter Camp Player of Year Preseason Players to Watch  

Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin

Joe Alt, OL, Notre Dame

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Chevan Cordiero, QB, San Jose State

Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati

Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State

Samson Evans, RB, Eastern Michigan

Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

Olu Fashanu, OL, Penn State

Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma

Frank Gore, Jr., RB, Southern Miss

Taylen Green, QB, Boise State

Frank Harris, QB, UTSA

Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR, Ohio State

Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ole Miss

Jaylin Lucas, RB/KR, Indiana

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Kool-Aid McKinstry, DB, Alabama

Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee

Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois

Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Jaydn Ott, RB, California

Michael Penix, Jr., QB, Washington

Harold Perkins, LB, LSU

Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane

Will Rogers, QB, Mississippi State

Austin Reed, QB, Western Kentucky

Kurtis Rourke, QB, Ohio

Raheim Sanders, RB, Arkansas 

Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State

Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State

Jeremiah Trotter, LB, Clemson

Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org) – 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 Walter Camp Football Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 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 two-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter at @NCFAA.

2023 Walter Camp Player of Year Watchlist will be announced Friday, August 11

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The 2023 Walter Camp Player of Year Watch List will be announced on Friday, August 31 as part of the National College Football Awards Association annual watchlist release.

Here is the schedule of releases, all of which will come at Noon ET each day.

Earlier this year, Walter Camp announced its preseason All-America team, presented by 777 Partners

Mon., July 31: Maxwell Award
Tue., Aug 1: Outland Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Wed., Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award and Ray Guy Award
Thu., Aug. 3: Paul Hornung Award and Wuerffel Trophy
Fri., Aug. 4: Mackey Award and Rimington Trophy
Mon., Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award
Tue., Aug. 8: Davey O’Brien Award
Wed., Aug. 9: Doak Walker Award
Thu., Aug. 10: Butkus Award and Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Fri., Aug. 11: Walter Camp Award
Mon., Aug. 14: Bednarik Award

USC quarterback Caleb Williams was the 2022 Walter Camp Player of Year

Kellen Winslow and Jim Covert to be Inducted into the Ring of Honor

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2023 Walter Camp Preseason FBS All-America Teams, presented by 777 Partners

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The 2023 Walter Camp Preseason Football Bowl Subdivision All-America Teams are presented by 777 Partners, a Miami-based alternative investment firm that invests across several high-growth business sectors, including insurance, consumer and commercial finance, litigation finance, direct lending, aviation, and sports, media and entertainment. Within the latter, 777 Partners has acquired an unrivaled portfolio of seven international soccer clubs, the British Basketball League and a vast catalogue of sports media rights. These industries represent areas of unbridled performance, each one supported by the other in one world-class shared services model.

2023 Walter Camp Preseason Video

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cy8f3ft4q8dpeym/AACRqLkgq96VDC3WMzrS1QuOa?dl=0&preview=WCFF2023+PreSeason+Program.MOV

A Little History

Walter Camp is the nation’s oldest college football All-America team.  Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.

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.    

Typically announced in early December, the Walter Camp All-America teams are selected by the FBS head coaches and sports information directors.

• From 1889 to 1964, eleven players were selected.

• In 1965, both offensive and defensive teams were picked.

• In 1972, the first punter (Ray Guy, Southern Mississippi) was honored.

• In 1975, the first placekicker (Chris Bahr, Penn State) was selected.

• In 1998, the first-ever Second Team All-America team was recognized.

• In 2001, the first kick returner (Herb Haygood, Michigan State) was picked.

Good to See You Again

Twelve players who earned 2022 Walter Camp All-America First and Second Team honors are on the 2023 preseason list, led by USC junior quarterback Caleb Williams.  Williams, who was also selected as the 2022 Walter Camp Player of Year, was a First Team honoree last season.   Three other 2022 First Team honorees – Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison, Jr.; Michigan RB Blake Corum; and Indiana KR Jaylin Lucas – are 2023 preseason First Team All-Americans.  

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

WR      Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State*           6-4       205       Jr.            Philadelphia, PA

WR      Rome Odunze, Washington                   6-3       211       Jr.            Las Vegas, NV

TE        Brock Bowers, Georgia #                      6-4       230       Jr.            Napa, CA

OL       Joe Alt, Notre Dame #                           6-7       317       Jr.            North Oaks, MN

OL       Olu Fashanu, Penn State #                     6-6       323       Jr.            Waldorf, MD

OL       Cooper Beebe, Kansas State                  6-4       332       Sr.            Kansas City, MO

OL       Graham Barton, Duke                            6-5       311       Sr.            Brentwood, TN

C          Drake Nugent, Michigan                       6-1       300       Gr.            Lone Tree, CO

QB       Caleb Williams, USC*                          6-1       220       Jr.            Washington, D.C.

RB       Blake Corum, Michigan*                       5-8       210       Sr.            Marshall, VA

RB       Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss                  5-11     210       So.            Pike Road, AL

PK       Joshua Karty, Stanford                          6-2       207       Sr.            Burlington, NC

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

DL       Jared Verse, Florida State                      6-4       248       Jr.            Dayton, OH

DL       Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois #                    6-2       295       So.       St. Petersburg, FL

DL       Dontay​ Corleone, Cincinnati                  6-2       320       So.            Cincinnati, OH

DL       Bralen Trice, Washington                      6-4       267       Jr.            Phoenix, AZ

LB       Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State #           6-2       239       Gr.            Cleveland, OH

LB       Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., Clemson               6-0       230       Jr.            Hainesport, NJ

LB       Harold Perkins, Jr., LSU                        6-1       220       So.            New Orleans, LA

DB       Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama              6-1       195       Jr.            Birmingham, AL

DB       Kamren Kinchens, Miami                      5-11     202       Jr.            Miami, FL

DB       Calen Bullock, USC                              6-3       190       Jr.            Pasadena, CA

DB       Kalen King, Penn State #                       5-11     190       Jr.            Detroit, MI

P          Kai Kroeger, South Carolina #               6-4       220       Sr.            Lake Forest, IL

KR       Jaylin Lucas, Indiana *                          5-9       185       So.            Houma, LA

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

WR      Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State                    6-1       205       Jr.            Steilacoom, WA

WR      Xavier Worthy, Texas                           6-1       164       Jr.            Fresno, CA

TE        Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota              6-7       270       Sr.        St. Cloud, MN

OL       Zak Zinter, Michigan                             6-6       315       Sr.            North Andover, MA

OL       Christian Haynes, Connecticut               6-3       305       Sr.            Bowie, MD

OL       Beaux Limmer, Arkansas                      6-5       306       Sr.            Tyler, TX

OL       JC Latham, Alabama                             6-6       335       Jr.            Oak Creek, WI

C          Zach Frazier, West Virginia                   6-3       306       Jr.            Fairmont, WV

QB       Drake Maye, North Carolina                  6-4       225       So.            Huntersville, NC

RB       Braelon Allen, Wisconsin                      6-2       236       Jr.            Fond Du Lac, WI

RB       Raheim Sanders, Arkansas                    6-2       237       Jr.            Rockledge, FL

PK       Jonah Dalmas, Boise State                     5-8       172       Sr.            Meridian, ID

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

DL       Mykel Williams, Georgia                      6-5       265       So.            Columbus, GA

DL       Mekhi Wingo, LSU                               6-1       295       Jr.        St. Louis, MO

DL       Chop Robinson, Penn State                    6-3       253       Jr.            Gaithersburg, MD

DL       Leonard Taylor, Miami                          6-3       305       Jr.            Miami, FL

LB       Jason Henderson, Old Dominion            6-1       225       Jr.            Dingsman Ferry, PA

LB       Barrett Carter, Clemson                         6-1       225       Jr.            Suwanee, GA

LB       Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia            6-1       245       Jr.            Hyattsville, MD

DB       Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo #                   6-0       200       Jr.            Williston, FL

DB       Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame           6-0       179       So.            Phoenix, AZ

DB       Malaki Starks, Georgia                          6-1       205       So.            Jefferson, GA

DB       Cole Bishop, Utah                                 6-2       206       Jr.            Peachtree City, GA

P          Tory Taylor, Iowa                                 6-4       230       Sr.            Melbourne, Australia

KR       Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State #    5-10     185       Sr.            Philadelphia, PA

* – 2022 First Team Walter Camp All-America selection

# – 2022 Second Team Walter Camp All-America selection

www.waltercamp.org

Former USC SID Tim Tessalone Recognized as the William E. Keish Jr. Sports Communicator Award Recipient

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The Walter Camp Sports Communicator award is named in memory of Bill Keish, who was a longtime Foundation member and chairman of the public relations committee. The award originated as the Foundation’s “Media Appreciation” award. It was awarded to local sports media professionals in recognition of their contributions on behalf of the WCFF. It has recently been expanded to a broader scope, recognizing contributions to sports communications.

Bill served as the public spokesman for the Connecticut State Department of Transportation, DOT, for many, many years. He retired in 1997 having served under ten DOT Commissioners and six governors, responding to thousands of crises: including bridge collapses, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, ice storms and train crashes. He was a former city reporter in New Haven and the state bureau in Hartford for the New Haven Register from 1954

through 1967. He was also a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Bill passed away at age 69 on September 21, 2001. 

This year, the Keish award goes to Tim Tessalore, the recently-retired University of Southern California sports information director.    Tessalone was recognized by Foundation President Tony Mortali at the Walter Camp Alumni Brunch in New Haven.

Tim spent 43 years at USC. Tim began his USC career as a journalism student who was passionate about writing and sports, and that passion translated into propelling the USC athletic department to the front page of the sports section with other highly successful Los Angeles teams that intensely compete for news coverage. The other teams? They included the Lakers, Dodgers, Rams and USC’s bitter-rival UCLA.

During his time at USC, the school produced 54 national championship teams, 305 Olympians, and 26 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.  For the Trojans’ football program, Tessalone helped promote 225 NFL draft picks, 40 Walter Camp All-America selections and two Walter Camp Players of Year (quarterback Matt Leinart, 2004 and running back Reggie Bush, 2005).  More impressively, Tim worked 517 USC football games over 43 years. He is a member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame.

In 2018, Tessalone was named to the USC Athletics Hall of Fame which includes many of the great names in college and Olympic sports.