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.

Walter Camp Foundation Announces Major Award Recipients to be Honored on March 11

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In preparation for its 57th National Awards Dinner, presented by 777 Partners, the Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced its Major Award recipients.

Former two-time Super Bowl winning head coach Tom Coughlin (Syracuse ‘68) will receive the Distinguished American award.

The Walter Camp “Distinguished American” award is presented each year to an individual who has utilized his or her talents to attain great success in business, private life, or public service and who may have accomplished that which no other has done.  He or she may have a record of dedication to mankind that should not pass unrecognized and a life that has been dedicated to the preservation of the American ideal.   The recipient need not have participated in football but must be one who understands its lesson of self-denial, cooperation, and teamwork, and one who is a person of honesty, integrity, and dedication.  He or she must be a leader, an innovator, even a pioneer, who has reached a degree of excellence that distinguishes him or her from contemporaries, as well as someone who lives within the principles of Walter Camp.

Coughlin joins previous recipients of the Walter Camp Distinguished American honor include nationally respected sportscasters Keith Jackson (1995), Pat Summerall (2004) and Verne Lundquist (2014), all-purpose television personality Regis Philbin (2003), former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (1994), world-renowned entertainer Bob Hope (1985), former college coach Eddie Robinson (1982), and former NFL standout Archie Manning.

NFL Hall of Famer and former Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Tony Boselli (USC ‘95) is the recipient of the Man of the Year honor.

The Walter Camp “Man of the Year” award honors an individual who has been closely associated with the game of football as a player, coach or close attendant to the game. He must have attained a measure of success and been a leader in his chosen profession. He must have contributed to the public service for the benefit of his community, country and his fellow man. He must have an impeccable reputation for integrity and must be dedicated to our American Heritage and the philosophy of Walter Camp.

Boselli joins a distinguished list of former “Man of the Year” winners, including Roger Staubach (Navy), Gale Sayers (Kansas), Dick Butkus (Illinois), John Elway (Stanford), Jerome Bettis (Notre Dame), and Curtis Martin (Pittsburgh).

Former New England Patriot Ty Law (Michigan ’94) is the Alumni Award recipient.

The Walter Camp “Alumni of the Year” award is bestowed on a worthy individual who has distinguished himself in the pursuit of excellence as an athlete, in his personal career and in doing good works for others.  He must be an individual who has exhibited dedication and good moral conduct in achieving success. He must be a compassionate and unselfish person who contributes his time and assistance in helping to encourage and comfort fellow human beings less talented and less fortunate than himself.  He must be an individual who takes pride in having been a Walter Camp All-American.

Former Alumni Award recipients include including Bo Jackson (Auburn), Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh), Herschel Walker (Georgia), Tim Brown (Notre Dame), Doug Williams (Grambling State), Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh) and Von Miller (Texas A&M).

Tom Coughlin – Distinguished American

Two-time Super Bowl winning head coach Tom Coughlin is the recipient of the Distinguished American award.   Coughlin led the New York Giants to victories in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, both times against the New England Patriots.  

In all, Coughlin was a part of three Super Bowls, helping the Giants win Super Bowl XXV as the wide receivers coach under Bill Parcells.    A member of the Giants Ring of Honor, Coughlin recorded a 102-90 record (.531) in 12 seasons as head coach. 

Coughlin was also the inaugural coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, serving from 2005 to 2022 and leading the team to four playoff appearances and two AFC Championship Games and a 68-60 mark (.531).  

Prior to his NFL head coaching career, Coughlin served three seasons at the collegiate level at Boston College where he was 21-13-1 record, a victory in the Car Quest Bowl, and a number 12 final national ranking in 1993.  Coughlin also served as an assistant coach at BC, where he coached eventual Walter Camp Player of Year Doug Flutie in 1983.  Coughlin started his head coaching career at Rochester Institute of Technology from 1970 to 1973.

Currently, Coughlin is the President of The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, which was created in honor of Jay McGillis.  Jay was a special young man who developed leukemia while a member of Coach Coughlin’s team at Boston College, and subsequently lost his valiant battle with the disease.   After going through the tragic events with Jay’s family, Coach Coughlin vowed that if he ever had the chance, he would create a way to help families with children battling cancer.  Coach Coughlin kept his promise and started the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund.

For over 25 years, the Jay Fund has evolved in size and scope and has helped over 5,200 families and provided over $17 million in financial assistance to families in Northeast Florida and the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area.

Coughlin is a native of Waterloo, N.Y.   He played halfback for Syracuse and set the school single season pass receiving record in 1967.  He also earned his master’s degree from his alma mater. 

Tony Boselli – Man of Year

A 1992 Walter Camp All-American and member of the Foundation’s All-Time All-America team, Tony Boselli was a standout for the USC Trojans, where he was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection.  Boselli was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

He was selected by the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars as the second player overall in the 1995 NFL Draft.   Regarded as one of the NFL’s elite offensive left tackles, Boselli played seven years and persevered through numerous injuries.  He was a leader of a Jaguars’ team, under the direction of head coach Tom Coughlin, that reached the AFC Championship Game in just the franchise’s second season.  In 1998, he was named the team’s Most Valuable Player after helping the Jaguars to the team’s first division title.

Boselli was elite in all seven seasons he played, allowing just 15.5 sacks during his career. He played his best against the league’s best and had just 11 career holding penalties. There were four seasons in which he had no accepted holding penalties against him.

He was voted to five straight Pro Bowls (1997 to 2001) and was a three-time All-Pro (1997, 1998 and 1999).   He was selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team.

In 2022, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ty Law – Alumni Award

A native of Aliquippa, Pa., Ty Law attended the University of Michigan and was three-year standout for the Wolverines.  He earned Walter Camp All-America honors in 1994 and was a two-time unanimous All-Big Ten selection.

Selected by the New England Patriots in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft, Law proceeded to play 10 seasons and won three Super Bowl championships (XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX).  A two-time First Team All-Pro, Law was a five-time Pro Bowl selection.   Twice, he led the NFL in interceptions and was named to the NFL 2000’s All-Decade Team.   Law also played for the New York Jets (2005, 2008), Kansas City Chiefs (2006-2007) and Denver Broncos (2009).  He finished his career with 53 interceptions.

In 2019, Law was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Major Award winners will be honored, along with the members of the 2022 Walter Camp All-America Team, Player of Year Caleb Williams (USC), Coach of Year Sonny Dykes (TCU) and Connecticut Player of Year Drew Pyne (Arizona State) at the Foundation’s 57th National Awards Dinner, presented by 777 Partners, on Saturday, March 11 in New Haven.   National Awards Dinner tickets are $350 and available at https://waltercamp.org/product/awards-dinner/

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

New Canaan’s Drew Pyne Named Walter Camp 2022 Connecticut Player of the Year, presented by The Outlier Project

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New Canaan’s Drew Pyne has been selected as Walter Camp’s 2022 Connecticut Player of the Year, presented by The Outlier Project.   Pyne, who is now attending Arizona State, played the 2022 season for the University of Notre Dame.

The award is presented to the top college football player who is a resident and/or played scholastically in the state of Connecticut. The award is voted on by the Walter Camp Football Foundation membership.

Pyne assumed the starting role in the third game of the 2022 season.  He led the Fighting Irish to an 8-2 record in his 10 starts, including a five-game winning streak.  He completed 164-of-254 passes, for 2,021 yards (a 64.6 percentage).  He threw for 22 touchdowns and had just six interceptions. He had a 155.3 quarterback rating, which ranked 20th in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Pyne passed for 200 or more yards five times, including a season-high 318 against sixth-ranked USC on November 26.   He threw for a season-high four touchdowns in a 35-32 win over Navy on November 12, and led the Fighting Irish to a 35-14 win over then fourth-ranked Clemson on Nov. 5.  Pyne passed for one touchdown and rushed for one in the victory.   Pyne’s top target during the 2022 season was Walter Camp First Team All-America tight end Michael Mayer.

In December, Pyne transferred to Arizona State and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Pyne attended New Canaan High School where he was coached by Lou Marinelli.  As a senior, he completed 161 of 252 passes for 2,107 yards and 24 touchdowns and earned Walter Camp Second Team All-Connecticut honors.  He ended his scholastic career as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns and led the Rams to a state title in 2016. 

Pyne will be honored, along with the members of the 2022 Walter Camp All-America Team, Player of Year Caleb Williams (USC) and Coach of Year Sonny Dykes (TCU) at the Foundation’s 57th National Awards Dinner, presented by 777 Partners, on Saturday, March 11 in at Yale’s University Schwarzman Center in New Haven.   National Awards Dinner tickets are $350 and available at https://waltercamp.org/product/awards-dinner/

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.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.

The Outlier Project is a unique membership community for professional development (personal development IS professional development) and is for anyone who believes success is found by showing up differently.  We are fond of saying, “anyone can be ordinary”.  A special focus of The Outlier Project is to develop leaders who believe that companies and individuals alike succeed or fail based on the quality of the teams they build and the relationships they invest in.  We call this having a “People Over Everything” mindset.  Visit www.theoutlierproject.co/

Connecticut Player of the Year

Presented to the top college football player who is a resident and/or played scholastically in the state of Connecticut. The award is voted on by the Walter Camp Football Foundation membership.

2022 – Drew Pyne, QB, Notre Dame (Arizona State)

2021 – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky; Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami

2020 – Andrew Stueber, OL, Michigan

2019 – Christian Montano, C, Tulane

2018 – Zach Allen, DE, Boston College

2017 – Ervin Philips, WR, Syracuse

2016 – Noel Thomas, WR, Connecticut

2015 – Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple

2014 – Tyler Murphy, QB, Boston College

2013 – Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, Boston College

2012 – Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

2011 – Silas Redd, RB, Penn State

2010 – John Moffitt, OL, Wisconsin

2009 – Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida

2008 – Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue

2007 – Mike McLeod, RB, Yale

2006 – Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue

2005 – John Sullivan, C, Notre Dame

2004 – Anttaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin; Dan Orlovsky, QB, Connecticut

2003 – Dan Orlovsky, QB, Connecticut

2002 – Niko Koutouvides, LB, Purdue

2001 – Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse

2000 – Peter Mazza, LB, Yale

1999 – Bobby Myers, DB, Wisconsin

1998 – Carl Bond, RB, Connecticut

1997 – Kyle McIntosh, RB, Syracuse

1996 – Tarek Salah, LB, Wisconsin

1995 – Tarek Salah, LB, Wisconsin

1994 – Jason Miska, LB, Auburn

1993 – Chris Zingo, LB, Cornell

1992 – Curtis Eller, LB, Villanova

1991 – Corey Vincent, DL, Holy Cross

1990 – Rob Thomson, DB, Syracuse

1989 – Terry Wooden, LB, Syracuse

1988 – Glenn Antrum, WR, Connecticut

1987 – Bill Romanowski, LB, Boston College

1986 – Richard Comizio, RB, Pennsylvania

1985 – Tom Patton, DE, Holy Cross

1984 – No recipient

1983 – Steve Young, QB, Brigham Young

1982 – Mike Marshall, DB, Southern Conn.

1981 – Richard Diana, RB, Yale

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2022 Walter Camp Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team

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Offense:

Wide Receiver:   Hayden Hatten (Idaho), Fotis Kokosioulis (Fordham)

Tight End:  Marshel Martin (Sacramento State)

Offensive Line:  Cody Mauch (North Dakota State), Nash Jensen (North Dakota State), Mason McCormick (South Dakota State), Colby Sorsdal (William & Mary)

Center:  Nick Olsofska (Holy Cross)

Quarterback:  Lindsey Scott, Jr.  (Incarnate Word)

Running Back:  Jaden Shirden (Monmouth), Geno Hess (Southeast Missouri State)

Placekicker: Skyler Davis (Elon)

Defense:

Defensive Line:  David Walker (Central Arkansas), Spencer Waege (North Dakota State), Jay Person (Chattanooga), Caleb Sanders (South Dakota State)

Linebacker:  Zeke Vandenburgh (Illinois State), John Pius (William & Mary), Johnny Buchanan (Delaware)

Defensive Back:  Marte Mapu (Sacramento State), Alijah Huzzie (East Tennessee State), Marcus Hillman (Elon), Devin Haskins (Holy Cross)

Punter:  Jake Gerardi (Southern Utah)

Kick Returner:  Dylan Laube (New Hampshire)

Walter Camp High School All-Connecticut Teams Announced; Greenwich Wins Joseph W. Kelly Award as Top Team in Connecticut

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The Walter Camp Football Foundation will host its 15th Connecticut High School “Breakfast of Champions,” during the weekend of March 11-12 at The Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale.

Tickets are $50 if purchased online (https://waltercamp.eventchamp.com/) or $60 if purchased by cash/check on the day of the event.

The six Connecticut high school 2022 state champions – Greenwich (Class LL), New Canaan (Class L), North Haven (Class MM), Notre Dame-West Haven (Class M), Joel Barlow (Class SS) and Ansonia (Class S) – will be feted.   

Greenwich, which finished as the number-one team in the state’s final polls, will be recognized as the Joseph W. Kelly Award winner.  The Cardinals, under the direction of head coach Anthony Morello, won the Class LL state title after defeating Hamden (47-7), Glastonbury (42-7) and Fairfield Prep (37-7) to finish 11-2.   It is the second time Greenwich has earned the Kelly Award (2018).

Coach of the Year finalists, presented by Stadium System

Tom Brockett (Ansonia), T.J. Cavaliere (Joel Barlow), Tony Sagnella (North Haven)

Player of the Year finalists

John Neider (Jonathan Law), Danny Shaban (Joel Barlow), Jacob Staton (Notre Dame-West Haven)

Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by NFP Sports

Chuck Drury (former coach at Bristol Eastern, Bristol Central, Pomperaug & Southington High Schools)

Inspiration Award

Braiden Saucier, Woodstock Academy

2022 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Teams

The Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team is voted on by a Selection Committee, which is comprised of 10 high school head coaches that represent nine conferences around the state.

First Team Offense

Quarterback: John Neider (Jonathan Law)

Running Back:  Lincoln Cardillo (Southington), David Cassetti (Ansonia)

Wide Receiver: Tyler Clark (Staples), Ben Jax (Killingly)

Tight End: Ben Carley (Trumbull)#

Offensive Line: Alex Romanowski (Ansonia), Howard Stedford (Maloney), Jake Kiernan (Greenwich), Xavion Richardson (Trumbull), Joshua Kuczynski (Notre Dame-West Haven)

Placekicker: Ty Groff (New Canaan)#

First Team Defense

Linebacker:  Jacob Staton (Notre Dame-West Haven), Jordan Black (Trumbull), John Insigna (Greenwich)

Defensive Back: Adam Pandolfi (North Haven), Joziah Gonzalez (Maloney), Jon Morris (Fairfield Prep), Dylan Magazu (Newtown)

Defensive Line: Danny Shaban (Joel Barlow), Dominic DeLuca (Greenwich), Terrence Allen (Killingly), Christian Lewis (Notre Dame-West Haven)

Punter:  Thomas Dreibholz (Killingly)

Kick Returner:  Davien Kerr (Bloomfield)

Second Team Offense

Quarterback: Caleb Smith (Staples)

Running Back: Rowan Johnston (Trumbull), Soren Rief (Killingly)

Wide Receiver: James Hillhouse (Staples), Brandon Hutchison (St. Joseph)

Tight End: Mark Sokk (Newtown)

Offensive Line:  Douglas Traynor (New Fairfield), Dontay Bishop (New Britain), Nick Gerbase (West Haven), Matthew Tebbets (Ledyard), Peter Vomvolakis (Greenwich)

Placekicker: Logan Spoelstra (St. Joseph)

Second Team Defense

Linebacker: Jack Petrone (Glastonbury), Matthew Salmini (New Canaan), Michael Deitelbaum (Naugatuck)

Defensive Back: Charlie Dixon (Greenwich), Fred Camp (Gilbert-Northwestern-Housatonic co-op), James Green (Ledyard), Tra’vion Singleton (Hamden)

Defensive Line: Kaleb Garcia (Wethersfield), Brendan Gilchrist (Norwalk), Griffin Galletta (Greenwich), Javier Perez-Soto (New Canaan)

Punter: Daniel Hernandez (SMSA co-op)

Kick Returner: Achillius “Chilli” White (Windsor)

# – 2021 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team Second Team honoree

 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.

www.waltercamp.org

Introducing the 2022 Walter Camp All-America 1st and 2nd Teams – the nation’s oldest college football All-America team (133rd edition)

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A Little History

This is the 133rd edition of the Walter Camp All-America team, the nation’s oldest college football All-America team.  Twenty-five players were selected to the first team by the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.  In addition, 27 players were selected to the Second Team.

• 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.

Conference Info

In all, 35 different schools from 10 conferences (including independents) were represented on the All-America First and Second Teams (a total of 52 players selected).  Overall, the Big Ten Conference has the most honorees (20; 9 first teamers and 11 second teamers), followed by the Southeastern Conference (11; 6 first teamers and 5 second teamers).

Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, USC and Notre Dame each have two First Team selections.  Ohio State has four players – two on the First Team and two on the Second Team – recognized.   Penn State had three Second Team selections, while Illinois has one First Team selection and two on the Second Team.

Good to See You Again

Two players on the 2022 Walter Camp All-America teams are repeat selections.  First Team selection Will Anderson, Jr. (Alabama) was a First Team honoree in 2021.  In addition, Second Team placekicker Jake Moody (Michigan) was a First Team honoree last season.

Then and Now

Twenty different schools are represented on the 2022 Walter Camp All-America First Team.  Of the 20 schools, Michigan has the most storied tradition of placing members on the team. The Wolverines had their first selection in 1903, halfback William Heston.   This year, Michigan has two First Team selections (offensive center Olusegun Oluwatimi and running back Blake Corum).   Since 1903, Michigan has had 82 Walter Camp All-Americans.

Class Distinction

Of the 25 First Team selections, 13 are juniors and six are seniors, while three are sophomores and two have graduate status. There is one freshman (Indiana kick returner Jaylin Lucas).  On the Second Team (27 total selections), there are 10 seniors, 10 juniors, six sophomores, and one graduate.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

WR      Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee                           6-0       185       Jr.            Irmo, SC

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

TE        Michael Mayer, Notre Dame                  6-4       265       Jr.            Independence, KY

OL       Paris Johnson, Jr., Ohio State                 6-6       310       Jr.            Cincinnati, OH

OL       Peter Skoronski, Northwestern               6-4       315       Jr.            Park Ridge, IL

OL       Steve Avila, TCU                                  6-4       330       Sr.            Arlington, TX

OL       O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida                     6-5       347       Jr.            Greensburg, LA

C          Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan             6-3       307       Gr.            Upper Marlboro, MD

QB       Caleb Williams, USC                            6-1       215       Soph.            Washington, DC

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

RB       Bijan Robinson, Texas                          6-0       222       Jr.            Tucson, AZ

PK       Christopher Dunn, North Carolina State  5-8       179       Gr.            Lexington, NC

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

DL       Tuli Tuipulotu, USC                              6-4       290       Jr.            Hawthorne, CA

DL       Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh                     6-0       280       Jr.            Miami, FL

DL       Jalen Carter, Georgia                             6-3       300       Jr.            Apopka, FL

DL       Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame                    6-5       265       Sr.            Antioch, CA

LB       Will Anderson, Jr., Alabama*                6-4       243       Jr.            Hampton, GA

LB       Jack Campbell, Iowa                             6-5       246       Sr.            Cedar Falls, IA

LB       Ivan Pace, Jr., Cincinnati                       6-0       235       Sr.            Cincinnati, OH

DB       Christopher Smith, Georgia                   5-11     195       Sr.            Atlanta, GA

DB       Clark Phillips III, Utah                          5-10     183       Soph.            Lakewood, CA

DB       Devon Witherspoon, Illinois                  6-0       180       Jr.            Pensacola, FL

DB       Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State      6-0       180       Jr.            Grenada, MS

P          Bryce Baringer, Michigan State             6-3       215       Sr.            Waterford, MI

KR       Jaylin Lucas, Indiana                             5-9       170       Fr.            Houma, LA

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

WR      Nathaniel Dell, Houston                        5-10     165       Jr.            Daytona Beach, FL

WR      Rashee Rice, SMU                                6-2       203       Sr.            North Richland Hills, TX

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

OL       Joe Alt, Notre Dame                              6-7       317       Soph.            North Oaks, MI

OL       Andrew Vorhees, USC                          6-6       325       Sr.            Kingsburg, CA

OL       Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State             6-6       308       Soph.            Waldorf, MD

OL       Isaac Cochran, Air Force                       6-5       325       Sr.            Concord, NC

OL       Nick Broeker, Ole Miss                         6-5       315       Sr.            Springfield, IL

C          John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota          6-4       320       Sr.            Flossmoor, IL

QB       C.J. Stroud, Ohio State                          6-3       218       Jr.            Inland Empire, CA

RB       Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota               5-10     210       Sr.            Baltimore, MD

RB       Chase Brown, Illinois                            5-11     205       Jr.            Ontario, Canada

RB       DeWayne McBride, UAB                      5-11     215       Jr.            Starke, FL

PK       Jake Moody, Michigan*                        6-1       210       Gr.            Northville, MI

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Pos.      Name, School                                       Hgt      Wgt.    Class            Hometown

DL       Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan            6-2       252       Sr.            Lake Alfred, FL

DL       Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State     6-4       255       Jr.            Kansas City, MO

DL       Durrell Johnson, Liberty                        6-3       240       Sr.            Baltimore, MD

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

LB       Nick Herbig, Wisconsin                        6-2       228       Jr.            Kauai, HI

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

LB       Drew Sanders, Arkansas                        6-5       233       Jr.            Denton, TX

DB       Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma State             6-0       215       Sr.            Oklahoma City, OK

DB       Joey Porter, Jr., Penn State                     6-2       194       Jr.            Bakersfield, CA

DB       Kalen King, Penn State                          5-11     189       Soph.            Detroit, MI

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

P          Kai Kroeger, South Carolina                  6-4       207       Jr.            Lake Forest, IL

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

* – 2021 First Team Walter Camp All-America selection

USC Quarterback Caleb Williams is the 2022 Walter Camp Player of Year

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USC sophomore quarterback Caleb Williams (Washington, D.C.) has been selected as the 2022 Walter Camp Player of Year, presented by David McDermott Lexus of New Haven.  The award was announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.

The Walter Camp Player of Year is voted on by the nation’s 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.    

Other finalists for the 2022 Walter Camp Player of Year award included quarterbacks Max Duggan (TCU), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) and Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) along with running back Blake Corum(Michigan).

The 56th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year award, Williams is the seventh USC player to win the prestigious honor, and the first since Reggie Bush (2005).  Williams is also the 11th player from the Pac-12 Conference to earn the honor.  He is also the 22nd quarterback to earn the award.

The 2022 Pac-12 Offensive Player of Year, Williams has led USC to an 11-2 season and a berth in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on January 1 against Tulane.  

Williams is a first-year USC starter after transferring from Oklahoma, has thrown for 4,075 yards on 296-of-448 passing (66.1%).  He is tied for the nation-lead with 37 touchdown passes against just four interceptions. His 4,075 passing yards are fourth-most nationally, and his quarterback rating (167.94) ranks fifth, while his 313.5 passing yards per game are sixth.

Williams also ranks third nationally in total offense with 4,447 yards with a total that broke USC’s school record (4,225, 2017). He has also rushed for 372 yards (the most by a USC quarterback in at least 70 years) on 109 carries with a team-best 10 touchdowns.

A first-year USC starter after transferring from Oklahoma, Williams has thrown for 4,075 yards on 296-of-448 passing (66.1%).  

 Williams’ 47 total touchdowns lead the country, as do his 282 points responsible for, while his total touchdowns are a school record. He threw for over 300 yards seven times, including twice for over 400 yards.

 Williams will receive his award along with 2022 Coach of Year Sonny Dykes (TCU) at the Foundation’s annual Awards Weekend on March 10-11, 2023, in New Haven.    

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.

The Walter Camp Football 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.

Walter Camp Players of the Year

2022 – Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2021 – Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State

2020 – DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

2019 – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2018 – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

2017 – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

2016 – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville 

2015 – Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama

2014 – Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

2013 – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

2012 – Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame

2011 – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2010 – Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

2009 – Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

2008 – Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

2007 – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

2006 – Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State

2005 – Reggie Bush, RB, USC

2004 – Matt Leinart, QB, USC

2003 – Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh

2002 – Larry Johnson, RB, Penn State

2001 – Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska

2000 – Josh Heupel, QB, Oklahoma

1999 – Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin

1998 – Ricky Williams, RB, Texas

1997 – Charles Woodson, DB, Michigan

1996 – Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida

1995 – Eddie George, RB, Ohio State

1994 – Rashaan Salaam, RB, Colorado

1993 – Charlie Ward, QB, Florida State

1992 – Gino Torretta, QB, Miami

1991 – Desmond Howard, WR, Michigan

1990 – Raghib Ismail, WR, Notre Dame

1989 – Anthony Thompson, RB, Indiana

1988 – Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State

1987 – Tim Brown, WR, Notre Dame

1986 – Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami

1985 – Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn

1984 – Doug Flutie, QB, Boston College

1983 – Mike Rozier, RB, Nebraska

1982 – Herschel Walker, RB, Georgia

1981 – Marcus Allen, RB, USC

1980 – Hugh Green, DE, Pittsburgh

1979 – Charles White, RB, USC

1978 – Billy Sims, RB, Oklahoma

1977 – Ken MacAfee, TE, Notre Dame

1976 – Tony Dorsett, RB, Pittsburgh

1975 – Archie Griffin, RB, Ohio State

1974 – Archie Griffin, RB, Ohio State

1973 – John Cappelletti, RB, Penn State

1972 – Johnny Rodgers, RB, Nebraska

1971 – Pat Sullivan, QB, Auburn

1970 – Jim Plunkett, QB, Stanford

1969 – Steve Owens, RB, Oklahoma

1968 – O.J. Simpson, RB, USC

1967 – O.J. Simpson, RB, USC

www.waltercamp.org

TCU’s Sonny Dykes Selected Walter Camp 2022 FBS Coach of Year

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Sonny Dykes, head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs, is the Walter Camp 2022 Football Bowl Subdivision Coach of Year.  

The Walter Camp Coach of Year is selected by the nation’s 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.  Dykes is the second coach from TCU (Gary Patterson, 2009 and 2014) and the 11th from the Big 12 Conference to earn the award.  

No. 3 TCU (12-1) will face second-ranked Michigan in the College Football Playoff Semifinals in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 31.   TCU was picked to finish seventh in the preseason Big 12 poll.

Dykes was the unanimous Big 12 Coach of Year and twenty-one TCU football players received All-Big 12 recognition in voting by the conference head coaches.  TCU quarterback Max Duggan was a Walter Camp Player of Year finalist, and offensive lineman Steve Avila was a First Team Walter Camp All-America selection.


Dykes was introduced as TCU’s head football coach on Nov. 30, 2021.   Dykes arrived at TCU after serving the last four seasons as head coach at SMU, where he completed one of the more remarkable turnarounds in college football. Behind an offense that consistently ranked among the nation’s best, Dykes guided SMU to 19 weeks in the national top 25 and three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the mid-1980s.

Before becoming SMU’s head coach, he served as an offensive analyst for TCU in 2017. He was instrumental in the Horned Frogs posting an 11-3 record, reaching the Big 12 Championship Game and finishing with a No. 9 national ranking.

Dykes began his collegiate coaching career with a two-year stint (1995-96) at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. He also was a baseball assistant at Monahans High School in Texas in 1994 and a football assistant at Richardson’s J.J. Pearce High School in 1995.  

Prior to becoming a head coach, Dykes worked as an assistant in the Pac-12, Big 12 and SEC under Mike Stoops (Arizona), Mike Leach (Texas Tech) and Hal Mumme (Kentucky).    In addition to his stint at SMU, Dykes served as a head coach at Louisiana Tech (2010-12) and California (2013-16).  

Born in Big Spring, Texas, Dykes received his bachelor’s degree in history from Texas Tech in 1993 and was a member of the Red Raiders baseball team for two seasons. He and his wife, Kate, have two daughters, Ally and Charlie, and a son, Daniel.

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 Coaches of the Year

2022 – Sonny Dykes, TCU

2021 – Luke Fickell, Cincinnati

2020 – Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina

2019 – Ed Orgeron, LSU

2018 – Nick Saban, Alabama

2017 – Mark Richt, Miami

2016 – Mike MacIntyre, Colorado

2015 – Dabo Swinney, Clemson

2014 – Gary Patterson, TCU

2013 – David Cutcliffe, Duke

2012 – Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

2011 – Les Miles, LSU

2010 – Chip Kelly, Oregon

2009 – Gary Patterson, TCU

2008 – Nick Saban, Alabama

2007 – Mark Mangino, Kansas

2006 – Greg Schiano, Rutgers

2005 – Joe Paterno, Penn State

2004 – Tommy Tuberville, Auburn

2003 – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

2002 – Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

2001 – Ralph Friedgen, Maryland

2000 – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

1999 – Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

1998 – Bill Synder, Kansas State

1997 – Lloyd Carr, Michigan

1996 – Bruce Snyder, Arizona State

1995 – Gary Barnett, Northwestern

1994 – Joe Paterno, Penn State 1993 – Terry Bowden, Auburn

1992 – Gene Stallings, Alabama

1991 – Bobby Bowden, Florida State

1990 – Bobby Ross, Georgia Tech

1989 – Bill McCartney, Colorado

1988 – Don Nehlen, West Virginia

1987 – Dick MacPherson, Syracuse

1986 – Jimmy Johnson, Miami

1985 – Fisher DeBerry, Air Force

1984 – Joe Morrison, South Carolina

1983 – Mike White, Illinois

1982 – Jerry Stovall, Louisiana State

1981 – Jackie Sherrill, Pittsburgh

1980 – Vince Dooley, Georgia

1979 – John Mackovic, Wake Forest

1978 – Warren Powers, Missouri

1977 – Lou Holtz, Arkansas

1976 – Frank R. Burns, Rutgers

1975 – Frank Kush, Arizona State

1974 – Barry Switzer, Oklahoma

1973 – Johnny Majors, Pittsburgh

1972 – Joe Paterno, Penn State

1971 – Bob Devaney, Nebraska

1970 – Bob Blackman, Dartmouth

1969 – Bo Schembechler, Michigan

1968 – Woody Hayes, Ohio State

1967 – John Pont, Indiana

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Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces Five Finalists for 2022 Player of the Year Award

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Four quarterbacks and one running back comprise the list of five finalists for the Walter Camp Football Foundation 2022 Player of the Year award.  Quarterbacks Max Duggan (senior, TCU), Hendon Hooker (senior, Tennessee), C.J. Stroud (junior, Ohio State) and Caleb Williams (sophomore, USC) join running back Blake Corum (junior, Michigan) as finalists.

The 2022 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, who is voted on by the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on Thursday, December 8 during ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

Former Michigan State and current Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III was the 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year.

Duggan has led the Horned Frogs to a 12-0 record and berth in the Big 12 championship game.  He has thrown for 3,070 yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding 294 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Hooker has passed for 3,135 yards for 27 touchdowns for the seventh-ranked Volunteers.  Hooker has also rushed for 430 yards and five touchdowns.

Stroud has passed for 3,340 yards and 37 touchdowns for the fifth-ranked Buckeyes (11-1).

Williams has passed for 3,712 yards and 34 touchdowns for the fourth-ranked Trojans (11-1), who earned a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game.  Williams has also scored 10 rushing touchdowns.

Corum has rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns for the second-ranked Wolverines (12-0), who will play in the Big Ten Championship Game.  Corum has eight 100-yard rushing games this season.

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 continue the tradition of selecting an annual All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org.

The Walter Camp Football 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. Visit www.ncfaa.org.

USC QB Caleb Williams and Illinois DB Sydney Brown Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week Presented by 777 Partners

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The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, presented by 777 Partners, for games ending November 26.  

About the Award: This is the 19th 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.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

CALEB WILLIAMS, USC

Sophomore, Quarterback, Washington, DC/Gonzaga College

Caleb Williams accounted for four touchdowns (1 passing, 3 rushing) as sixth-ranked USC defeated 15th-ranked Notre Dame, 38-27.  Williams passed for 232 yards (18-of-22) and rushed for 35 yards to lead the Trojans.  USC was the first team all season to total 400+ offensive yards on the Fighting Irish defense.  With the win, USC improved to 11-1 and will play Utah in Friday’s Pac-12 Championship Game.

Notes: Caleb Williams wins Offensive Player of Week for the second time this season (Oct. 30) and is the eighth USC honoree to earn Walter Camp National Player of Week honors since the award started in 2004.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

SYDNEY BROWN, ILLINOIS

Senior, Defensive Back, London, Ontario/St. Stephens Episcopal (Fla.)

Sydney Brown recorded 10 tackles (4 solo) and had two interceptions and one fumble recovery as Illinois defeated Northwestern, 41-3.  Brown also became the first FBS player to return an interception (38 yards) and fumble recovery (53 yards) for a touchdown in a single game.  With the win, Illinois improved to 8-4, 5-3 in the Big Ten.

Notes: Sydney Brown is the third Illinois player to earn Walter Camp National Player of Week honors since 2004, joining former Fighting Illini running back Mikel LeShoure (Nov. 21, 2010) and linebacker Jake Hansen (Oct. 20, 2019).

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

777 Partners is a Miami based private investment firm that invests across a number of high growth attractive verticals with a strong focus on financial services. Founded in 2015, 777 Partners initially applied its expertise in underwriting and financing esoteric assets to diversify across a broad spectrum of financial services businesses, asset originators, and financial technology/service providers. In recent years, the firm has broadened its mandate and now invests across six different industries: insurance, consumer and commercial finance, litigation finance, direct lending, sports, media and entertainment, and aviation.