Colorado University Athletics
Witherspoon Honored for Oregon Performance, Severson Recognized by NFF
September 28, 2016 | Football
BOULDER – Colorado senior cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was recognized by the Jim Thorpe Award for his performance in last Saturday's win at Oregon while fellow senior Ryan Severson was named a semifinalist for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy. Both were announced on Wednesday.
The Jim Thorpe Award recognized Witherspoon as one of its four honorable mention players of the week. Witherspoon saved the day in Colorado's huge upset of the Ducks in Eugene last Saturday by pulling in an interception in the end zone with 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to preserve the 41-38 victory. Along with his late game pick, Witherspoon also contributed five tackles and a pass breakup for the Buffs.
Severson, a senior from San Jose who is majoring in both business management and marketing, was one of 156 semifinalists named for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy, otherwise known as the Academic Heisman, which is presented by Fidelity Investments.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Nov. 1, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. At the event, one member of the class will be declared in dramatic fashion the winner of the 27th William V. Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Severson as a sophomore and junior earned honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic Team and first-team Academic All-Colorado honors from the state's chapter of the National Football Foundation.
There have been seven Buffs in school history named NFF/College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes, the last being Nate Solder in 2010.
The Jim Thorpe Award recognized Witherspoon as one of its four honorable mention players of the week. Witherspoon saved the day in Colorado's huge upset of the Ducks in Eugene last Saturday by pulling in an interception in the end zone with 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to preserve the 41-38 victory. Along with his late game pick, Witherspoon also contributed five tackles and a pass breakup for the Buffs.
Severson, a senior from San Jose who is majoring in both business management and marketing, was one of 156 semifinalists named for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy, otherwise known as the Academic Heisman, which is presented by Fidelity Investments.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Nov. 1, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. At the event, one member of the class will be declared in dramatic fashion the winner of the 27th William V. Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Severson as a sophomore and junior earned honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic Team and first-team Academic All-Colorado honors from the state's chapter of the National Football Foundation.
There have been seven Buffs in school history named NFF/College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes, the last being Nate Solder in 2010.
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