Dave Riggert – Page 739 – St. Joseph Post Archive

St. Louis beats Pittsburgh on another walk-off HR

Posted on July 8, 2014

ST. LOUIS — Kolten Wong was sitting on a fastball, hoping for extra bases to get something going in the ninth inning.

The rookie downplayed his power after giving the St. Louis Cardinals their second straight game-winning, ninth-inning home run on a two-out, full-count drive that soared well beyond the right field wall.

“I’m definitely not the kind of guy to hit a home run,” Wong said after the 5-4 victory stunned the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night. “Usually, I’m always that guy there getting ready to jump on someone coming home.

“For me to be switches places with someone, that was awesome.”

A night earlier, Wong was part of the joyous celebration at the plate after Matt Adams hit his first career game-winning homer. He was just about to douse “Big City” with two cups of water before catcher Yadier Molina tackled him.

This time, it was Wong getting mobbed. He said his last game-winning homer came in college at Hawaii against Louisiana Tech.

“It was a little scary, I saw those big guys and I didn’t know if I was going to get beat up or what,” Wong said. “It was awesome, seeing those guys and how excited they were. This is a huge win for us.”

Ernesto Frieri (1-1) got two routine outs before Wong, batting eighth, hit his third homer on a full count.

“I give him credit,” Frieri said. “That was a really good at-bat. I didn’t want to walk him, I don’t want to put the winning run on base.”

The drive over the right-field wall was estimated at 420 feet. On Monday night, Matt hit his first winner off Justin Wilson in a 2-0 victory.

“It’s not the first time we’ve had two tough losses and it probably isn’t going to be the last time this year,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “That’s what makes the season so interesting.

“Great crowd, exciting games, one swing of the bat at the end changed the game, and shower up and get ready to play again tomorrow.”

The Cardinals last had consecutive game-winning homers when Albert Pujols twice beat the Cubs on June 4 and 5, 2011. They have four game-winners this season overall.

Wong also gave the Cardinals the early lead with a two-run double in the second.

Trevor Rosenthal (1-4) struck out Starling Marte on three pitches with two on to end the ninth.

Pedro Alvarez and Andrew McCutchen hit two-run homers off Carlos Martinez, in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and McCutchen’s 14th of the season put them up 4-2. Alvarez has 100 career homers with 14 homers and 47 RBIs against St. Louis, most of any opponent.

Matt Holliday had been 2 for 14 on the homestand before tying it with a two-run double off Vance Worley in the fifth. He batted second the previous 14 games while battling a slump and manager Mike Matheny put him back in his usual third slot Wednesday with Jon Jay batting second to give the top of the lineup more flexibility to bunt and hit and run.

Holliday took a called third strike and bounced out before the double for his first multi-RBI game since June 15.

Martinez allowed four runs in six innings, the longest of his five starts this season. Worley lasted five innings, the shortest of his five starts this season with Pittsburgh, and the four runs was the most he’s allowed.

— Associated Press —

MU’s Boehm, KSU’s Finney, NU’s Pelini named to Rimington Award watch list

Posted on July 8, 2014

Missouri junior center Evan Boehm (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) was named to the 2014 Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List, the award’s committee announced Tuesday. Mizzou Football’s leader in the middle of the offensive line is one of 66 centers from across the country named to the list. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in college football.

Boehm started all 14 games at center last season, anchoring Mizzou’s 12-2 campaign that garnered a Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title and Cotton Bowl Classic championship. Mizzou’s rushing offense (237.9 yards per game) ranked second in the SEC and 16th nationally.

Boehm has been a mainstay on the Tigers’ offensive line since he arrived in Columbia as a freshman in 2012, a season in which he started all 12 games at left guard and earned First Team Freshman All-America recognition from College Football News. He made the move to center during spring drills in 2013.

The fifteen-year old Rimington award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised over $100 million for CF Research.

Dave Rimington, the award’s namesake, was a consensus First Team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy’s only double winner as the nation’s finest college interior lineman.

Mizzou Football fans are reminded that remaining 2014 season tickets will go on sale to the public beginning Thursday, July 10 at 6 p.m. CT, with online-only sales that evening at mutigers.com/buytickets. The next morning, Friday, July 11, beginning at 8 a.m., fans may also purchase season tickets by phone (1-800-CAT-PAWS or 884-PAWS in mid-Missouri), in person at the Mizzou Arena ticket office, or online. More ticket information can found here.

The Tigers kick off the 2014 season at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field vs. South Dakota State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30.

— MU Sports Information —

Kansas State senior offensive lineman B.J. Finney was one of 66 players nationally to be named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, the award’s committee announced Tuesday.

Finney is a candidate for the award, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding center, for a third-straight season. Prior to Finney’s first candidacy in 2012, only Nick Leckey (2003 finalist), Jordan Bedore (2008) and Wade Weibert (2010) were up for the award.

K-State’s first offensive lineman to serve as a team captain three times, Finney is a three-time All-Big 12 performer who earned first-team honors in both 2012 and 2013. The Andale, Kansas, product has started all 39 career games, including the last 38 at center, as he has helped the Wildcats accumulate a 29-10 record over the last three seasons.

The Rimington Trophy has raised over $2.5 million for the cystic fibrosis community. The 15-year old award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised over $100 million for CF Research. For more information on the Rimington Trophy and a list of its past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com.

The Wildcats begin the 2014 season on Saturday, August 30, with the sixth annual K-State Family Reunion against Stephen F. Austin at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

— KSU Sports Information —

Nebraska senior Mark Pelini is one of 66 centers who have been named to the official watch list for the 2014 Rimington Trophy announced Tuesday morning.

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the nation’s top center. The award is named in honor of Dave Rimington who twice won the Outland Trophy and captured the Lombardi Award during his All-America career at Nebraska.

Pelini has been a valuable member of the Husker offensive line each of the past two seasons. A year ago, he saw extensive time at center and his role increased in the second half of the year when injuries hit the offensive front.

The 6-0, 290-pound Pelini helped Nebraska feature one of the nation’s top running attacks in 2013. Behind the play of the offensive line, I-back Ameer Abdullah racked up 1,690 rushing yards, the most by a Nebraska player since 1997.

Pelini will also be counted on for leadership on the offensive line in 2014. The Huskers graduated five seniors from its 2013 offensive line, leaving Pelini as one of the most experienced members of the position group.

— NU Sports Information —

Kansas’ Mundine named to Mackey Award preseason watch list

Posted on July 8, 2014

The John Mackey Award Selection Committee announced Tuesday that Kansas senior tight end Jimmay Mundine was named to the 2014 John Mackey Award preseason watch list.

Awarded to the nation’s most outstanding collegiate tight end since 2000, the Mackey Award is named in honor of collegiate and professional all-time great John Mackey. Mackey, a product of Syracuse University, played 10 years of professional football as a tight end. Spending nine seasons with the Baltimore Colts and one year with the San Diego Chargers, Mackey found success on and off the field as he was a Super Bowl champion and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame, as well as the first president of the National Football League Players Association.

A native of Denison, Texas, Mundine was one of three tight ends hailing from the Big 12 Conference, and one of the 38 total nominees, selected for the committee’s preliminary watch list. Mundine returns as KU’s active leader in touchdown catches, while ranking second in receptions (41) and receiving yards (498).

After a breakout year in 2013, Mundine completed the season in third place among Big 12 tight ends in receptions and yards resulting in All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors as voted by league coaches. Out of the nine total touchdowns thrown by Kansas quarterbacks a season ago, Mundine caught a team-high five passes in the end zone, including a streak of four-straight games with a touchdown reception.

Semifinalists for the award will be revealed on Nov. 17 while on Nov. 24 the list will be trimmed down to three finalists. The winner of the 2014 Mackey Award will be announced on Dec. 11 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show.

Mundine and Kansas are set to begin the 2014 season on Sept. 6, as they play host to Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., from Memorial Stadium.

— KU Sports Information —

Royals’ Shields fans 10, shuts down Rays in return to Tampa

Posted on July 7, 2014

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Back on the mound at Tropicana Field, Kansas City’s James Shield looked and felt right at home.

The right-hander sparkled in his return to the stadium where he earned a living for the first seven seasons of his career, limiting the Tampa Bay Rays to three hits and striking out 10 in seven innings to help the Royals beat his former team 6-0 on Monday night.

No pitcher has had more success at The Trop than Shields, who remains Tampa Bay’s all-time leader in victories with 87, including a franchise-best 47 at home.

“It’s definitely special to come back here,” said Shields (9-4), who was dealt to the Royals in December 2012 as part of a seven-player trade in which Kansas City sent 2013 AL rookie of the year Wil Myers and another top young prospect, Jake Odorizzi (4-8), to Tampa Bay.

“There’s so many memories. I’ve thrown some shutouts here and I’ve also thrown some champagne on the field,” the 32-year-old said. “The fans were great tonight to me, welcoming me back, and that’s always a great feeling.”

Shields allowed singles to Ben Zobrist and James Loney in the first two innings, then worked through a jam in the third after giving up a one-out double to Kevin Kiermaier. He retired 10 straight, six by strikeout, before hitting Evan Longoria with a pitch leading off the seventh.

Alex Gordon and Omar Infante drove in runs in the third inning for the Royals, giving Shields all the offensive support he would need to beat Odorizzi.

“We’ve seen that act before,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said of the performance by Shields. “Wrong uniform this time, though.”

Shields, who had struggled in his three most recent starts, rebounded from allowing five runs and nine hits over five innings of a 10-2 loss at Minnesota last week.

“You could tell right off the bat that, OK, let’s get this guy a couple of runs and let’s ride with it,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “That’s exactly what happened.”

The Royals tacked on two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth — with Infante and Gordon both collecting their second RBIs of the game — and finished with 14 hits.

Wade Davis, another former Tampa Bay pitcher the Royals obtained in the Shields trade, worked a perfect eighth. Scott Downs finished the combined four-hitter, giving up a ninth-inning single to Zobrist.

The loss was just the third in 13 games for the Rays, who were coming off a road trip in which they went 9-2 to climb out of the AL East cellar.

Odorizzi allowed two runs and six hits, struck out eight and walked two in his third career appearance against the Royals, who beat the 24-year-old in Kansas City on April 9.

“All the series we played on the road we played fantastic. I guess we were kind of due for one of these games,” Odorizzi said. “I don’t think this game is really going to set us back that much in the long run.”

Shields won his only previous matchup against his former team 8-2 at Kansas City on April 30, 2013.

He remains Tampa Bay’s career leader in starts, strikeouts and innings pitched, in addition to wins. He won the franchise’s first-ever postseason game and owns the club’s only World Series victory.

— Associated Press —

Cards defeat Bucs on Adams’ walk-off homer

Posted on July 7, 2014July 8, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) — After beating the team he grew up rooting for with his first career game-winning hit, Matt Adams couldn’t resist a celebratory fist pump just a few steps out of the batter’s box.

“This is unbelievable,” Adams said after his two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series with the NL Central rival they beat in the division series last fall. “I don’t even know what to say.”

Adams is from Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, and starred at Slippery Rock College, but the Pirates never showed any interest. He joked that the only people in western Pennsylvania that were happy were “probably a handful of family members.”

“I don’t think I touched the dirt the whole way around (the bases),” Adams said.

Matt Carpenter drew his third walk leading off the ninth and Matt Holliday flied out before Adams hit his 10th homer on an 0-1 hanging breaking ball from Justin Wilson (2-1). It was the Cardinals’ first game-winning homer since Skip Schumaker connected against the Kansas City Royals on June 19, 2011.

“As soon as I made contact I knew it was gone,” Adams said. “It felt good off the bat.”

Adams entered the game batting just .190 against lefties but has been the Cardinals’ top threat lately with six hits the last two games. He foiled the Pirates’ shift in the first lining an opposite field double to left.

“He’s a dad-gum good hitter, man,” Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright said. “I think we’re just breaking the ice of the surface of what this guy can do.”

Wilson said simply: “Bad pitch, good hitting. Probably the worst time to hang a breaking ball there.”

Wainwright, the Cardinals’ 11-game winner, scattered seven hits in seven scoreless innings without consistent location on his fastball.

“I felt like I had the command of an A-ball pitcher,” Wainwright said. “I should be good for the next start, I got plenty of work out of the stretch.”

Pat Neshek (3-0) worked a perfect ninth against the top of the order for St. Louis.

The game lasted 2 hours and 37 minutes but was extended by two rain delays totaling 58 minutes.

Morton remained 2-10 for his career against the Cardinals although he reduced his ERA to 5.58. He was lifted in the eighth when the Pirates loaded the bases with two outs. Sam Freeman struck out rookie pinch-hitter Gregory Polanco.

“It might not be logical to you, it was kind of logical to me,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “I thought our better opportunity was to send somebody up other than Charlie.”

The Cardinals squandered a chance in the eighth when Jon Jay was doubled off second after pinch-hitter Oscar Taveras lined out to right.

The Pirates had runners in scoring position five times against Wainwright, who has thrown 14 2/3 scoreless innings his last two outings. He was particularly tough on fellow Al-Star Andrew McCutchen, who tapped out to end the fifth to waste Starling Marte’s triple and flied out with two on to end the seventh.

Right fielder Josh Harrison, chosen by Cardinals manager Mike Matheny as an All-Star reserve on Sunday, made an outstanding diving catch to rob Jhonny Peralta of a hit in the second.

Rain — or the threat of it — was a dominant factor early with the grounds crew ever on alert. The start was delayed 47 minutes with the tarp down in anticipation of a storm and ominous clouds looming but no precipitation,

It was halted 11 minutes by heavy rain after the Pirates stranded two in the first. Some Pittsburgh players began running off the field when a second brief storm hit just before the game resumed and crew chief Joe West appeared ready to call another halt before dropping his arms and retreating to first base.

Plate umpire Alan Porter made a rarely seen call in the first after Russell Martin was plunked in the arm, ruling that Martin hadn’t made an attempt to get out of the way. Instead of loading the bases with two outs, the pitch was simply ball three for a full count and Martin flied out.

— Associated Press —

Two Northwest football players named Team USA captains

Posted on July 7, 2014

The U.S. Under-19 National Football Team began play Monday against Mexico in the International Federation of American Football Under-19 World Championships in Kuwait City.

Representing Northwest Missouri State are redshirt freshmen Jordan Harold (St. Louis, Mo.), Nicholas Turner (St. Louis, Mo.) and Myles McIntyre (St. Louis, Mo.). At the conclusion of training camp, Harold and McIntyre were named team captains.

“It’s an honor to be selected as a captain,” McIntosh said in a release. “I was a three-year captain for my high school, so I am familiar with the responsibility that comes with it. It is a motivator for me to be honored my teammates this way.”

“The team is bigger than any one individual,” said Harold in the release. “It’s an honor for sure, but I’m just one part of the team. I just want to keep playing hard and do the right things and help the team be successful.”

Team USA also features former Bearcat Jay Eilers, who will serve as the offensive line coach for Team USA. Eilers, who holds the same full time position with Angelo State, was a four-year letterwinner at Northwest and a member of the 1998 National Championship team.

U.S. players and coaches will departs for Kuwait on July 2. The United States’ pool play schedule is:

Monday, July 7 – 1 p.m. (ET) vs. Mexico
Thursday, July 10 – 4 p.m. (ET) vs. Germany
Sunday, July 13 – 4 p.m. (ET) vs. Japan

Games begin at 8 and 11 p.m. local time. The gold medal game is 4 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, July 16, between pool winners.

A national team exemption granted by the NCAA allows current college players to take part and for high school seniors to play for USA Football and not have their participation count among their two permitted all-star game appearances. The IFAF Under-19 World Championship is recognized as a national team competition.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Mizzou’s Golden, Murphy named to preseason watch lists

Posted on July 7, 2014

Mizzou Football was represented on two preseason watch lists for national awards on Monday, with senior DE Markus Golden (St. Louis, Mo.) and senior TB Marcus Murphy (DeSoto, Texas) being named to the 20th Annual Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List and the 2014 Paul Hornung Award Watch List, respectively.

Golden was arguably Mizzou’s most productive defensive end in 2013, playing in 40 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, but leading his position group in tackles with 55 stops. He recorded 13 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks, as well as eight quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. Golden also snagged a highlight reel interception in the 38-23 win vs. Toledo (Sept. 7), returning it 70 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of ’69 and the NFL Hall of Fame’s Class of ’67. The full watch list can be seen here.

Murphy was an All-SEC Second Team selection by league coaches last season after accumulating a team-best 1,425 all-purpose yards. He recorded 10 total touchdowns, with nine coming on the ground and one through the air. With 3,191 career all-purpose yards entering his final season wearing the Black & Gold, Murphy ranks eighth all-time in school history in that category.

The Hornung Award, now in its fifth season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung, the Golden Boy. The full watch list can be found here.

The Tigers kick off the 2014 season at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field vs. South Dakota State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 1550 AM.

— MU Sports Information —

K-State’s Lockett, Waters, Mueller named to preseason watch lists

Posted on July 7, 2014

Kansas State senior captains Tyler Lockett, Jake Waters and Ryan Mueller were each named to preseason watch lists for awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club, the organization announced Monday. Lockett and Waters are candidates for the Maxwell Award, presented to America’s College Player of the Year, while Mueller is up for the Bednarik Award as the College Defensive Player of the Year.

Each watch list is comprised of 76 players, while nine Big 12 players are up for the Maxwell Award and 14 Big 12 defenders are candidates for the Bednarik Award.

All three Wildcats are in the running for their respective awards for the first time, while K-State has multiple candidates for the Maxwell Award for the first time in school history. The Wildcats have had four candidates for each award over the last three seasons as Collin Klein (2012) and John Hubert (2013) were up for the Maxwell Award, and Arthur Brown (2012), Nigel Malone (2012) and Ty Zimmerman (2013) were candidates for the Bednarik Award.

A Second Team All-American at wide receiver in 2013, Lockett led the Big 12 last season with 105.2 receiving yards per game to go along with 11 touchdowns. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, product broke the school’s single-game record with 237 receiving yards at Texas and reset that mark with 278 against Oklahoma. Included in his game against the Sooners were 162 kickoff-return yards as he broke the school record and posted the fifth-most all-purpose yards in FBS history with 440.

Waters, who was a community-college transfer prior to the 2013 campaign, threw for 2,469 yards and 18 touchdowns on 159-of-260 aim during his first season in Manhattan. A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Waters led the Wildcats to a 6-1 record over the final seven games as he averaged 204.7 passing yards per game with 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He finished the season in the top-15 nationally in yards per completion (fourth; 15.53) and passing efficiency (14th; 156.8).

A former walk-on from Leawood, Kansas, Mueller is coming off a stellar junior campaign in which he tied the school record with 11.5 sacks to go along with 18.5 tackles for loss. A Second Team All-American, Mueller picked up Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors from the league’s coaches after ranking second in the league in both sacks and tackles for loss.

Semifinalists will be announced November 3, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled November 24. The winners of the 2014 Maxwell and Bednarik awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held December 11, on ESPN.

K-State opens the 2014 season on Saturday, August 30, with the sixth annual K-State Family Reunion against Stephen F. Austin at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The contest, which kicks off at 6:10 p.m.

— KSU Sports Information —

KU’s Heeney named to Bednarik Award watch list

Posted on July 7, 2014

The Maxwell Football Club announced Monday that Kansas senior linebacker Ben Heeney was named to the 2014 Chuck Bednarik Award preliminary watch list.

Bestowed to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995, the Bednarik Award is named after Chuck Bednarik, a former defensive standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles whose name graces both the College Football and the NFL Hall of Fames.

Heeney, a senior from Hutchinson, Kan., missed a pair of games in the middle of the 2013 conference slate, but still finished with a team-best 88 total stops, including 11.5 tackles for loss and the first three interceptions of his career. Heeney, selected as an All-Big 12 Second Team selection by the Associated Press and the conference coaches last season, was fourth in the conference with 8.7 tackles per game and ranked fifth in tackles-for-loss per game with 1.15. He reached double figures in tackles in six of his 10 games played, including four Big 12 contests.

In 2012, Heeney burst on to the scene with 112 tackles in his first season as a starter for the Jayhawks. His 112 tackles included 66 solo stops. He led KU with 12.0 tackles-for-loss and added one sack. He also was credited with two pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble.

The watch list includes 76 members hand-picked by the Maxwell Football Club’s selection committee, which analyzes both past performance and future potential. Semifinalists for the award will be announced Nov. 3, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 24. The winners for the 2014 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11.

Heeney and the rest of the Jayhawks begin the 2014 slate Sept. 6, as they play host to Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., inside Memorial Statdium.

— KU Sports Information —

Nebraska’s Abdullah, Bell, Gregory named to watch lists

Posted on July 7, 2014July 7, 2014

Nebraska seniors Ameer Abdullah and Kenny Bell and junior Randy Gregory were each named to watch lists announced on Monday morning.

One of the nation’s top returning rushers, Abdullah was named to watch lists for both the 78th annual Maxwell Award and the Paul Hornung Award. Bell was also named to the Hornung Award Watch List, while Gregory was listed on the watch list for the 20th annual Chuck Bednarik Award.

The Maxwell Award has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937 and is presented by the Maxell Football Club. The club also presents the Bednarik Award, given annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year, since 1995. The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in college football.

Abdullah rushed for 1,690 yards last season, the most by a Nebraska player since 1997, and this fall he could become the first Husker to record three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He is also the nation’s active career leader in all-purpose yards and is on track to become Nebraska’s all-time leader in that category.

Like Abdullah, Bell is a dual threat for the Huskers, excelling as a receiver and kickoff return specialist. Bell enters his senior season poised to become the school’s all-time leader in both receptions and receiving yardage. He is also one of the nation’s top returning kickoff returners after averaging 26.5 yards per return last season, including a 99-yard touchdown.

Gregory became one of the Big Ten’s top defenders last season and has earned preseason All-America accolades in 2014. In his first year with the Huskers, Gregory led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Nine of Gregory’s sacks came in Big Ten Conference play, including a season-high three sacks at Michigan.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced Nov. 3, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled on Nov. 24. The winners will be announced as part of the ESPN College Football Awards show on Dec. 11.

— NU Sports Information —