DALLAS (FWAA) – The Football Writers Association of America has released a list of top candidates for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team. The Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award, presented by Chris Doering Mortgage, goes to the best first-year coach (at his school) in FBS football.
The recipients of the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year, the FWAA Freshman of the Year and a Spurrier Legends Coach awardee will be honored at a special reception on Feb 24 in Gainesville, Fla.
Some of the leading candidates for the First-Year Coach Award include:
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama: DeBoer has one of the most talented rosters in the country but still might face the tallest task of any first-year head coach: following Alabama legend Nick Saban. Last season proved that DeBoer can handle a big stage, as his Washington Huskies won several primetime games, a Pac-12 championship and a College Football Playoff win in the Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide will have no shortage of big games this season with five AP Top 25 opponents on its schedule, including a late September test when No. 1 Georgia comes to town. Things will surely look different in Tuscaloosa this season, but DeBoer is in position to keep Alabama in the fight for an SEC – and national – title.
Manny Diaz, Duke: One of the country’s most revered defensive minds begins his second stint as a head coach in the ACC. Diaz led Miami for three seasons before taking the defensive coordinator job at Penn State in 2021, where he turned a Nittany Lion defense that finished the season 35th in yards per game into the top defense in the country in the category. Diaz left a defense loaded with blue chip recruits for a Duke program with some momentum following an 8-5 season. Diaz will have four games to tune up his defense before a pivotal Week Five matchup with North Carolina.
Mike Elko, Texas A&M: Elko returns to Texas A&M - where he served as defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021 – as a red-hot coaching commodity. Elko inherited a Duke program that was 5-18 over its previous two seasons and went 17-9 with two bowl wins. Elko is now working with a much more talented roster at Texas A&M, which he will need in order to improve on the Aggies’ 7-6 record from last season. Texas A&M can open the season with a statement when No. 7 Notre Dame visits College Station.
Willie Fritz, Houston: Houston’s first season in the Big 12 yielded a 4-8 record, prompting the Cougars to hire Fritz away from Tulane. He led the Green Wave for eight years, posting consecutive double-digit win seasons and a Cotton Bowl win over USC in 2023. Like several other Big 12 coaches, Fritz aims to fill the conference’s power vacuum left by departing members Oklahoma and Texas. Fritz will face an early Week Two test when Houston visits the Sooners before starting their conference schedule in late September.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane: Pairing Sumrall with Tulane appears to fit well considering the duo’s eye-popping progress over the last two years. Tulane is coming off its first consecutive double-digit win seasons and Sumrall led Troy to Sun Belt titles in both of his first two years as a collegiate head coach. Sumrall returns to Tulane, where once he served as co-defensive coordinator, with a strong shot to keep his conference championship streak alive. The Green Wave are a serious contender to win the American and can make early statements with upsets of Kansas State and Oklahoma before starting conference play.
Here's a list of every coach eligible for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award:
Major Applewhite, South Alabama
Trent Bray, Oregon State
Brent Brennan, Arizona
Fran Brown, Syracuse
Bob Chesney, James Madison
Jeff Choate, Nevada
Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Spencer Danielson, Boise State
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Manny Diaz, Duke
Mike Elko, Texas A&M
Jedd Fisch, Washington
DeShaun Foster, UCLA
Willie Fritz, Houston
Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State
Pete Lembo, Buffalo
Sean Lewis, San Diego State
Derek Mason, Middle Tennessee
Bronco Mendenhall, New Mexico
Sherrone Moore, Michigan
Ken Niumatalolo, San Jose State
Bill O’Brien, Boston College
Gerad Parker, Troy
Tony Sanchez, New Mexico State
Jay Sawvel, Wyoming
Jonathan Smith, Michigan State
Jon Sumrall, Tulane
Bryant Vincent, UL-Monroe
Scotty Walden, UTEP
The FWAA Freshman Player of the Year, presented by Chris Doering Mortgage, is awarded to the top freshman in college football. The 2023 FWAA Freshman All-America Team highlights the best college football freshmen at every position covering all 10 FBS conferences plus Independents.
Here are capsules on some of the top preseason candidates for Freshman Player of the Year and the FWAA Freshman All-America Team:
WR Cam Coleman, Auburn: Coleman’s arrival at Auburn ought to be more welcoming than the average five-star receiver, considering the Tigers’ recent struggles passing the ball. Auburn has finished dead last in the SEC in passing yards per game the last two seasons, leaving plenty of opportunity for Coleman to flourish early. The true freshman is certainly comfortable with winning after leading Central High School to a 7A state championship last season on 1,372 yards receiving and 18 touchdowns. Coleman, who also won offensive MVP in Auburn’s spring game, can make a strong statement in Week One against Alabama A&M.
WR Micah Hudson, Texas Tech: The highest-ranked recruit in Texas Tech history will also arrive on campus with a shot to play early and often. Hudson’s combination of athleticism and speed helped him post over 3,500 yards and 57 touchdowns in his high school career. The true freshman appears ready to contribute immediately to a Red Raider passing attack that finished 11th in the Big 12 last season. Hudson begins his quest to become Texas Tech’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2018 against Abilene Christian in Week One.
*QB Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee: Perhaps no freshman in the country faces more preseason anticipation than Iamaleava does this season. The former five-star only magnified the hype after delivering a show-stopping, four-touchdown performance against Iowa to close Tennessee’s 2023 season. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel says Iamaleava is comfortable in the system after an offseason leading the offense. The redshirt freshman has a Week One tuneup against Chattanooga before traveling to face No. 24 North Carolina State.
CB Braydon Lee, Maryland: The Maryland secondary is wide-open for Lee after losing its three top contributors this offseason. The true freshman is one of the Terrapins’ top signees and appears to have a great shot at loads of playing time in 2024. Lee looks to help a Maryland team that started last season 5-0 before dropping five of its last eight games in the thick of its Big Ten schedule. The Terrapins have a solid chance at starting fast again with games against UConn, Michigan State, Virginia and Villanova before a trip to Indiana in late September.
DL L.J. McCray, Florida: McCray was a welcomed addition to Florida’s defensive front after losing star defensive end Princely Umanmielen to the transfer portal. McCray’s consensus five-star rating gives Gator fans reason for excitement even before considering his high school stats. The true freshman totaled 133 tackles and 18 sacks in 35 high school games, dominating both on the interior and on the edge of the line. McCray aims to boost a Florida front that allowed over 155 yards rushing per game last season.
*OT Elijah Paige, USC: Paige gave USC fans plenty to look forward to after his first career start against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl last season. The Trojans tasked the true freshman with protecting eventual No. 1 pick Caleb Williams’ blind side, and Paige delivered with no sacks allowed. The redshirt freshman’s massive 6-foot-7, 320-pound frame helped him keep the left tackle role through the offseason. Paige and the Trojan front will be challenged immediately when No. 13 LSU’s pass rush visits to open the season.
QB Dylan Raiola, Nebraska: Raiola made plenty of headlines with his last-minute flip from Georgia to Nebraska, but the gunslinger appears poised to make plenty more on the field in the near future. If Raiola can beat incumbent starter Heinrich Haarberg for a starting spot to open the season, he might be the only true freshman to start at quarterback in the Power 4. Raiola’s high school career was far from normal - including schools in three different states – but he still threw for nearly 8,500 yards with 88 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions. The Cornhusker offense will open the season with UTEP before a rematch with Colorado comes to Lincoln.
OT Jordan Seaton, Colorado: Between his five-star status, his 6-foot-5 frame and Colorado’s struggles on the offensive front, Seaton appears primed to start all season. The consensus five-star recruit is one of the highest-rated players on the Buffaloes’ roster, exactly the kind of piece needed to improve on last season’s 4-8 record. Seaton knows what a winning program looks like after helping IMG Academy to a perfect 10-0 season with wins over multiple nationally-ranked programs. The true freshman will face North Dakota State to open the season before his first Power 4 test at Nebraska in Week Two.
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: The fact that many media members consider Smith the top player of the 2024 class is impressive enough. Throw in the projections that he will start as a true freshman for Ohio State, and it’s clear that Smith is expected to be the next game changer in a long lineage of Buckeye pass-catchers. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is coming off a monster senior season where he caught 88 passes for 1,376 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns. Smith has some time to settle into the Buckeye offense, too, since Ohio State won’t play a ranked opponent until No. 25 Iowa in early October.
TE Landen Thomas, Florida State: One of the top tight end prospects in the country, Thomas could deliver an instant impact for Florida State simply because of its offensive scheme. The Seminole offense heavily involves the tight end position, so Thomas ought to have a surplus of early opportunities. The true freshman is coming off an impressive senior season with 35 catches for 551 yards receiving and six touchdowns for one of the premier high school programs in Georgia.
EDGE DeShawn Warner, Kansas: The highest-rated recruit in Kansas football history arrives on campus with a chance to see action early. The Jayhawks lost their leading sack artist to the NFL, leaving an opportunity for the lightning-quick true freshman to pick up some pass-rushing slack. Warner will look to build on a Kansas pass defense that surrendered the second-least yards per game in the Big 12 last season. The Jayhawks open the season with three non-conference opponents before starting their Big 12 slate at West Virginia.
*denotes redshirt freshman