The 2024 college football season is hitting the homestretch and semifinalists are being announced for major awards. To kick it off, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award announced 20 semifinalists. The Big Ten’s three are the third-most honorees behind the six from the SEC and four from the Mountain West.
The award is considered to be the first of its kind, rewarding players on their leadership both on and off the field. The Jason Witten Award committee believes all 20 semifinalists demonstrate leadership by courage, integrity, and sportsmanship. It is named for former Tennessee Volunteer and 16-year NFL star who won a host of prestigious leadership awards in his career.
The winner will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school’s athletic scholarship fund.
Big Ten Semifinalists For Jason Witten Man of the Year Award
Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
Off the field, Ajani Cornelius has been a leader for the top-ranked Oregon Ducks. In his hometown of Harlem, New York, he organized a “Back 2 School Jamboree” this past Summer for the youth football team he started with, the Harlem Jets. The Jets players received school supplies, book bags, and the opportunity to meet Cornelius where he would give the kids a prime example of what can be accomplished by hard work.
While, on the field, the tackle was considered a preseason All-American. Additionally, he was recently named to PFF’s and the Senior Bowl’s Mid-Season All-American teams. According to PFF, Cornelius is one of the top tackles in the nation. In fact, he worked his way up from a lightly recruited player from Harlem to the University of Rhode Island (FCS) to a borderline first-round talent for a National Championship contender.
Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State
Cody Simon has been one of the biggest leaders for the Buckeyes on the defense. Before the season, he was named a captain and was awarded the prestigious “Block O” jersey, reserved for a player who exemplifies what it means to be a Buckeye. As a linebacker, Simon has racked up 172 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, eight pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble in his career. This year, he’s taken over as a full-time linebacker.
Simon is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and won a Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar honor last year. Ohio State has a significant medical program and hospital system in Columbus and he regularly makes visits on the Fridays leading up to home games. In addition, Simon has made it a habit to read to elementary school-aged children.
Dante Trader, Jr., Safety, Maryland
Finally, Dante Trader, Jr. is one of the most well-rounded players in the Big Ten and was an easy open for the Jason Witten Award. On the gridiron, Trader, Jr. has been one of the top defenders for the Terrapins. In 2022 and 2023, he was the second and third-leading tackler. Through four years and 42 games, Trader has amassed 154 tackles, three tackles for loss, 13 pass breakups, five interceptions, and a forced fumble. In addition to his contributions to the football team, he is also an All-American lacrosse player.
As an off-the-field leader, Trader, Jr. helped organize the “One Speed Backpack Drive” in 2023. He helped raise over $10,000 which supplied over 200 fully loaded backpacks to students at J.C. Nalle Elementary School in Washington, D.C. He was a 2023 CSC Academic All-District member and also co-hosts a podcast. On that podcast, he discusses non-football topics such as mental health as well as the challenges that accompany being a student-athlete.
Other Semifinalists
- Justin Barron (Syracuse)
- Dylan Black (Oregon State)
- Brady Cook (Missouri)
- Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati)
- Luke Deal (Auburn)
- Jacob Gardner (Colorado State)
- Ahmed Hassanein (Boise State)
- Seth Henigan (Memphis)
- Isaiah Jacobs (UAB)
- Jake Majors (Texas)
- Bru McCoy (Tennessee)
- Devin Neal (Kansas)
- Kaimon Rucker (North Carolina)
- Logan Taylor (Hawai’i)
- Jalon Walker (Georgia)
- J.J. Weaver (Kentucky)
- Jackson Woodard (UNLV)
Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, December 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 12, 2025.
