The panel for the Jason Witten Man of the Year Award has narrowed the initial list down to 20 semifinalists. The Witten list includes two ACC players.
The Award
The award is given to someone who has, “Demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field,” per the organization’s mission statement. The original watch list had 52 players including 10 from the ACC.
Tuesday’s official announcement of the 20 semifinalists included Justin Barron, the senior defensive back from Syracuse, and Kaimon Rucker, the senior defensive end from the University of North Carolina.
The ACC
Barron ranks 13th all-time in tackles for the Orange. He was a 2023 ACC All-Academic Team member. Barron was originally a receiver but made the move to defensive back and overcame a broken hand last season. He did not miss any games even with the injury. Barron is also being lauded for using $3,000 of his NIL money (he has a sponsorship with a local smoothie shop) for local charitable causes.
Rucker was a second-team All-ACC performer in 2023. He is also on the watch lists for the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards. Rucker has provided personal hygiene items from his personal funds for fifth graders at his old elementary school who are experiencing physical changes to their bodies. He conducted a seminar with the fifth graders, primarily males, to educate them on this phase of their lives. Rucker is a grad student at UNC right now. He has 158 career tackles and 17 sacks in his Tar Heels career.
The 2023 winner was Pitt defensive end Deslin Alexandre.
Specs
The SEC has six of the 20 finalists. The Mountain West had four. The Big Ten had three selections. The ACC, American Athletic Conference, and Big 12 had two each. The Pac-12 had one semifinalist.
Three finalists for the award will be announced on December 16th. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Arlington, Texas on February 12, 2025.
