MAXWELL AWARD

The Maxwell Award has been given out since 1937 to the college player of the year. It is presented in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, a former college football player, official and sports columnist. Te’o became the first defensive player to win the award since Hugh Green in 1980.

WALTER CAMP AWARD

The Walter Camp Award has been given since 1967 to college football’s player of the year, as decided by NCAA coaches and sports information directors, by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Te’o became just the third defensive player to win the award.

BEDNARIK AWARD

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been given by the Maxwell Football Club since 1995, recognizing the defensive player of the year. The award is voted on by NCAA head football coaches, members of the Maxwell Club and sportswriters and sportscasters from across the nation.

NAGURSKI TROPHY

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football, as voted on by the Football Writers Association of America. Te’o became the 20th player to receive the award, and the first from Notre Dame.

BUTKUS AWARD

Te’o won the 28th edition of the Butkus Award, given each year to the nation’s top linebacker. The award is named after former Illinois star Dick Butkus and voted on by a panel that includes coaches, scouts and journalists.

BUTKUS H.S. AWARD

Te’o was the inaugural winner of the high school Butkus Award, receiving the honor as a senior in 2008, after he helped Punahou capture the state championship with a title-game win over Leilehua.

LOMBARDI AWARD

The Rotary Lombardi Award is given to the top college linebacker or lineman. Before he was a legendary coach, Vince Lombardi was the smallest but toughest member of Fordham University’s 1936 offensive line, dubbed the “Seven Blocks of Granite.” The college trophy given in his honor is a 40-pound block of granite sitting on a silver pedestal.

LOTT IMPACT TROPHY

The Lott IMPACT Trophy, named in honor of College Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, has been given since 2004 by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to college football’s defensive player of the year, with an emphasis on integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity.

MORE ACCOLADES

Te’o finished second in the 2012 Heisman Trophy voting behind Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. He received 321 first-place votes, and his 1,706 points were the most ever for a defense-only player. … He also won the 2012 Awards and Recognition Association Sportsmanship Award (above).