The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Jones Named Semifinalist for Jason Witten Man of the Year Award
11/7/2017 1:47:00 PM | Football
DALLAS - Senior linebacker Shaq Jones has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the inaugural Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award which recognizes exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.
Jones is one of two players from Conference USA in contention for the award along with Azeez Al-Shaair of Florida Atlantic, while the other 18 semifinalists consist of: Braxton Berrios (Miami, FL), David Blough (Purdue), Adam Breneman (Massachusetts), Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), Zaire Franklin (Syracuse), KeShun Freeman (Georgia Tech), Zack Golditch (Colorado State), Shaquem Griffin (Central Florida), Luke Jackson (Tulane), Keith Kirkwood (Temple), Micah Kiser (Virginia), Derek McCartney (Colorado), Jake Olson (USC), Harrison Phillips (Stanford), Frank Ragnow (Arkansas), Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State), Brandon Smith (Penn State) and Blaise Taylor (Arkansas State).
Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, Dec. 11. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony on Feb. 22, 2018 at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The inaugural Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, will be the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport and the Cowboys' all-time leading receiver, has served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 15-year pro career.
In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten has also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
"I am honored to announce this impressive group as the semifinalists for the Collegiate Man of the Year," said Witten. "Every kid nominated had had such a special story. It was difficult to pair it down, but these 20 men have demonstrated exceptional character and leadership, many in the face of adversity. They are great representatives for the game of football and for college athletics as a whole, and I commend all nominees for getting to this point."
Jones has been one of the faces of the UAB football program since 2014 and was one of 15 players who stayed through the shutdown of the program only to return in 2017 and help lead the Blazers to bowl eligibility.
Jones has also been a fixture in the community and is very involved with the Big Brother Big Sisters program, contributed to Habitat for Humanity's 30th Anniversary build and started a non-profit organization with his dad which helps foster kids adapt to the real world once they turn 18 and are not adopted.
Along with being selected as a semifinalist for this award, Jones also earned one of 22 spots on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle.
The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 10 years. The foundation operates its nationally-recognized SCOREkeepers program, which places trained male mentors on staff to work with children at family violence shelters, at nine shelters in the two states. SCORE has also operated a weekend food backpack program for disadvantaged children in North Texas, opened Jason Witten Learning Centers in five different Boys & Girls Clubs and opened the Jason and Michelle Witten Emergency Waiting Room at the Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn.
Jones is one of two players from Conference USA in contention for the award along with Azeez Al-Shaair of Florida Atlantic, while the other 18 semifinalists consist of: Braxton Berrios (Miami, FL), David Blough (Purdue), Adam Breneman (Massachusetts), Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), Zaire Franklin (Syracuse), KeShun Freeman (Georgia Tech), Zack Golditch (Colorado State), Shaquem Griffin (Central Florida), Luke Jackson (Tulane), Keith Kirkwood (Temple), Micah Kiser (Virginia), Derek McCartney (Colorado), Jake Olson (USC), Harrison Phillips (Stanford), Frank Ragnow (Arkansas), Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State), Brandon Smith (Penn State) and Blaise Taylor (Arkansas State).
Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, Dec. 11. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony on Feb. 22, 2018 at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The inaugural Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, will be the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport and the Cowboys' all-time leading receiver, has served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 15-year pro career.
In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten has also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
"I am honored to announce this impressive group as the semifinalists for the Collegiate Man of the Year," said Witten. "Every kid nominated had had such a special story. It was difficult to pair it down, but these 20 men have demonstrated exceptional character and leadership, many in the face of adversity. They are great representatives for the game of football and for college athletics as a whole, and I commend all nominees for getting to this point."
Jones has been one of the faces of the UAB football program since 2014 and was one of 15 players who stayed through the shutdown of the program only to return in 2017 and help lead the Blazers to bowl eligibility.
Jones has also been a fixture in the community and is very involved with the Big Brother Big Sisters program, contributed to Habitat for Humanity's 30th Anniversary build and started a non-profit organization with his dad which helps foster kids adapt to the real world once they turn 18 and are not adopted.
Along with being selected as a semifinalist for this award, Jones also earned one of 22 spots on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle.
The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 10 years. The foundation operates its nationally-recognized SCOREkeepers program, which places trained male mentors on staff to work with children at family violence shelters, at nine shelters in the two states. SCORE has also operated a weekend food backpack program for disadvantaged children in North Texas, opened Jason Witten Learning Centers in five different Boys & Girls Clubs and opened the Jason and Michelle Witten Emergency Waiting Room at the Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn.
Players Mentioned
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