Outland Trophy Award Dinner | Best College Football Interior Lineman

Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat wins 78th Outland Trophy

TEXAS DEFENSIVE TACKLE SWEAT WINS 78TH OUTLAND TROPHY

DALLAS (FWAA) – Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat was named the recipient of the 78th Outland Trophyon Friday night during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN. The Outland Trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s best college interior lineman on offense or defense. Sweat is the school’s fourth Outland Trophy winner.

Sweat, a 6-4, 362-pound senior from Huntsville, Texas, was selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) from three finalists

that also included offensive tackle Joe Alt of Notre Dame and guard Cooper Beebe of Kansas State. Sweat is the second defensive tackle of the past three seasons to win the Outland Trophy (Georgia’s Jordan Davis in 2021) and the fourth from the defensive side of the last seven seasons. He is the first winner from a Big 12 school since 2004 (Oklahoma offensive tackle Jammal Brown).

The official presentation to Sweat will be made at
the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports

Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 10, 2024. Prior to that, Texas (12-1) faces Washington (13-0) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in a College Football Playoff semifinal in New Orleans.

Sweat is the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as the linchpin of one of the most formidable defensive fronts in the nation. He was one of three unanimous selections and the all-conference honors are the first of his career following a breakout season in which he established career highs with 42 tackles (sixth on the team), 17 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and four pass breakups. In addition Sweat also blocked a kick that was returned for a defensive two-point conversion against Iowa State.

Sweat also caught a two-yard touchdown pass in the Big 12 Championship Game last week against Oklahoma State, the first reception of his career.

Texas’ defensive front that includes Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Byron Murphy II has led the Longhorns to near the top of multiple national defensive statistical categories:

 held opponents to 80.9 rushing yards per game (4th in the FBS)
 held opponents to 26.5 percent on third-down conversions (2nd in FBS)
 tie for fourth in red zone defense (71.4 percent, tied for 4th in FBS)
 gave up 17.2 points per game thus far in 13 games (12th in FBS)
 gave up 210 first downs thus far in 13 games (27th in FBS)

Sweat is the latest winner among Texas’ fine tradition with the Outland Trophy and its first in 46 seasons. Defensive tackle Brad Shearer was the last winner prior to Sweat in 1977 with linebacker Tommy Nobis (1965) and defensive tackle Scott Appleton (1963) also earning previous awards. Like Sweat, each one of Texas’ previous Outland Trophy winners, finalists or semifinalists were native Texans.

The Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.

Jan 11, 2023 —- What an Amazing Evening, as we honored last year’s winner Olu Oluwatimi, Offensive Center, from the University of Michigan. – The Outland Trophy Award Winner at the Dinner Sponsored by Werner Enterprises at the Omaha Hilton Downtown. The unforgetable amazing Evening ended with Olu giving a speech that came from the Heart and had everyone on their feet! Olu is the FIRST Outland winner from Michigan! He now has over 500 new fans following him and hoping for nothing but the best for him as he enters into the NFL.

The 2024 Dinner will be held Wednesday Jan. 10, 2024 at the Hilton Omaha Downtown. The Outland Trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s best college interior lineman on offense or defense and Olu was the 1st Michigan lineman to earn the award.

A 6-3, 307 -pound Grad Student from Upper Marlboro, Maryland was selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) from three finalists. He was also named the Rimington Award winner for the best center in college football.

The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) to present the 2023 Outland Trophy. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.

In addition, Werner Enterprises, whose home offices are located in Omaha, is the title sponsor of the dinner, which has been produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee since 1997.

The Outland Trophy Award Dinner Sponsored by Werner Enterprises will be held Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 7:00 pm at the Hilton Omaha Downtown, 10th & Cass Street. The Outland Trophy, which has been awarded annually by the FWAA is named after the late Dr. John Outland. A life-long football fan and athlete, Dr. Outland donated $1,000 to the Football Writers in 1946 to sponsor the award that he always lamented the lack of recognition that the lineman received even in the earliest days of the college game.

Last Years Winner Olu Oluwatimi was presented live and in person at the Dinner.

The Outland Trophy Award Dinner is a tradition in Omaha. It was nice to have Past Outland Award recipients present to welcome the winner to the Outland Fraternity, such as The University of Nebraska’s Larry Jacobson ’71, Zach Wiegert ’94 as well as Jerry Murtaugh, Jerry Tagge, Tony Veland, Trev Alberts, Johnny Rodgers – Heisman Trophy Winner, new Husker Coach Matt Rhule, and many others. All helped make this a Special night.

The 9th Tom Osborne Legacy Award Sponsored by Omaha Downtown Rotary was also presented at the dinner by Tom Osborne, this year’s recipient was Barry Alvarez – former Husker player and Past Wisconsin Legendary Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. Tom congratulated Barry on his many accomplishments through his journey and helping put Wisconsin on the map.

Last year’s Tom Osborne Legacy Award went to Will Shields – the 1st Player selected to receive the Prestigious Award was a perfect selection. Will has as a player through out his career emulated the Class and Respect that Tom Personified, along with exhibiting the characteristics of integrity, sportsmanship and fair play associated with Tom Osborne, and for demonstrating a record of leadership and good citizenship in the community that’s consistent with Rotary International’s primary motto, “Service Above Self,” and he carries these same ideals today as he owns and operates a Sports facility in Kansas City.

Will Herthie Shields is a former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League. He played his entire professional career for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, and never missed a game in 14 seasons. Shields was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015, with the Kansas City Chiefs, he was 3 times All Pro and 4 times 2nd Team All Pro. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning consensus All-American honors and winning the Outland Trophy.

The Amazing Night did not stop there, we also recognized at the dinner for the 25th straight year the Nebraska Football Senior Awards winners, this years award winners were: Caleb Tannor – the Novak Trophy (Player who best exemplifies courage and determination despite all odds in the manner of Nebraska All-American center Tom Novak), Travis Vokolek – the Chamberlin Trophy (Player who has shown by his play and contributions to the betterment of the University of Nebraska football squad that he has the qualities and dedication of Guy Chamberlin), Matt Masker – the Cletus Fischer Native Son, and Trent Hixson won the Cornhusker Award (player who began their career as a walk-on).

DAMIAN JACKSON Improbable Story by ESPN

The Armed Forces Merit Award is presented annually to honor an individual and/or a group with a military background and/or involvement that has an impact within the realm of college football. Officially announced each Veterans Day, the Armed Forces Merit Award recipient is selected by a panel of individuals from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. This year we had a Salute to the Military and Jimmy Weber sang the God Bless the USA!

Last year we were also very fortunate to Present at the Dinner the ARMED FORCES MERIT AWARD to Damian Jackson – Honoring him and his story.

Omaha also will Host the 11th Annual Outland Semi-Finalists Announcement Reception Party. The Football Writers Association narrows the search of the best linemen throughout the country to 6 – 7 semi-finalists, it will be held Wednesday – November 15th . The Evening begins at 7pm when Sean Callahan via Zoom congratulated the semi-finalists and we get to see their reactions Live to being selected and their responses and interactions to Greg’s questions. Also at this Event there are door prizes and a Silent Auction! The Silent Auction will also be Online and you can begin bidding Soon! Doors open at 6pm – Purchase Tickets Soon! Only $15 (2 Drink Tickets and Special Door Prize drawing)

Get Reception Tickets

As you can see, if you are a football fan you want to be a part of these events. Tickets for the Outland Dinner on January 10, 2024 are on Sale and can be Reserved by calling 402.346-8003.