Lake Buena Vista, FL (Sporting Alert) — Notre Dame senior linebacker Manti Te’o dominated the honors at the 2012 Home Depot College Football Awards on a night when college football’s best were recognized individually during an awards ceremony at Disney World Thursday.
Watched by his parents, Te’o took home the Maxwell Award, given out annually to the nation’s outstanding all-around player, the Chuck Bednarik Award, which honors the top defensive player and the Walter Camp Award, created for the player of the year.
Te’o, who is also in the running for the Heisman Trophy, beat out Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, Oregon running back Kenjon Barner and USC receiver Marqise Lee to the Walter Camp Award.
The Fighting Irish star got the better of Klein and Manziel for the Maxwell Award, while beating out finalists Georgia’s Jarvis Jones and South Carolina Jadeveon Clowney for the Bednarik Award.
On Saturday Manziel and Klein will battle again with Te’o for the Heisman Trophy, the highest individual award in college football.
Meanwhile, Manziel became the first freshman to capture the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, while Wisconsin running back Montee Ball took home the Doak Walker Award and Johnthan Banks of the Mississippi State Bulldogs beat out Alabama‘s Dee Milliner for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back.
