Dobbins, Fields, Okudah & Young are Major Award Finalists

From an Ohio State release.

Dobbins, Fields, Okudah & Young are Major Award Finalists

The four will represent Ohio State at the Home Depot College Football Awards Dec. 12

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A quartet of outstanding Ohio State football players were named finalists today for major national awards and they will represent the program at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga. ESPN will televise the program.

Running back J.K. Dobbins is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award; quarterback Justin Fields is a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award; cornerback Jeff Okudah is a finalist for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award; and defensive end Chase Young is a finalist for two awards that will be presented that evening: the Bednarik Award and the Maxwell Award.

Dobbins, a junior from La Grange, Texas, made history earlier this season when he became the first player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Dobbins is currently No. 4 nationally in rushing yards (1,446), No. 5 in rushing yards per game (131.5), No. 8 in yards per carry (6.60) and No. 7 in rushing touchdowns (15). Against the three Top 4 rush defenses that Ohio State has faced (Michigan State, Wisconsin and Penn State), Dobbins has averaged 162.0 yards per game. He’s currently No. 3 in career rushing at Ohio State with 3,902 yards in 39 games.

Okudah has spear-headed a Ohio State pass defense that ranks No. 1 nationally allowing an average of just 126.2 yards per game. The Grand Prairie, Texas native has 25 total tackles (20 solo) three interceptions, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. None of the Buckeyes’ 11 opponents thus far has thrown for more than 218 yards and Ohio State has allowed just six passing touchdowns, which is best in the country. Two Buckeyes have won the Jim Thorpe Award previously – Malcolm Jenkins (2008) and Antoine Winfield (1998).

Fields has directed an Ohio State offense that leads the nation in scoring (49.4 points per game). He’s thrown 33 touchdown passes against just one interception and ranks in the top 10 nationally in TD passes, passing efficiency (No. 4, 190.3), completion percentage (No. 9, 69.4) and points responsible for (No. 4, 258). A sophomore and first-year starter from Kennesaw, Ga., Fields has at least four touchdowns in eight of 11 games. Troy Smith is the last Buckeye to win the Davey O’Brien Award (2006).

Young is having one of the finest-ever seasons by a defensive player. He has 38 tackles, a nation’s-leading 16.5 quarterback sacks (totaling 117 yards), 19.5 tackles-for-loss (totaling 122 yards) and six forced fumbles. He’s already broken Ohio State’s single-season sack record and has the most sacks by a Big Ten player in 21 years. Young has a sack in 11 consecutive games, totaling 20.5 in that span. His 30.5 career sacks ranks second in school history and six behind Mike Vrabel (1993-96). Ohio State has never had a Bednarik Award winner.

Ranked No. 2 in this week’s Associated Press poll and in last week’s College Football Playoff rankings, Ohio State is 11-0 overall and has clinched the Big Ten East Division title and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes take on No. 10 Michigan (9-2) Saturday at noon at Michigan Stadium.

OHIO STATE’S MAJOR AWARD WINNERS (44)

HEISMAN TROPHY

2006………… Troy Smith

1995……… Eddie George

1975…….. Archie Griffin

1974…….. Archie Griffin

1955… Hopalong Cassady

1950……… Vic Janowicz

1944……….. Les Horvath

ALLSTATE AFCA

GOOD WORKS TEAM

2015………. Joshua Perry

BILETNIKOFF AWARD

1995……….. Terry Glenn

BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY

2006… James Laurinaitis

BUTKUS AWARD

2007… James Laurinaitis

1997 Andy Katzenmoyer

DAVEY O’BRIEN AWARD

2006………… Troy Smith

DOAK WALKER AWARD

1995……… Eddie George

THORPE AWARD

2008…. Malcolm Jenkins

1998… Antoine Winfield

LOU GROZA AWARD

2004………. Mike Nugent

LOMBARDI AWARD

2005…………. A.J. Hawk

1996……… Orlando Pace

1995……… Orlando Pace

1987…… Chris Spielman

1973…………. John Hicks

1970…….. Jim Stilwagon

LOTT IMPACT TROPHY

2008… James Laurinaitis

MAXWELL AWARD

1995……… Eddie George

1975…….. Archie Griffin

1961…….. Bob Ferguson

1955. Hopalong Cassady

OUTLAND TROPHY

1996……… Orlando Pace

1973…………. John Hicks

1970……. Jim Stillwagon

1956…………. Jim Parker

RAY GUY AWARD

2003………… B.J. Sander

RIMINGTON TROPHY

2017…………. Billy Price

2016………….. Pat Elflein

2001.. LeCharles Bentley

SENIOR CLASS AWARD

2008… James Laurinaitis

WALTER CAMP AWARD

2006………… Troy Smith

1995……… Eddie George

1975…….. Archie Griffin

1974…….. Archie Griffin

WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL AWARD

2003…….. Craig Krenzel

1995……. Bobby Hoying

WUERFFEL TROPHY

2006………… Joel Penton