The Shaun Alexander Award
HISTORY OF THE SHAUN ALEXANDER AWARD
During the 1996 college football season, future All-American Shaun Alexander didn’t start off the year as the team’s starting running back, in fact, he was actually the 3rd option. That all changed on the ESPN prime time night game on November 9th, 1996 when #10 Alabama played #11 LSU. This was the night in death valley where Shaun became an Alabama legend.
His first carry… a 17-yard touchdown – giving him 1 carry for 17 yards and a touchdown at the end of the 1st half.
His second carry… a 73-yard touchdown.
Shaun ended the night with 4 touchdowns and 291 rushing yards. Alexander’s single-game rushing record (291 yards) still stands today at The University of Alabama.
Shaun ended his career at Alabama with 3,565 yards rushing (41 touchdowns), 798 receiving yards (8 TD receptions), and one kickoff return for a touchdown. Due to Shaun’s tremendous freshman campaign for the Crimson Tide, The College Football Freshman Player of the Year Award is now called The Shaun Alexander Award.

The Inaugural Recipient of The Shaun Alexander Award
After upsetting Alexander's alma mater in the 2019 CFP National Championship, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was selected as the inaugural recipient of The Shaun Alexander Award. Shaun personally presented the award to Trevor Lawrence in front of a packed crowd during Clemson's spring football game in 2019.

Trevor Lawrence 2018 Top Plays
2018-2019 Shaun Alexander Award Winner
Trevor Lawrence Freshman Season Statistics
After the fourth game of the season, Trevor Lawrence became the starting quarterback for the Clemson Tigers. As the starting QB, Trevor led the Tigers to an 11-0 record, capping off his impressive freshman campaign with a National Championship victory over Alabama.
3,280
Passing Yards
30
Passing TD's
157.6
QBR

Kenneth Gainwell 2019 Top Plays
2019-2020 Shaun Alexander Award Winner
Kenneth Gainwell Freshman Season Statistics
After the starting running back suffered an injury, Kenneth exploded onto the scene for the Memphis Tigers. Gainwell averaged 147.8 yards per scrimmage during the 2019 season, which ranked 6th nationally. Gainwell will forgo the 2020 season to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
1,459
Rushing Yards
610
Receiving Yards
16
Total TD's

Will Anderson Jr. wins 2020 Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award
2020-2021 Shaun Alexander Award Winner
Will Anderson Jr. Freshman Season Statistics
Will Anderson Jr. leaped onto the scene during his freshman campaign, winning several major awards in addition to the Alexander Award. He was named to the SEC All-American Team, he earned 2nd Team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press, and finished 3rd in the SEC in sacks.
7
Sacks
10.5
Tackles for Loss
52
Total Tackles

Brock Bowers wins 2021 Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award
2021-2022 Shaun Alexander Award Winner
Brock Bowers Freshman Season Statistics
Bowers was a USA Today, ESPN, and The Athletic First Team All-American and was the SEC Freshman of the Year in his first year with the Bulldogs. He had a team-best 56 catches for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns (12 receiving, one rushing). Bowers owns school records in receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns for a tight end. He also helped the Bulldogs secure a victory in the National Championship over the Crimson Tide.
13
Touchdowns
882
Yards
56
Receptions
