Notre Dame's Te'o wins Maxwell Award
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Notre Dame defensive back Manti Te'o displays his trophies after being named the college defensive player of the year and the nation's college player of the year Thursday at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Associated Press
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Former Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian waves to fans Thursday as he arrives at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Parseghian was honored with the NCFAA Contribution to College Football Award. Associated Press
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o has won the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's most outstanding player.
Te'o was presented with the award Thursday at the Home Depot College Football Awards show at Disney World. He beat out finalists and quarterbacks Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M and Collin Klein from Kansas State.
He is the first defensive player to win the award since 1980, ending a string of nine straight quarterbacks.
It's the sixth national award that Te'o has won since the end of the regular season. The Fighting Irish senior has also has won the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and Walter Camp national player of the year award.
Te'o is also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which will be presented on Saturday.
Winners of the 2012 college football awards
Walter Camp National Player of the Year -- Manti Te'o, Notre DameMaxwell Award (best all-around player) -- Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award -- Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Doak Walker Award (outstanding running back) -- Montee Ball, Wisconsin
Fred Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver) -- Marqise Lee, Southern Cal
Chuck Bedarnik Trophy (best defensive player) -- Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Outland Trophy (outstanding collegiate interior lineman) -- Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back) -- Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
Lou Groza Award (outstanding place-kicker) -- Cairo Santos, Tulane
Ray Guy Award (best punter) -- Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech
Sports Spirit Award -- Nate Boyer, Texas
Coach of the Year -- Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
NCFAA Contribution to College Football Award -- Ara Parseghian
