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Winston, FSU rake in football awards

 
FSU’s Jameis Winston shows his Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarterback.
FSU’s Jameis Winston shows his Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarterback.
Published Dec. 13, 2013

LAKE BUENA VISTA — Florida State was the big winner at Thursday night's Home Depot College Football Awards as the Seminoles took home three national awards — the most of any school.

FSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Jameis Winston was honored with the Davey O'Brien Award, presented to the nation's top quarterback. Winston is the second freshman to win the O'Brien Award, following Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, who won it last year. Winston joins former Seminoles Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke as O'Brien winners.

"I'm just enjoying the night," said Winston, who was also named Walter Camp player of the year. "I'm thankful for the opportunity."

FSU's Roberto Aguayo won the Lou Groza Award for the nation's outstanding placekicker, and FSU's Bryan Stork won the Rimington Trophy for outstanding center. Stork is the first Rimington winner from FSU and the first from the ACC.

For Aguayo, Thursday was extra special: He grew up in Mascotte, less than an hour from Orlando, playing for South Lake High.

"I lived down the road 35-40 minutes from here," Aguayo said. "And coming back and winning it here means a lot to me."

A lifelong FSU fan, Aguayo joins Sebastian Janikowski (1998 and 1999) and Graham Gano (2003) as Seminoles to win the Groza Award. FSU is the only school to have three Groza winners. The redshirt freshman set a school and ACC season record for points (147). He was 19-of-20 on field goals and made all 90 extra points. Marvin Kloss of USF also was a Groza finalist.

FSU's Lamarcus Joyner was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (cornerback), won by Michigan State's Darqueze Dennard.

The ACC totaled four winners.

The SEC was well-represented as well. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn was named national coach of the year. He is the first first-year coach to win the SEC title in 66 years. Alabama quarterback and Heisman finalist AJ McCarron became the first Alabama player to win the Maxwell Award for college player of the year. He's the second SEC player to win since Cam Newton in 2010.

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com.

Up next

Heisman Trophy presentation

Florida State QB Jameis Winston will be the heavy favorite at Saturday's ceremony (8 p.m., ESPN) in New York. The other finalists: Alabama QB AJ McCarron, Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch, Boston College RB Andre Williams and Auburn RB Tre Mason.