List of Outland Trophy Winner Year by Year

Last Modified Dec 10, 2024 18:48 GMT
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Outland Trophy. Source: Getty Images

The third-oldest significant college football award is the Outland Trophy. Since its creation in 1946, when John Outland gave the FWAA a financial contribution to start the award, the Outland Trophy has been awarded to the top college football interior lineman. Following his time as an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, Outland settled in Kansas City. Being a passionate outdoor enthusiast, Outland thought linemen weren't given enough credit and wanted an award to honor them.

Each year, the FWAA All-America Team consists of three finalists who compete for the Outland Trophy. Following voting by all members, the FWAA All-America Committee chooses a 26-man first team and, in the end, the three Outland finalists.

Next, each committee member casts a separate ballot to choose the winner. The only players eligible for the award are interior linemen, either on defense or offense; ends are not.

The most significant accolades in college football are all part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which includes the Outland Trophy. Since 1935, over 800 recipients of the NCFAA's 25 awards have been recognized.

Outland Trophy History

The Football Writers Association of America selects the greatest college football interior lineman in the country to receive the Outland Trophy. It bears John H. Outland's name. Outland was one of the select few players in history to be awarded an All-America award in two positions. He was selected as a consensus All-America tackle in 1898 and a consensus halfback in 1899.

Since its establishment, Outland has maintained that football tackles and guards should be given more credit, and the Outland Trophy was created to do just that. The Outland Trophy's design and sculpture were commissioned by Jim Ridlon in 1988. The honor is now among college football's most coveted since it is a member of the National College Football Awards Association.

John Henry Outland was an American football player and coach who lived from March 17, 1871, to March 24, 1947. He was a football player at the University of Kansas, the University of Pennsylvania, and Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. While he was a member of the Penn Quakers, he was awarded an All-American twice.

Outland had a 21-15-2 career record as a college football player and coach at several universities after playing, including Washburn University from 1904 to 1905, Haskell Institute in 1902 and 1906, Franklin & Marshall College in 1900, and the University of Kansas in 1901. In 2001, Outland was inducted as a player into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Outland Trophy Winner Year by Year

YearPlayerSchoolPosition
1946George ConnorNotre DameT
1947Joe SteffyArmyG
1948Bill FischerNotre DameG
1949Ed BagdonMichigan StateG
1950Bob GainKentuckyT
1951Jim WeatherallOklahomaT
1952Dick ModzelewskiMarylandT
1953J. D. RobertsOklahoma G
1954Bud BrooksArkansasG
1955Cal JonesIowaG
1956Jim ParkerOhio StateG
1957Alex KarrasIowaT
1958Zeke SmithAuburnG
1959Mike McGeeDukeT
1960Tom BrownMinnesotaG
1961Merlin OlsenUtah StateT
1962Bobby BellMinnesota T
1963Scott AppletonTexasT
1964Steve DeLongTennesseeT
1965Tommy NobisTexas G
1966Loyd PhillipsArkansas DT
1967Ron YaryUSCT
1968Bill StanfillGeorgiaDT
1969Mike ReidPenn StateDT
1970Jim StillwagonOhio State NT
1971Larry JacobsonNebraskaDT
1972Rich GloverNebraska NT
1973John HicksOhio State T
1974Randy WhiteMarylandDT
1975Lee Roy SelmonOklahomaDT
1976Ross BrownerNotre DameDE
1977Brad ShearerTexas DT
1978Greg RobertsOklahoma C/G
1979Jim RitcherNorth Carolina StateC
1980Mark MayPittsburghT
1981Dave RimingtonNebraska C
1982Dave Rimington NebraskaC
1983Dean SteinkuhlerNebraska G
1984Bruce SmithVirginia TechDT
1985Mike RuthBoston CollegeNT
1986Jason BuckBYUDT
1987Chad HenningsAir ForceDT
1988Tracy RockerAuburnDT
1989Mohammed ElewonibiBYU G
1990Russell MarylandMiami (FL)NT
1991Steve EmtmanWashingtonDT
1992Will ShieldsNebraska G
1993Rob WaldropArizonaNT
1994Zach WiegertNebraska T
1995Jonathan OgdenUCLAT
1996Orlando PaceOhio State T
1997Aaron TaylorNebraska G
1998Kris FarrisUCLA T
1999Chris SamuelsAlabamaT
2000John HendersonTennessee DT
2001Bryant McKinnieMiami (FL) T
2002Rien LongWashington StateDT
2003Robert GalleryIowa T
2004Jammal BrownOklahoma T
2005Greg EslingerMinnesota C
2006Joe ThomasWisconsinT
2007Glenn DorseyLSUDT
2008Andre SmithAlabama T
2009Ndamukong SuhNebraskaDT
2010Gabe CarimiWisconsin T
2011Barrett JonesAlabama T
2012Luke JoeckelTexas A&MT
2013Aaron DonaldPittsburgh DT
2014Brandon ScherffIowa T
2015Joshua GarnettStanfordG
2016Cam RobinsonAlabama T
2017Ed OliverHoustonDT
2018Quinnen WilliamsAlabama DT
2019Penei SewellOregonT
2020Alex LeatherwoodAlabama T
2021Jordan DavisGeorgiaDT
2022Olusegun OluwatimiMichiganC
2023T'Vondre SweatTexasDT

FAQs on Outland Trophy

A. The Outland Trophy is for the top interior linemen in college football. Finalists are chosen from the FWAA All-America Team.

Interior linemen on defense or offense are eligible for the Outland Trophy; ends are not.

John Outland, an All-American, wanted to honor linemen who he believed weren't given enough credit.

It is among the most coveted awards and is a member of the National College Football Awards Association.

Outland was an All-American football player who advocated for recognizing football tackles and guards.

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