Release from Mississippi State:
Mississippi State offensive lineman Albert Reese IV has been named to the eighth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award watchlist, the organization announced Thursday.
Reese is one of 52 players named to the watchlist, which is given annually to the nation's top leaders in college football. Each player is nominated by their school and has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Reese has been incredibly active in the community and has taken full advantage of the newly created D.A.W.G program. In his time in Starkville, Reese has volunteered in numerous activities, highlighted by trips to the Starkville Public Library, The Boys and Girls Club. He lent a helping hand at the Starkville Strong Food Drive and the Samaritan's Feet Shoe Distribution. He joined teammates on a service trip to Miami this summer, where they painted and cleaned schools, met with students for lunch and in their classrooms, and did some landscaping, all while giving back to others and being incredible leaders and representatives of Mississippi State University.
Twenty semifinalists will be announced on October 22. Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, December 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 12, 2025.
The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport, served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle. The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 16 years. The foundation operates its nationally-recognized SCOREkeepers program, which places trained male mentors on staff to work with children at family violence shelters, at nine shelters in the two states.
Mississippi State offensive lineman Albert Reese IV has been named to the eighth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award watchlist, the organization announced Thursday.
Reese is one of 52 players named to the watchlist, which is given annually to the nation's top leaders in college football. Each player is nominated by their school and has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Reese has been incredibly active in the community and has taken full advantage of the newly created D.A.W.G program. In his time in Starkville, Reese has volunteered in numerous activities, highlighted by trips to the Starkville Public Library, The Boys and Girls Club. He lent a helping hand at the Starkville Strong Food Drive and the Samaritan's Feet Shoe Distribution. He joined teammates on a service trip to Miami this summer, where they painted and cleaned schools, met with students for lunch and in their classrooms, and did some landscaping, all while giving back to others and being incredible leaders and representatives of Mississippi State University.
Twenty semifinalists will be announced on October 22. Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, December 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 12, 2025.
The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport, served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle. The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 16 years. The foundation operates its nationally-recognized SCOREkeepers program, which places trained male mentors on staff to work with children at family violence shelters, at nine shelters in the two states.
