North Carolina State University Athletics
Brandon Cleveland Recognized on Prestigious Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Watch List
9/26/2024 1:00:00 PM | Football
DALLAS, Texas – For his impact and excellence in the community and on the football field, NC State defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland has been named to the eighth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Watch List.
One of 52 of the nation's top college football leaders to be nominated, Cleveland has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship on and off the field.
Cleveland, who is up for the AFCA Good Works Team and the 2024 All-State Wuerffel Trophy, remains active in the Raleigh community. With his coaches and teammates, he hands out Pizza downtown to the unhoused community and works with the regional hospital in his hometown on Christmas. He has also raised $10,000 for Feed the Pack Pantry, a program on the NC State campus run by students that helps support unhoused students and students facing food insecurity. Still in the process of fundraising, students can go grocery shopping on campus for free and get the essentials they need.
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.
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.
One of 52 of the nation's top college football leaders to be nominated, Cleveland has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship on and off the field.
Cleveland, who is up for the AFCA Good Works Team and the 2024 All-State Wuerffel Trophy, remains active in the Raleigh community. With his coaches and teammates, he hands out Pizza downtown to the unhoused community and works with the regional hospital in his hometown on Christmas. He has also raised $10,000 for Feed the Pack Pantry, a program on the NC State campus run by students that helps support unhoused students and students facing food insecurity. Still in the process of fundraising, students can go grocery shopping on campus for free and get the essentials they need.
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.
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.
Players Mentioned
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