Isaiah Shirley Finds Himself on the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List
9/30/2025 12:00:00 PM | Football
DALLAS, TEXAS – NC State defensive lineman Isaiah Shirley has been selected as one of 67 of the nation's top leaders in college football as he lands on the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List, honoring exemplary leadership by a college player.
Nominated by their schools, the members of the watch list have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Shirley, who has been the SAAC Football representative since 2023, has led and participated in numerous community outreach events, volunteering his time, including serving as a weekly mentor for the Neighbor to Neighbor program, which offers mentorship to promote strong decision-making and goal setting.
He has spoken to numerous high schools, sharing his testimony and offering advice based on his beliefs. Involved with the Uplifting Athletes, which is an organization that uses sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced on Tues., October 14. Three finalists will then be named for the award on Monday, December 15. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026.
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.
Nominated by their schools, the members of the watch list have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Shirley, who has been the SAAC Football representative since 2023, has led and participated in numerous community outreach events, volunteering his time, including serving as a weekly mentor for the Neighbor to Neighbor program, which offers mentorship to promote strong decision-making and goal setting.
He has spoken to numerous high schools, sharing his testimony and offering advice based on his beliefs. Involved with the Uplifting Athletes, which is an organization that uses sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced on Tues., October 14. Three finalists will then be named for the award on Monday, December 15. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026.
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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