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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Notre Dame defensive back Manti Te'o displays his trophyies after being named the college defensive player of the year and the nation's college player of the year at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
From left, Heisman Trophy candidates Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, Notre Dame's Manti Te'o and Kansas State's Collin Klein posed for a photo at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Thursday.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. » Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o pulled in three more awards today, bringing his total to six for the week.
Today’s haul included:
» The Walter Camp national player of the year award, announced by the Walter Camp Football Foundation prior to the College Football Awards show. The award is voted on by the 124 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. Te’o beat out finalists Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, USC receiver Marqise Lee and Oregon running back Kenjon Barner.
» The Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding player. Te’o was presented with the award at the Home Depot College Football Awards show at Disney World. He beat out finalists Manziel and Klein. He is the first defensive player to win the award since 1980, ending a string of nine straight quarterbacks.
» And the Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player. The award was also presented tonight at the show at Disney World. He beat out finalists Jadeveon Clowney from South Carolina and Georgia’s Jarvis Jones. He is the first linebacker to win the Bednarik since 2008.
The leader of the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense, Te’o had 103 tackles and seven interceptions this season.
A Heisman finalist, Te’o was born in Hawaii, grew up in Laie, and is a 2009 Punahou School graduate. The Heisman will be awarded Saturday in New York. The other finalists are Manziel and Klein.
Te’o, a senior, earlier won the Butkus Award, Bronco Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award.
The Fighting Irish play Alabama on Jan. 7 in the BCS national championship game.
