By: Alexander Gagnon

As the University of Michigan stands atop the college football world with their victory in the College Football Playoff National Championship last night, their stars make a strong argument to be nominated for this year’s AAU James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s top collegiate or Olympic-level athlete.
 
The AAU Sullivan Award has been presented 93 times since 1930, with April 23, 2024 being its 94^th edition. Only nine people, or less than 10% of all winners, have earned it through their skills on the gridiron. Army has the only football program that has produced multiple AAU Sullivan Award winners with three. The other schools who have had an athlete win include Florida, Florida State, Navy, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee.

Felix “Doc” Blanchard – Army, 16^th Winner, 1945



Blanchard became the first football player to win the AAU Sullivan Award nearly 80 years ago. A bruising power back, “Mr. Inside”, as he was known, comprised one-third of the most dominant backfields in college football, helping lead Army to a 27-0-1 record and three straight national championships. He also became the first athlete in history to win the AAU Sullivan Award and the Heisman Trophy in the same season.
 
Notable Finalists: Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Smith (Swimming) and Four-Time Olympic Medalist Jimmy McLane (Swimming).

Y. Arnold Tucker – Army, 17^th Winner, 1946 (pictured center)



The following year saw Blanchard’s teammate Arnold Tucker win thanks to his contributions on both sides of the ball. Tucker starred as both quarterback and safety for the squad, and his eight interceptions in 1946 still stand as Army’s single season record as he helped Army to three straight national championships in 1944-1946.
 
Notable Finalists: Four-Time Olympic Medalist Jimmy McLane (Swimming) and Two-Time Olympic Medalist Zoe Ann Olsen (Diving).

Charlie Ward – Florida State, 64^th Winner, 1993



Despite football players winning back-to-back in the mid-1940s, it would be a nearly 50-year drought until Florida State’s Charlie Ward won it for his performance in 1993. A dual sport athlete, Ward threw for over 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Seminoles on their way to a national championship while also playing point guard for the FSU basketball team and leading them to an Elite Eight appearance.

Ward went on to have a 12-year career in the NBA, mostly with the New York Knicks. Ward returned to the 2023 AAU Sullivan Award ceremony, 30 years after his own Sullivan victory, to congratulate the most recent winner, Caitlin Clark.

 
(Ward at the 93^rd AAU Sullivan Award Ceremony in 2023)
 
Notable Finalists: Basketball Icon Sheryl Swoopes and 12-Time Olympic Medalist Jenny Thompson (Swimming).

Peyton Manning – Tennessee, 68^th Winner, 1997



Four years later, the 1997 AAU Sullivan Award winner would go on to become one of the most recognized players in football history. Throwing for over 3,800 yards and 36 touchdowns in his senior season, Tennessee QB Peyton Manning took home the award over Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski and eventual Basketball Hall of Famer Tim Duncan in another fiercely competitive class.

Manning would go on to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His illustrious NFL career included two Super Bowl wins, five league MVP awards, and 14 Pro Bowl appearances.
 
Notable Finalists: Basketball Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and Olympic Gold Medalist Tara Lipinski (Figure Skating).

Tim Tebow – Florida, 78^th Winner, 2007



A decade later, Florida QB Tim Tebow was dominating sporting news during his time with the Gators, helping them win two national championships. His sophomore season in 2007, which led to him winning the 78^th AAU Sullivan Award, saw him put up 55 combined touchdowns (32 passing, 23 rushing) along with nearly 3,300 passing yards and another 895 on the ground. A prolific dual threat weapon as a college quarterback, Tebow became only the fifth football player to win the AAU Sullivan Award at the time.
 
Notable Finalists: Two-Time Olympic Medalist Jonathan Horton (Gymnastics) and IAAF Masters Athlete of the Year Philippa Raschker

John Urschel – Penn State, 84^th Winner, 2013



The Big Ten conference had back-to-back winners in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, Penn State’s John Urschel claimed the 84^th AAU Sullivan Award trophy.

Not only was Urschel a two-time First Team All-Big Ten lineman who played four years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, but he’s also an incredible mathematician with more than a dozen published peer-reviewed research papers. He is currently an assistant professor at MIT. He’s also one of the few recipients of the AAU Sullivan Award born outside the United States.
 
Notable Finalists: Two-Time Olympic Medalist Kelsey Robinson (Volleyball) and 10-time NCAA DI Track and Field All-American Cory Ann McGee

Ezekiel Elliott – Ohio State, 85^th Winner, 2014



The following season it was the Buckeye’s turn with Ezekiel Elliott. In one of the most talented AAU Sullivan finalist groups since the award’s creation, Ezekiel Elliott rose above a host of Olympians thanks to his breakout season of nearly 1,900 rushing yards and 18 TDs. He would get drafted as the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft a year later, and Elliott is still actively playing as a member of the New England Patriots as of the writing of this article.
 
Notable Finalists: Seven-Time Olympic Medalist and 91^st AAU Sullivan Award winner Simone Biles (Gymnastics) and 10-time Olympic Medalist Katie Ledecky (Swimming)

Keenan Reynolds – Navy, 86^th Winner, 2015



The most recent football winner was Navy’s Keenan Reynolds, who was a co-winner in 2015 with basketball star Breanna Stewart. Reynolds guided the Midshipmen to 36 wins over his collegiate career, along with a perfect 4-0 record over rival Army. His 88 rushing touchdowns put him as the record holder for the most career rushing touchdowns in NCAA Division I history.
 
Notable Finalists: Seven-Time Olympic Medalist and 91^st AAU Sullivan Award winner Simone Biles (Gymnastics) and 2015 Heisman Trophy Winner Derrick Henry (Football).

94^th AAU Sullivan Award

Will there be a tenth football player raising the AAU James E. Sullivan Award this year? The 94^th AAU Sullivan Award Ceremony takes place April 23, 2024, at the New York Athletic Club. Nominations for the award are going on now through February 2 and be found here.

Keep an eye out on January 23 for the next installment of Sullivan Spotlight, where winners from another sport will be highlighted.