I can’t believe it, but yes, ladies and gentleman, this is the 10th annual Hammys! This marks my decade of a tenure with Cheri, Vance and the entire Bulldawg Illustrated team. This year has been especially, well … special. As a middle school, high school and college intern for BI, my role grew over time; however, graduating from the greatest university in all the land in May of 2024, I hit the job search in the journalism field. I sat down with Cheri and Vance in early August. I told them, “I’ve looked around, but there is no place I’d rather be and no people I’d rather work for than you two and BI.” With that being said, I’ve grown so much in my first year out of college as a journalist and a person. There are growing pains, sure, but what a year it has been… on the field: ups and downs, in my career: ups and downs, but that’s life, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to bring you the Hammys yet again. Thank you, Vance and Cheri for another great year!

Without further adieu, here are the 2024 10th Annual Hammys…

Quarterback of the Year:

Dillon Gabriel – Miami

There has been elite quarterback play across the board. Shedeur Sanders of Colorado will most likely be the highest drafted quarterback come the 2025 NFL Draft. Dillon Gabriel has led the Oregon Ducks to a 12-0 season and No. 1 ranking, but none have been quite like Cam Ward. The Washington State transfer wound up in Coral Gables with something to prove, and prove it, he has. 36 touchdowns (most in college football) to seven interceptions with 4,123 (second-most) yards through the air. His resumé took a blemish with the Hurricanes second loss of the season to Kyle McCord (the only quarterback in football with more yards) and Syracuse, but he has still been remarkable and single-handedly changed Miami football. We shall see if Cam Ward and the Canes find themselves in the Playoffs after missing the ACC Championship, but the QB from South Beach deserves credit where credit is due, and that is this Hammy!

Running Back of the Year:

Ashton Jeanty – Boise State

This wasn’t even close. There hasn’t been a season like this by a running back since Barry Sanders in 1988. That is none other than Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. 2,288 yards on the year and 28 touchdowns. Let that sink in. Sanders’ historic ‘88 campaign’s stat line: 2,628 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns. The record never thought to be broken has the chance to do so with Boise State playing in at least two more games. Jeanty has five 200+ yard games this season, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He went viral for standing in the backfield like Michael Myers, waiting to take the next defense’s life. Now, he’s led the Broncos to an 11-1 season, a Mountain West Conference Championship appearance and a likely Playoff bid. Here’s another honor for the superstar. Your Hammy, Mr. Jeanty!

‌Wide Receiver of the Year:

Tetairoa McMillan – Arizona

McMillan was one of the great stories of 2023 as he and Noah Fifita burst onto the scene with Arizona finishing as a top 15 team. The WIldcats couldn’t replicate 2023’s success, but McMillan was still a beast at receiver. On 84 receptions, McMillan has 1,319 receiving yards (third most). That’s a 15.7 yard average. That’s unfair. He’s a projected first rounder in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it’s well-warranted. Here’s your Hammy Tetiaroa!

‌Tight End of the Year:

Harold Fannin, Jr – Boise State

The man above has the third most receiving yards in college football. Right above him, a tight end. That’s unheard of. His name is Harold Fannin, Jr. You might not have heard his name as he plays for Bowling Green, but this 6’4, 230-pound man among boys has been nothing short of impressive in 2024. 1,342 receiving yards on 100 receptions for a 13.4 yard average and nine touchdowns. The next best tight end in total yards is more than 300 behind Fannin, Jr. Just go ahead and take this Hammy, Harold!

Defensive Player of the Year:

Donovan Ezeiruaku – Boston College

EA Sports’ CFB 25 video game is a little rigged in my opinion because this defensive end is unstoppable and they have him rated an 85 overall. Meet Donovan Ezeiruaku, the 6’2, 247-pound game wrecker out of Boston College. He leads the nation with 16.5 sacks, and in his final regular season game against Pitt, the award was sealed. He closed out the regular season with a 3.5 sack, 4.5 tackles for loss and 10 total tackles performance. Donovan, I believe you made yourself some money, proving your value on Sundays. Here’s a Hammy to go along with it.

Offensive Lineman of the Year:

Tate Ratledge – Georgia

Bias aside, Tate Ratledge is, in fact, a Damn Good Dawg, Damn Good Ball Player, Damn Good Man and the Best Damn Offensive Lineman in the country. You might ask, well, he was hurt for four weeks. My response: Tate came back and had some hiccups: the Ole Miss loss, but no player has been a leader for an offensive line unit and an entire team like Tate. Yes, an offensive lineman has to protect and perform on the field, but Tate’s “not for himself, but for others” mentality is what I find to be the most valuable trait in an offensive lineman. The right guard is one of the highest rated prospects entering the 2025 NFL Draft, and it is no coincidence. He has been a rock for this rollercoaster of a season for the Dawgs. For that, here is that Hammy, Tate!

‌Special Teams Player of the Year:

Brett Thorson – Georgia

The common viewer might think the bias is seeping into these awards, but it is hard not to give this Hammy to yet another Dawg and Tate Ratledge’s co-host of the Mullets on the Mic Podcast. Brett Thorson, the “Thunder from Down Under.” The Aussie punter came to Georgia and his flip-the-field ability is unlike anything we have seen in college football. Brett and the Georgia punt team had not allowed a punt return of positive yardage in nearly two and a half years. That is until Tennessee came to town in mid-November. Boo Carter saw a crease and took it. One tackle away and it would be six for the Vols to give them a potential 14-0 lead. The one man standing in his way: Brett Thorson. In his own words, “Be tough, be fast and be tough.” Here’s that Hammy for the most outstanding special teams player of 2024!

Freshman of the Year:

LaNorris Sellers – South Carolina

Ryan Williams, the 17-year old phenom is a worthy candidate, but a slow end to his regular season keeps him from this Hammy. We go to the Big 10, where another freshman wide receiver in Jeremiah Smith had a circus-like season with incredible grabs, but with a loss to Michigan and a few not so flashy games to end his regular season, I can’t give it to him either. That leaves me with the next great football star who wears goggles. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina’s redshirt freshman quarterback, has led the Gamecocks to a six-game win streak, including their 17-14 victory over in-state rival Clemson where Sellers had two rushing touchdowns. He has been a savior in Columbia since their last loss to Alabama in early October. Since, he has been on fire and will be the future of South Carolina football with a potential College Football Playoff appearance coming up. Here is the Hammy for you, LaNorris!

Best Looking Player of the Year:

Will Johnson – Michigan

I keep my sister Mimi around for one moment each year: this award. Will Johnson of Michigan is one of the top prospects in next year’s NFL Draft, but, Will, congrats you are also the best looking player of 2024 according to a college freshman. Here is your Mimi award presented by the Hammys!

Uniform of the Year:

Texas A&M’s Blackout

We had an all-time uniform matchup in week nine as LSU traveled to College Station for a huge matchup in front of the 12th man. LSU wore a whiteout uniform with their classy purple and yellow accents, but the uniform of the night and of the season was Texas A&M’s blackout uniforms. Matte finished helmets with a cursive “Aggies” decal, the traditional block numbers in all white. It was fresh, new but still Texas A&M, not some flashy nonsense, but a good old-fashioned uniform change that was partnered with a huge fourth quarter comeback win for the Aggies!

Villain of the Year:

The Referees

The College Football Playoff Committee is one inconsistent group of people, but this year, your Hammy title defense failed as the referees of college football are the Villains of the Year. From changing a call thanks to trash on the field in Austin, Texas to a terrible illegal touching reversing a touchdown in the Alabama/Oklahoma game, refs, you were terrible this year! Might I add, this was the same crew that made both of the decisions above. Here is the worst Hammy presented to 2024’s college football refs!

Play of the Year:

Ryan Willams vs. Georgia

The overturned touchdown thanks to the terrible refs in the Alabama/Oklahoma game negated Ryan WIlliams’ touchdown. However, as much as it pains me to present this award, the play of the year goes to Ryan Williams and his game-saving/winning catch and run against Georgia. The 17-year old freshman made one of the craziest 360 catches and dashed to the end zone to put the Crimson Tide back in front and give them the eventual win over the Dawgs in Tuscaloosa. Congrats, Ryan, on breaking my heart and getting this Hammy.

Upset of the Year:

Vandy over Bama

Now, this brings me great joy. Just a mere week after Ryan Williams broke my heart, Vandy broke the Crimson Tide’s heart. This is by far the greatest upset of the season and one that will forever be remembered by the downtrodden fans in Nashville. Year after year, the Commodores have been the laughing stock of the SEC. Well, they got their revenge. In the greatest win in Vandy history, Diego Pavia led the Commodores to a 40-35 win over the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide! Anchor Down and here’s your Hammy, Vandy!

Game of the Year:

Dawgs-Jackets (8-OT)

We don’t have to go back very far to find the best game of the 2024 season as Friday of rivalry week gave us the game of the year. Georgia played host to the enemy for Clean Old-Fashioned Hate on Friday, November 29. Brent Key, Haynes King and the Yellow Jackets gave the Dawgs fits, leading 17-0 at halftime and 27-13 with five minutes to go. However, the Dawgs rallied back and tied it up to send the game to overtime, but not just a single OT… no, it was eight overtimes! What a cardiac game! It just about sent 93,033 people in Sanford to the hospital, but Georgia prevailed 44-42 in the best game of 2024!

Coach of the Year:

Curt Cignetti – Indiana

The best story in college football this season came out of Bloomington, Indiana. Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers did what no one thought possible from a basketball school. 11-1 with the lone loss coming to Ohio State, Indiana shocked the world and will find themselves in the College Football Playoff in a few weeks. It is greatly in part to head coach Curt Cignetti. Coming from James Madison where all he did was win, Cignetti brought that same fortune to Indiana, and what a year it was for the Hoosiers! Congrats to Indiana and Coach Cignetti, here’s your Hammy! We will see y’all in the Playoffs!

The Leavy’s Damn Good Player of the Year:

Travis Hunter – Colorado

This is no Heisman, it’s better. It is not quarterback biased like the Heisman. The award is strictly the most impactful player in college football. Well, this season, the Heisman and I most likely agree as this player is the favorite to win the coveted trophy. Travis Hunter, you are out of this world! He is a dominant force on both sides of the ball. One of the best receivers in the game and one of the best defensive backs in the game. With 1,152 receiving yards (fifth most) and 14 touchdowns, Travis solidified himself as a downfield weapon. On defense, he came away with four interceptions. He is a freak, averaging well over 100 snaps per game. He finished the regular season on a four-game streak of 100-yard receiving performances… his abilities just don’t make sense, and he, Shedeur and Coach Prime have forever altered Colorado football, so congrats, Travis, here is your Hammy!

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