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Michael Pittman Jr. Named Semifinalist For 2019 Jason Witten Collegiate Man Of The Year Award
November 13, 2019 | Football, Features
USC senior wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2019 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
The award is presented to a player who has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. It 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 and the Dallas Cowboys' all-time leading receiver, has served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career.
Three finalists will be named for the award on Dec. 16. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on Feb. 18, 2020, at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The winner will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name, made by Witten's SCORE Foundation, to his school's athletic scholarship fund.
Pittman, a Biletnikoff Award candidate, leads USC this season with 71 receptions for 938 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is 12th nationally in receptions (7.1), 17th in receiving TDs (8) and 20th in receiving yards (93.8). He has been invited to play in the 2020 Senior Bowl. In his career, he has 141 career clutches for 2,182 yards and 16 scores with 27 starts to rank 16th on USC's career receptions list.
Pittman has overcome his struggles with stuttering to become a team captain and leader of the USC football program. He uses his challenges with stuttering as a platform to promote reading skills to elementary students. He also volunteers countless hours to a wide variety of organizations, and he sponsors a child in Indonesia through Compassion International.
Joining Pittman as 2019 Witten Award semifinalists are: Isaiah Sanders (Air Force), Derrick Brown (Auburn), Koby Quansah (Duke), Jake Fromm (Georgia), Ray Lima (Iowa State), Bryce Torneden (Kansas), Khaleke Hudson (Michigan), Darryl Williams (Mississippi State), Ford Higgins (U.S. Naval Academy), James Smith-Williams (North Carolina State), Jordan Fuller (Ohio State), Blake Gillikin (Penn State), Andrew Armstrong (Syracuse), Trey Smith (Tennessee), Brandon Jones (Texas), Kellton Hollins (TCU), Christian Montano (Tulane), Leki Fotu (Utah) and Bryce Hall (Virginia).
Last year, Wisconsin's D'Cota Dixon won the award. The inaugural Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year was presented to Shaquem Griffin of UCF in 2017.
The award is presented to a player who has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. It 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 and the Dallas Cowboys' all-time leading receiver, has served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career.
Thank you Twitter, you did your thing! We got Caleb fitted with a 6 jersey signed by the team. Fight on! https://t.co/ykApDnuZ3R pic.twitter.com/v2NAftqnP0
— MPJ (@MikePitt_Jr) November 5, 2019
Three finalists will be named for the award on Dec. 16. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on Feb. 18, 2020, at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The winner will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name, made by Witten's SCORE Foundation, to his school's athletic scholarship fund.
Pittman, a Biletnikoff Award candidate, leads USC this season with 71 receptions for 938 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is 12th nationally in receptions (7.1), 17th in receiving TDs (8) and 20th in receiving yards (93.8). He has been invited to play in the 2020 Senior Bowl. In his career, he has 141 career clutches for 2,182 yards and 16 scores with 27 starts to rank 16th on USC's career receptions list.
Pittman has overcome his struggles with stuttering to become a team captain and leader of the USC football program. He uses his challenges with stuttering as a platform to promote reading skills to elementary students. He also volunteers countless hours to a wide variety of organizations, and he sponsors a child in Indonesia through Compassion International.
Reading aloud helped USC football captain @MikePitt_Jr lessen his stutter growing up.
— Trojan Outreach (@TrojanOutreach) November 8, 2019
Pittman used his story to encourage local elementary schoolers to practice good reading habits through @TrojanOutreach's Readers of Troy program! pic.twitter.com/0bOGsCljGx
Joining Pittman as 2019 Witten Award semifinalists are: Isaiah Sanders (Air Force), Derrick Brown (Auburn), Koby Quansah (Duke), Jake Fromm (Georgia), Ray Lima (Iowa State), Bryce Torneden (Kansas), Khaleke Hudson (Michigan), Darryl Williams (Mississippi State), Ford Higgins (U.S. Naval Academy), James Smith-Williams (North Carolina State), Jordan Fuller (Ohio State), Blake Gillikin (Penn State), Andrew Armstrong (Syracuse), Trey Smith (Tennessee), Brandon Jones (Texas), Kellton Hollins (TCU), Christian Montano (Tulane), Leki Fotu (Utah) and Bryce Hall (Virginia).
Last year, Wisconsin's D'Cota Dixon won the award. The inaugural Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year was presented to Shaquem Griffin of UCF in 2017.
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