Two Hurricanes football players got into the national spotlight during the College Football Awards show Friday night, even though none of the big NCFAA trophies landed in Coral Gables.
Bain, Mauigoa headline Walter Camp reveal
During ESPN’s “Home Depot College Football Awards” broadcast, the Walter Camp Football Foundation unveiled its 136th All-America teams. Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. and right tackle Francis Mauigoa grabbed First Team Walter Camp All-America honors, giving the Canes two players on the first team for the first time since 2004.
Bain anchored Miami’s front all season, wrecking pockets and driving the defense that carried Mario Cristobal’s group into the playoff hunt. Walter Camp voters slotted him among the four first-team defensive linemen in the country, a short list that includes Ohio State standout Kayden McDonald and Utah pass rusher John Henry Daley.
On the other side of the line, Mauigoa earned one of the two first-team offensive line spots for tackles. Miami joins Utah and Texas Tech as programs with multiple first-teamers this season.
Those selections capped a busy awards season for both linemen. Bain already held semifinalist status for the Bednarik Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year, while Mauigoa collected the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy and spots on multiple watch lists.
Coaching recognition still coming
Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman did not factor into Friday’s ESPN show, yet he already owns one of the sport’s key coaching nods. Earlier in the week, the Broyles Award committee named him a finalist for national assistant coach of the year after Miami’s defense vaulted into elite territory in his first season in Coral Gables. The Broyles Award winner will come later in the postseason, so Hetherman’s night involved more watching than accepting hardware.
Miami left the College Football Awards show without a Maxwell, Outland or Bednarik. From a program-status angle, the night looked huge anyway. Two Hurricanes hit a benchmark that often sets up unanimous or consensus All-America cases once other lists roll out.
Leave a Reply