COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four Mountain West football players are on the initial watch list for the 2025 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award, as announced today by the organization.
The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award is presented annually to the FBS college football player who has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. The award honors the type of exemplary character and commitment to community, family and teammates demonstrated by Jason Witten, the 2012 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year and one of the most prominent role models in the game.
Boise State senior linebacker Marco Notarainni, Colorado State sophomore linebacker Owen Long, Hawai‘i senior running back Landon Sims and San José State senior defensive back Jalen Apalit-Williams represent the MW on the watch list.
Nominated by their schools, the members of the watch list have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Three finalists will then be named for the award on Monday, Dec. 15. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026.
For the full watch list, click here.
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List (MW selections)
Marco Notarainni, Sr., LB, Boise State
Owen Long, So., LB, Colorado State
Landon Sims, Sr., RB, Hawai‘i
Jalen Apalit-Williams, Sr., DB, San José State
