NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 1, 2023 – For the seventh year, the National Football Foundation (NFF) is partnering with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) to reveal the league's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year as part of the events surrounding the 65th Annual NFF Annual Awards Dinner, which will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills will make the announcement at 9:15 a.m. PST (12:15 p.m. EST) on Tuesday during the NFF Annual Awards Press Conference, which will be televised on ESPN+ via this link. She will be joined by the two recipients.
Presented annually since 1971, the MEAC football players of the year awards are voted on by the MEAC head football coaches and sports information directors.
How to Cover the Events:
For information on covering the Awards Dinner or press conference as members of the media, visit NFF Media Central. Both the media, as well as fans, can watch the entire press conference on ESPN+, including the MEAC presentations as well as presentation of the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class (10:35 a.m. PST).
The Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas:
The 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas will take place the evening of Dec. 5 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. PST, featuring the induction of the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class; the presentation of the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®; the bestowing of the 34th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy® to the college football’s top scholar-athlete; the presentation of the NFF Major Awards to College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock (Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award), BYU Athletics Director Tom Holmoe (Toner Award) and legendary HBCU/MEAC broadcaster Charlie Neal (Schenkel Award); and recognition of the NFF Legacy Award recipients Todd Berry (AFCA Executive Director), Mark Flynn (NFF Campbell Trophy® Summit Founder) and A.J. Robinson (Atlanta Hall Management Chairman).
ESPN+ will stream the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas live, beginning at 7 p.m. PST via this link.
2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments® & Finalists for the Campbell Trophy®:
The winner of The William V. Campbell Trophy® will be announced live between 7:20 and 8:00 p.m. PST during the Dinner Ceremony feed on ESPN+. The finalists, comprised of the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®, include Cooper Beebe (Kansas State); JD Bertrand (Notre Dame); DeWayne Carter (Duke); Loobert Denelus (Benedict [SC]); Jacob Dobbs (Holy Cross); Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State); Zach Frazier (West Virginia); Owen Grover (Wartburg [IA]); Leo Lowin (Army West Point); Ladd McConkey (Georgia); Bo Nix (Oregon); Davius Richard (North Carolina Central); Luke Schuermann (Johns Hopkins [MD]); Taulia Tagovailoa (Maryland); Liam Thompson (Wabash [IN]); Zak Zinter (Michigan)
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 53rd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2023-24 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically Black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.