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University of Massachusets Athletics
Breneman Among Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalists
November 07, 2017 | Football
Graduate student tight end one of 20 chosen for award recognizing exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field
DALLAS – University of Massachusetts football graduate student tight end Adam Breneman is one of 20 semifinalists for the 2017 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. In its inaugural year, the award recognizes collegiate football student-athletes who demonstrate a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.
"I am honored to announce this impressive group as the semifinalists for the Collegiate Man of the Year," said Witten. "Every kid nominated had had such a special story. It was difficult to pair it down, but these 20 men have demonstrated exceptional character and leadership, many in the face of adversity. They are great representatives for the game of football and for college athletics as a whole, and I commend all nominees for getting to this point."
Breneman ranks among the nation's leaders in receptions and receiving yards, overall and among tight ends in particular. Through eight appearances, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound pass-catcher has 48 receptions for 612 yards and three touchdowns. He is tied for 26th in the nation for receptions per game (second among tight ends) and 47th for receiving yards per game (second among tight ends).
Off the field, Breneman involves himself in innumerous community-building and civic-driven activities. He is the Founder and executive director of Catch The Cure, an organization with the goal of fundraising in support of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) research. Additionally, while a student-athlete at Penn State, Breneman was involved in PSU Uplifting Athletes as a fundraising chairman, board member and vice president for an organization dedicated to fundraising for kidney cancer research.
Most recently, while at the University of Massachusetts, Breneman traveled to Oregon and took part in The Opening as a counselor, a position in which Breneman mentored dozens of the nation's top collegiate football prospects on the on- and off-field responsibilities of an NCAA Division I student-athlete, based upon his own experiences. During the current season, he also participated in the annual youth football day at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, where he and his Minuteman teammates guided local youth football players through a gamut of football drills and preached the importance of hard work, determination and team work to success on and off the field.
Four finalists will be named for the award on Mon., Dec. 11. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony on Feb. 22, 2018, at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Tickets to the University of Massachusetts' football game versus Maine at Fenway Part are available for purchase now. All tickets must be purchased through the Fenway Gridiron Series website. Kickoff from Fenway Park is slated for 4 p.m.
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalists
Azeez Al-Shaair • Junior • Linebacker • Florida Atlantic
Braxton Berrios • Senior • Wide Receiver • Miami (Fla.)
David Blough • Junior • Quarterback • Purdue
Adam Breneman • Graduate Student • Tight End • Massachusetts
Minkah Fitzpatrick • Junior • Defensive Back • Alabama
Zaire Franklin • Senior • Linebacker • Syracuse
KeShun Freeman • Senior • Defensive End • Georgia Tech
Zack Golditch • Senior • Offensive Line • Colorado State
Shaquem Griffin • Senior • Linebacker • Central Florida
Luke Jackson • Senior • Linebacker • Tulane
Shaw Jones • Senior • Linebacker • Alabama-Birmingham
Keith Kirkwood • Senior • Wide Receiver • Temple
Micah Kiser • Senior • Linebacker • Virginia
Derek McCarney • Senior • Linebacker • Colorado
Jake Olson • Sophomore • Long Snapper • USC
Harrison Phillips • Senior • Defensive Tackle • Stanford
Frank Ragnow • Senior • Center • Arkansas
Mason Rudolph • Senior • Quarterback • Oklahoma State
Brandon Smith • Senior • Linebacker • Penn State
Blaise Taylor • Senior • Cornerback • Arkansas State
"I am honored to announce this impressive group as the semifinalists for the Collegiate Man of the Year," said Witten. "Every kid nominated had had such a special story. It was difficult to pair it down, but these 20 men have demonstrated exceptional character and leadership, many in the face of adversity. They are great representatives for the game of football and for college athletics as a whole, and I commend all nominees for getting to this point."
Breneman ranks among the nation's leaders in receptions and receiving yards, overall and among tight ends in particular. Through eight appearances, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound pass-catcher has 48 receptions for 612 yards and three touchdowns. He is tied for 26th in the nation for receptions per game (second among tight ends) and 47th for receiving yards per game (second among tight ends).
Off the field, Breneman involves himself in innumerous community-building and civic-driven activities. He is the Founder and executive director of Catch The Cure, an organization with the goal of fundraising in support of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) research. Additionally, while a student-athlete at Penn State, Breneman was involved in PSU Uplifting Athletes as a fundraising chairman, board member and vice president for an organization dedicated to fundraising for kidney cancer research.
Most recently, while at the University of Massachusetts, Breneman traveled to Oregon and took part in The Opening as a counselor, a position in which Breneman mentored dozens of the nation's top collegiate football prospects on the on- and off-field responsibilities of an NCAA Division I student-athlete, based upon his own experiences. During the current season, he also participated in the annual youth football day at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, where he and his Minuteman teammates guided local youth football players through a gamut of football drills and preached the importance of hard work, determination and team work to success on and off the field.
Four finalists will be named for the award on Mon., Dec. 11. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony on Feb. 22, 2018, at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Tickets to the University of Massachusetts' football game versus Maine at Fenway Part are available for purchase now. All tickets must be purchased through the Fenway Gridiron Series website. Kickoff from Fenway Park is slated for 4 p.m.
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalists
Azeez Al-Shaair • Junior • Linebacker • Florida Atlantic
Braxton Berrios • Senior • Wide Receiver • Miami (Fla.)
David Blough • Junior • Quarterback • Purdue
Adam Breneman • Graduate Student • Tight End • Massachusetts
Minkah Fitzpatrick • Junior • Defensive Back • Alabama
Zaire Franklin • Senior • Linebacker • Syracuse
KeShun Freeman • Senior • Defensive End • Georgia Tech
Zack Golditch • Senior • Offensive Line • Colorado State
Shaquem Griffin • Senior • Linebacker • Central Florida
Luke Jackson • Senior • Linebacker • Tulane
Shaw Jones • Senior • Linebacker • Alabama-Birmingham
Keith Kirkwood • Senior • Wide Receiver • Temple
Micah Kiser • Senior • Linebacker • Virginia
Derek McCarney • Senior • Linebacker • Colorado
Jake Olson • Sophomore • Long Snapper • USC
Harrison Phillips • Senior • Defensive Tackle • Stanford
Frank Ragnow • Senior • Center • Arkansas
Mason Rudolph • Senior • Quarterback • Oklahoma State
Brandon Smith • Senior • Linebacker • Penn State
Blaise Taylor • Senior • Cornerback • Arkansas State
Players Mentioned
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