COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four โฃmountain Westโ Conference football โstandouts have been namedโ to the watch listโฃ for the prestigious 2025 Jason โWitten Collegiate โขMan of the Year award, signaling theโ conferenceS โขcommitment to both athletic โexcellence and exemplaryโข character.
The annual award recognizesโ an FBS player who distinguishes themselves through courage, integrity, and โขsportsmanship on and off โthe field – qualities embodied byโ Jason โฃWitten, the โformer NFL starโข and 2012 Walter Payton โคMan โฃof the Year.โ The award celebrates aโ holistic approach to โคsuccess, honoring dedication to community, family, and teammates.
Representing the Mountainโ West on the initial watch list are โฃBoise State seniorโค linebacker Marco Notarainni, Colorado Stateโ sophomore linebacker Owen Long,โข Hawai’i senior running back Landon Sims,โ and San Josรฉ State senior defensive back Jalen Apalit-Williams.
Each nominee โwasโข selected by their respective institutions for demonstrating a โคconsistent recordโค of leadership and positive influence.
The selection process will narrow the fieldโค to twenty semifinalists on October 14, followed by the announcement of three finalists on December 15. Theโฃ winner โwill be revealed at an awardsโ ceremony held at The starโ in Frisco, Texas, on April 16,โ 2026.
For a complete list of watch โlistโ honorees,โ click here.
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List (MW selections)
Marco โNotarainni, sr., LB,โค boise State
Owen Long, So., LB, Colorado State
landon Sims, โSr., RB, Hawai’i
Jalen Apalit-Williams, Sr., DB, san Josรฉ State