Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Kirkwood Named Jason Witten Collegiate MOY Semifinalist
11.7.17 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year selection committee released its list of 20 nominees for the national honor Tuesday morning, tabbing Temple redshirt senior WR Keith Kirkwood as a semifinalist. Currently in its inaugural year of presentation, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award aims to identify the most exemplary leader in college football, weighing ideals such as "exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field."
Witten, a future NFL Hall of Fame tight end with the Dallas Cowboys, was the 2012 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year. He saw an opportunity for a collegiate award that focused solely on leadership unlike any other currently presented within the sport. Keeping that in mind, Kirkwood seems to fit the part near perfectly, battling adversity and earning a reputation as a leader within the Owls' program over the course of his four seasons in Philadelphia. Now, as a redshirt senior, the culmination of years sacrificing for the both Temple and his family have granted him due recognition as a semifinalist for the prestigious award.
Kirkwood began his collegiate journey as a wide receiver with Hawai'i, competing with the program for eight games before seeking out a transfer closer to his hometown of Neptune, N.J., in order to serve a more primary role in the raising of his daughter, Aria. Fortunately for the Owls, Temple fit the bill, and the true freshman found himself on the field versus Tulsa just one day after moving just over 4,900 miles. Since then, Kirkwood has developed into a force both on and off the field, balancing the full-time jobs as student, athlete and father all at once.
Prior to her birth, Aria's biological father passed away, and Kirkwood stepped into the role without a second thought. Five years later and the New Jersey native claims its one of the best decisions he's ever made, denoting Aria acts a powerful inspiration in shaping the man he has grown into. In the classroom, Kirkwood has already "won" the battle every collegiate student-athlete faces, earning his degree in criminal justice prior to the season and taking on graduate studies as an additional challenge.
On the field, though, is where the redshirt senior has truly emerged as a leader, taking on extra responsibility as team captain under first-year head coach Geoff Collins. Statistically, Kirkwood has generated notable numbers in the passing game, grabbing 30 receptions for 432 yards and three touchdowns on the year thus far. In his career with the Owls, he has started 26 games (including eight of nine this year) and accumulated 1,399 total receiving yards with 12 scores, notably including a clutch eight-yard TD catch with :01 remaining to vault Temple over UCF last season, 26-25.
Last but not least, Kirkwood's teammates recognized his toughness by voting him to wear a single-digit jersey - #5 - and was the first to receive the honor under Collins' tenure. The first-year head coach has been particularly vocal about his appreciation of the redshirt senior since his arrival in Philadelphia this past December, and demonstrated this via the single-digit awarded to Kirkwood during spring practice (#5 was worn by Collins during his collegiate career with Western Carolina).
The full list of semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award include 15 seniors, four juniors and one sophomore, with the ACC leading the way behind four nominees and the PAC-12 and American Athletic owning three apiece. Come Monday, December 11, four finalists will be announced by the selection committee, setting up the February 22, 2018 ceremony where the winner will be presented the award at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
"I am honored to announce this impressive group as the semifinalists for the Collegiate Man of the Year," Witten said of the group. "Every kid nominated 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."
*All quotes obtained via release from Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award selection committee
Witten, a future NFL Hall of Fame tight end with the Dallas Cowboys, was the 2012 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year. He saw an opportunity for a collegiate award that focused solely on leadership unlike any other currently presented within the sport. Keeping that in mind, Kirkwood seems to fit the part near perfectly, battling adversity and earning a reputation as a leader within the Owls' program over the course of his four seasons in Philadelphia. Now, as a redshirt senior, the culmination of years sacrificing for the both Temple and his family have granted him due recognition as a semifinalist for the prestigious award.
Kirkwood began his collegiate journey as a wide receiver with Hawai'i, competing with the program for eight games before seeking out a transfer closer to his hometown of Neptune, N.J., in order to serve a more primary role in the raising of his daughter, Aria. Fortunately for the Owls, Temple fit the bill, and the true freshman found himself on the field versus Tulsa just one day after moving just over 4,900 miles. Since then, Kirkwood has developed into a force both on and off the field, balancing the full-time jobs as student, athlete and father all at once.
Prior to her birth, Aria's biological father passed away, and Kirkwood stepped into the role without a second thought. Five years later and the New Jersey native claims its one of the best decisions he's ever made, denoting Aria acts a powerful inspiration in shaping the man he has grown into. In the classroom, Kirkwood has already "won" the battle every collegiate student-athlete faces, earning his degree in criminal justice prior to the season and taking on graduate studies as an additional challenge.
On the field, though, is where the redshirt senior has truly emerged as a leader, taking on extra responsibility as team captain under first-year head coach Geoff Collins. Statistically, Kirkwood has generated notable numbers in the passing game, grabbing 30 receptions for 432 yards and three touchdowns on the year thus far. In his career with the Owls, he has started 26 games (including eight of nine this year) and accumulated 1,399 total receiving yards with 12 scores, notably including a clutch eight-yard TD catch with :01 remaining to vault Temple over UCF last season, 26-25.
Last but not least, Kirkwood's teammates recognized his toughness by voting him to wear a single-digit jersey - #5 - and was the first to receive the honor under Collins' tenure. The first-year head coach has been particularly vocal about his appreciation of the redshirt senior since his arrival in Philadelphia this past December, and demonstrated this via the single-digit awarded to Kirkwood during spring practice (#5 was worn by Collins during his collegiate career with Western Carolina).
The full list of semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award include 15 seniors, four juniors and one sophomore, with the ACC leading the way behind four nominees and the PAC-12 and American Athletic owning three apiece. Come Monday, December 11, four finalists will be announced by the selection committee, setting up the February 22, 2018 ceremony where the winner will be presented the award at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
"I am honored to announce this impressive group as the semifinalists for the Collegiate Man of the Year," Witten said of the group. "Every kid nominated 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."
*All quotes obtained via release from Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award selection committee
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