Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

Manti Te'o, Notre Dame: Te'o didn't win the Heisman Trophy, but the linebacker guided the Irish through a perfect regular season and a date with Alabama in the BCS title game Jan. 7 in Miami. Te’o overcame personal tragedy -- the deaths of his grandmother and girlfriend within one day of each other -- to anchor a stellar defense, all the while showing the poise, humility and caring of a man beyond his 21 years.

December 8, 2012