Former Bob Jones standout nominated for “College Man of the Year”

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The watch list for the eighth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year includes former Bob Jones All-State center Drew Lawson. The current redshirt junior on the field and senior in the classroom is the starting center for the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and is one of a group that includes 52 of the nation’s top leaders in college football.

‘I’m grateful and humble and will use this honor the best I can in God’s Glory and give him all the recognition of this award,” said Lawson via telephone from his home he shares with teammate Chandler Merrill a starting wide receiver who also played his high school football in Alabama at Vestavia Hills. “I hope and pray I’m worthy enough for the award. My teammates, especially the OL group of guys, are proud of me for this honor.”

The former Golden Eagle walk-on has risen through the ranks and established himself as a starter for the 2024 squad, getting the nod to start the season. Lawson’s nomination was based on his ability to demonstrate a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. Twenty semifinalists will be announced on Oct. 22. Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, Dec. 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2025.

Nicknamed “Dancing Bear,” a name that was given to him his freshman year on campus, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound Lawson is on a fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Lead Team after he joined the Christian organization almost two years ago. “Some of the older players on the team who hosted Bible studies got me to join. I became a lead last year,” said Lawson. “Today, Chandler and I lead Wednesday Night Bible Study as I cook on the grill all kinds of meats and a lot of people attend as our home is just five minutes from campus. I took the initiative on Bible Study. Many teammates are excited when I’m grilling, and we just add our Bible studies to the gathering.”

The Golden Eagles are through five games on their schedule and have been struggling, but still have the same goal the squad began the season with. “Our goal was to win the Sun Belt Conference, and we still have that goal,” added Lawson. “I feel I’ve played well and mostly feel I’ve exceeded my expectations on the field.”

Lawson has two brothers, ages 24 and 18, with parents Jeremy and Kim Lawson. He is currently in his senior year of studying sports coaching concentrating on strength and conditioning with a 3.5 grade point average. His goal is to become a high school football coach.

In his senior year at Bob Jones, the talented center was chosen Second Team All-State and First Team All-Region 4 as he graded 90-percent with 31 pancakes and zero sacks allowed. He was also a champion heavyweight wrestler for the Patriots wrestling team. He was a state champion in both Freestyle and Greco style wrestling. He overcame a horrific knee injury and subsequent surgery during the 20192020 wrestling season. He began wrestling in the eighth grade while attending Discovery Middle School. He once said of the sport of wrestling, “The sport is a teacher of life. Practices are life-like as they are hard, but if you push through, it helps you in life challenges. Wrestling has taught me I can push farther than I thought. It has taught me discipline and to push through adversity and to have mental toughness.”

The Man of the Year Award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player’s leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten who was a NFL tight end and also served as one of football’s most prominent role models during his 16–year pro career. In 2012, he won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year among many awards. The awards acknowledge Whiten’s work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.

“Starting college football as a walk-on helped me the leader I’ve become,” said Lawson. “I’m not the biggest lineman physically, as I feel God has given different talents I use as I’m blessed to have great work ethic and determination. Others seem to follow me as they have seen me grow from a walk-on to earning a full scholarship in January 2023.”