Austin American-Statesman

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Irish linebacker claims Maxwell, Walter Camp and Bednarik honors.

- By Kyle Hightower Manti Te’o has come a long way to forge a storybook season, C Awards C

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — From Notre Dame’s unbeaten regular season to college football’s biggest awards, Manti Te’o just keeps winning.

Now the linebacker needs two more victories to cap an unforgetta­ble senior season.

Te’o was honored three times at the 22nd Home Depot College Football Awards show Thursday night at Disney World, including the Maxwell Award for the nation’s most outstandin­g player.

Te’o has now won six major awards since the end of Notre Dame’s regular season, also taking home the Bednarik Award for top defensive player and Walter Camp Foundation player of the year award. He became the first defensive player to win the Maxwell since 1980, ending a string of nine straight quarterbac­ks.

Next up is the Heisman Trophy ceremony on Saturday night, with Te’o and Texas A&M quarterbac­k Johnny Manziel considered the favorites. Then Te’o will try to help the

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