MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – March 5, 2020 –  Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has been named the Division I Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. This award is presented annually to the top Division I college football player in Minnesota. Winfield will be recognized at the 13th Annual Minnesota Football Honors on Sunday, April 26 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“Antoine Winfield Jr. produced numerous game-winning impact plays while leading Minnesota to its best season in recent years,” said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. “It is a special opportunity to honor Antoine at this year’s event.”

In 2019, Winfield solidified himself as one of the most versatile and dynamic defensive backs in the country. He led the Gophers with 88 tackles (62 solo) and tied the program’s modern era single-season record with seven interceptions. Winfield was the school’s seventh unanimous All-American selection and the first since center Greg Eslinger in 2005. 

This season, Winfield became the first Minnesota player to win the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Award. The Gophers’ safety was also one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is presented to the nation’s top defensive player. Winfield finished the 2019 season as the highest-graded Big Ten safety, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, his seven total interceptions ranked fourth nationally among all defensive players.

Winfield’s father, Antoine Winfield Sr., played 14 seasons in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills. Like his son, Winfield Sr. earned unanimous All-American status at Ohio State in 1998. 

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation will host the 13th Annual Minnesota Football Honors on Sunday, April 26, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium. The largest football awards show in Minnesota is presented by the Minnesota Vikings. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the 4 p.m. show. The event is open to the public and tickets are available at www.minnesotafootballhonors.com. 

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About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation:

The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote amateur football’s ability to develop leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota’s young people. The Minnesota Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota’s top high school and college football scholar athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org, or Facebook (@MNFootballHonors) and Twitter (@NFFMN).

Contact:

Todd Fultz, President              

MN Chapter of The National Football Foundation 

Phone: (612)-325-5500    

Media Contact: 

Daniel House, Director of Media Relations and Content 

MN Chapter of the National Football Foundation

daniel@nffmn.org