FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – March 20, 2024 – Minnesota Football Honors and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation are thrilled to announce this year’s Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year Award winners: 

Division I Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year: Safety Tyler Nubin - University of Minnesota

Division II Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year: Offensive Lineman Ty Cobb - Bemidji State 

Division III Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year: Wide Receiver Jake Breitbach - Gustavus Adolphus 

The Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year Award honors the most impactful Minnesota college football player at the Division I, II and III levels. A winner from each Division was selected by a voting committee comprised of Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation board members.

“All three of these players made an outstanding impact during the 2023 college football season. It was fun watching all of them make plays that impacted the outcome of games. These players represented Minnesota at the highest level,” said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. “We are so thrilled to honor their outstanding achievements during this summer’s Minnesota Football Honors television broadcast.

The following parameters are considered while selecting players for the ballot: First, Second, or Third Team All-American honors, Player of the Year awards and Heisman, Harlon Hill, or John Gagliardi Trophy winners. Qualified nominations are considered as well. 

Here are snapshot biographies for each award winner:

Division I Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year: Safety Tyler Nubin - University of Minnesota

Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin left a strong legacy at the University of Minnesota. His natural instincts, football IQ and versatility helped him become one of the nation’s top safeties. This season, Nubin snatched five interceptions and added four pass breakups. The Gophers star defensive back was named a First Team All-American by The Sporting News and a Second Team selection by the AP, FWAA and Walter Camp Foundation. During his career in maroon and gold, Nubin set a program record with 13 interceptions. He also broke up 24 passes, which ranks tied for eighth in Gopher Football history. Additionally, in 2023, Nubin’s 90.1 Pro Football Focus coverage grade led all FBS safeties. He also led all safeties in Pro Football Focus coverage grade (91.6) when quarterbacks did not face pressure. 

Division II Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year: Offensive Lineman Ty Cobb - Bemidji State 

This season, Ty Cobb was widely considered one of the best offensive linemen in Division II football. Cobb, a star tackle for Bemidji State, finished sixth in voting for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is presented to the best lineman - offensive or defensive - in NCAA Division II college football. 

Cobb only gave up four sacks in more than 1,400 career snaps. He also started 38 straight games for the Beavers since becoming a key contributor in 2021. Cobb led Bemidji State to a pair of NSIC titles, six NCAA Playoff games and its first NCAA postseason win (2021). Following the season, Cobb was named an All-American by the AP (First Team), D2CCA (First Team), Don Hansen (Second Team) and D2Football.com Elite 100 (Second Team).

Division III Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year: Wide Receiver Jake Breitbach - Gustavus Adolphus 

This season, Gustavus Adolphus wide receiver Jake Breitbach was one of the top playmakers in Division III football. Breitbach finished the regular season with 1,599 receiving yards, 110 receptions and 13 receiving touchdowns. He also posted four games with 200 yards or more and eight with more than 100 yards. Collectively, Breitbach finished the regular season second in all NCAA Divisions (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) for receiving yards per game (159.9), receptions per game (11.0) and total receiving yards (1,599). In the ninth game of the season, Breitbach broke program records for single-season receptions (104) and single-season receiving yards (1,518). The Gustavus Adolphus wide receiver’s outstanding play earned him AFCA (Second Team), AP (Second Team), D3Football.com (Third Team) and MIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. 

Minnesota Football Honors is hosting a show later this summer to honor its high school, college and Minnesota Vikings award winners. Full television broadcast details will be announced at a later date on www.minnesotafootballhonors.com. 

To view a statewide map of past and present Minnesota Football Honors Award Winners, visit this site. 

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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 - Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation

Phone: (612)-325-5500

Media Contact:

Daniel House, Director of Media Relations and Content

Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation

Email: daniel@nffmn.org