The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Lepkowski Named to the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List
9/10/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB senior center Adam Lepkowski has been named to the 2026 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List, the organization announced Thursday.
Lepkowski is one of 80 student-athletes nationally selected to the watch list for the 10th annual award, which recognizes exemplary leadership and places a primary emphasis on a player's courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
A former walk-on who earned a scholarship through his work on and off the field, Lepkowski has developed into one of the leaders of the UAB football program. The veteran center started all 12 games for the Blazers in 2025 and entered the 2026 season on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, presented annually to the nation's most outstanding center. Lepkowski also garnered significant preseason recognition, earning First Team All-Conference honors from Athlon Sports, Second Team All-Conference honors from Phil Steele and Second Team Group of Six All-America recognition from HERO Sports.
His impact extends well beyond the field. Lepkowski has been heavily involved in community service throughout his UAB career and has consistently represented the Blazers through outreach initiatives in the Birmingham community. His journey from walk-on to scholarship student-athlete, coupled with his service and leadership within the program, embodies the qualities emphasized by the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
The award is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership both on and off the field. It is named for former NFL tight end Jason Witten, the 2012 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and one of the league's most recognized community leaders during his 16-year professional career.
Twenty semifinalists will be announced on Oct. 13, followed by three finalists on Dec. 14. The winner will be honored at an awards ceremony in the spring of 2027. The recipient will also earn a $10,000 contribution to his school's athletic scholarship fund from Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation.
Lepkowski is UAB's representative on a watch list that features players from across the country.
