# Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award

**Section:** List of winners

| Year | Image | Winner | University | Sport | Other nominees | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | – | Cael Sanderson | Iowa State Cyclones | Wrestling | Shane Battier – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball) Eric Crouch – Nebraska Cornhuskers (American football) Juan Dixon – Maryland Terrapins (Basketball) Jay Williams – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball) | - |
| 2003 | Carmelo Anthony in 2011 | Carmelo Anthony | Syracuse Orangemen | Basketball | T. J. | - |
| 2004 | Emeka Okafor playing for the Washington Wizards in 2012 | Emeka Okafor | Connecticut Huskies | Basketball | Larry Fitzgerald – Pittsburgh Panthers (American football) Jameer Nelson – Saint Joseph's Hawks (Basketball) Jason White – Oklahoma Sooners (American football) | - |
| 2005 | =Matt Leinart holding a championship trophy above his head in 2005 | Matt Leinart | USC Trojans | American football | Andrew Bogut – Utah Utes (Basketball) Alex Gordon – Nebraska Cornhuskers (Baseball) Steve Mocco – Oklahoma State Cowboys (Wrestling) Marty Sertich – Colorado College Tigers (Ice hockey) | - |
| 2006 | Reggie Bush in 2009 | Reggie Bush | USC Trojans | American football | Matt Leinart – USC Trojans (American football) Adam Morrison – Gonzaga Bulldogs (Basketball) J. J. | - |
| 2007 | Kevin Durant playing for the Texas Longhorns in 2007 | Kevin Durant | Texas Longhorns | Basketball | Ben Askren – Missouri Tigers (Wrestling) Greg Oden – Ohio State Buckeyes (Basketball) Troy Smith – Ohio State Buckeyes (American football) | - |
| 2008 | Tim Tebow in 2007 | Tim Tebow | Florida Gators | American football | Michael Beasley – Kansas State Wildcats (Basketball) Tyler Hansbrough – North Carolina Tar Heels (Basketball) | - |
| 2009 | Tim Tebow at the White House in 2009 | Tim Tebow | Florida Gators | American football | Sam Bradford – Oklahoma Sooners (American football) Matt Gilroy – Boston University Terriers (Ice hockey) Blake Griffin – Oklahoma Sooners (Basketball) Stephen Strasburg – San Diego State Aztecs (Baseball) | - |
| 2010 | John Wall playing for the Washington Wizards in 2010 | John Wall | Kentucky Wildcats | Basketball | Blake Geoffrion – Wisconsin Badgers (Ice hockey) Mark Ingram Jr. – Alabama Crimson Tide (American football) Evan Turner – Ohio State Buckeyes (Basketball) Garrett Wittels – FIU Panthers (Baseball) | - |
| 2011 | Jimmer Fredette playing for the Sacramento Kings in 2013 | Jimmer Fredette | BYU Cougars | Basketball | Andy Miele – Miami RedHawks (Ice hockey) Cam Newton – Auburn Tigers (American football) Rob Pannell – Cornell Big Red (Lacrosse) Kemba Walker – Connecticut Huskies (Basketball) | - |
| 2012 | Robert Griffin III attending the 2012 NFL Draft | Robert Griffin III | Baylor Bears | American football | Jack Connolly – Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs (Ice hockey) Anthony Davis – Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball) Andrew Luck – Stanford Cardinal (American football) Mike Zunino – Florida Gators (Baseball) | - |
| 2013 | Johnny Manziel training for the Cleveland Browns in 2014 | Johnny Manziel | Texas A&M Aggies | American football | Trey Burke – Michigan Wolverines (Basketball) Kyle Dake – Cornell Big Red (Wrestling) Drew LeBlanc – St. Cloud State Huskies (Ice hockey) | - |
| 2014 | Doug McDermott scoring in a basketball game in 2014 | Doug McDermott | Creighton Bluejays | Basketball | Johnny Gaudreau – Boston College Eagles (Ice hockey) David Taylor – Penn State Nittany Lions (Wrestling) Lyle Thompson – Albany Great Danes (Lacrosse) Jameis Winston – Florida State Seminoles (American football) | - |
| 2015 | Marcus Mariota playing for the Oregon Ducks football team in 2013 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon Ducks | American Football | Jack Eichel – Boston University Terriers (Ice hockey) Frank Kaminsky – Wisconsin Badgers (Basketball) Logan Stieber – Ohio State Buckeyes (Wrestling) Dansby Swanson – Vanderbilt Commodores (Baseball) | - |
| 2016 | Buddy Hield playing for the Oklahoma Sooners in a basketball game in 2016 | Buddy Hield | Oklahoma Sooners | Basketball | Alex Dieringer – Oklahoma State Cowboys (Wrestling) Derrick Henry – Alabama Crimson Tide (American football) Jarrion Lawson – Arkansas Razorbacks (Track and field) Jordan Morris – Stanford Cardinal (Soccer) | - |
| 2017 | Deshaun Watson in 2016 | Deshaun Watson | Clemson Tigers | American football | Ian Harkes – Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Soccer) Frank Mason III – Kansas Jayhawks (Basketball) Matt Rambo – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse) Zain Retherford – Penn State Nittany Lions (Wrestling) | - |