JJ Weaver Named Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year

A Kentucky Football player has earned a prestigious honor for his work on and off the field. Last night, JJ Weaver was named the eighth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year at an awards ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The senior outside linebacker is the second former Wildcat to win the award, joining Josh Paschal in 2021.

The award is named after Jason Witten, one of the best tight ends in history who also served as one of the sports’ most prominent role models during his 16-year professional career. It recognizes the FBS player who best demonstrates an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship. Weaver was one of three semifinalists alongside Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein and North Carolina’s Kaimon Rucker.

Since arriving on Kentucky’s campus in 2019, Weaver has been the embodiment of a servant leader, using trauma from his own life to help others. The Louisville native was born with polydactyly, a condition that led to him having six fingers on his right hand, for which he was bullied and ridiculed growing up. In 2023, he teamed up with Nike to make a glove with six fingers — “The Perfect Fit” — for others who share his condition.

Later that year, Weaver expanded that brand, launching a peer-led grief counseling group on UK’s campus called “The Perfect Fit Support Group.” From July 2020 to August 2021, Weaver lost his father to homicide, suffered a season-ending knee injury, and lost his high school coach to cancer. He was only able to process that grief through counseling and wanted to inspire others to do the same. With Weaver’s help, “The Perfect Fit Support Group” received a $40,000 grant from Women in Philanthropy and is now available to all students on UK’s campus. Weaver also established a foundation that has organized a bike drive and a back-to-school event in his hometown of Louisville and in the Lexington community.

“I am excited and honored to present the eighth annual Collegiate Man of the Year to J.J. Weaver,” said Witten. “He is a great leader and an inspiration to us all. He overcame several challenges in his time at Kentucky, including injuries, the death of his father and high school coach. But he used those challenges to help others and become an inspiration to so many. He is a perfect example of what a college student-athlete can be.”

“Thank you so much to Jason Witten and everyone who voted for me to receive this prestigious award,” Weaver said. “Also, thank you to my family, teammates, and coaches for all they have taught me. I’ll be forever grateful to you all.

“I went through a lot of ups and downs in my six years at Kentucky but because of my support system and the grief counseling that I received, I’m a better person on and off the field. I’m looking forward to continuing helping kids affected by grief when I’m playing at the next level.”

This past season, Weaver was also named to the prestigious Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, was a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, and was named the 2024 Freddie Solomon Spirit Award winner. On the field, he totaled 32 tackles in 10 games and led the team in sacks (5.0) and quarterback hurries (6) during the 2024 season. He also had 5.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup. He ended his career ranking third on UK’s career list in tackles for loss (38.5) and fourth in sacks (21.5).

Weaver, one of only three three-year team captains in school history, graduated from UK in December 2023 with a degree in community leadership and development and is currently working on a second degree in family science with a minor in communication. He declared for the NFL Draft in December 2024.

Previous Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award winners are Shaquem Griffin of UCF in 2017, D’Cota Dixon of Wisconsin in 2018, Trey Smith of Tennessee in 2019, Sam Ehlinger of Texas in 2020, Joshua Paschal of Kentucky in 2021, Deslin Alexandre of Pittsburgh in 2022 and Mike Hollins of Virginia in 2023. Weaver will receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school’s athletic scholarship fund. Congrats, JJ!