Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is more commonly known as the Ode to Joy. Weintraub's Ninth Symphony—aka the ninth annual Alumni Awards, my selections for every season's best NFL player from each of the Power 5 college programs—is similarly a joyous occasion that caps this football season. It's a great way to gauge the health of the collegiate teams, an indicator of the volatility of the pro game, and, most of all, a fun argument starter.
BIG TEN CONFERENCE
ILLINOIS (13)
2012: Vontae Davis, CB, Indianapolis
2013: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Houston
2014: Vontae Davis, CB, Indianapolis
2015: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Houston
2016: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Houston
2017: Clayton Fejedelem, S, Cincinnati
2018: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Houston
2019: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Houston
2020: Dawuane Smoot, DE, Jacksonville
Leading the Jaguars in sacks is almost the very definition of a hollow statistic, but it was nonetheless good enough for Smoot to best five-time award-winner Mercilus, who begged for mercy during his run-out-the-clock season in Houston.