LSU defensive backs take 2 awards

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - It has been LSU's year in college football, and it was the Tigers' night at the 21st annual College Football Awards.

Members of the Tigers' secondary won two of the major awards presented Thursday night.

Cornerback and Heisman Trophy nominee Tyrann Mathieu won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the college defensive player of the year, and teammate Morris Claiborne was took the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's outstanding defensive back.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Mathieu is the second straight LSU back to win the Bednarik Award, following Patrick Peterson, who turned over his No. 7 to Mathieu.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck won the Maxwell Award as the player of the year, and Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III received the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. Both are nominees for the Heisman Trophy, which will be awarded Saturday in New York. Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State became the second two-time winner of the Biletnikof Award as the nation's outstanding receiver.