Bryce Steele nominated for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award
DALLAS (FWAA) — Boston College’s Bryce Steele is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Steele, a linebacker, has overcome several bouts with cancer to return to playing for the Eagles.
“I’ve changed my perspective,” Steele told ESPN this summer. “If things don’t work out the way I think they will, I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be back on the field with my teammates. I’m more than just a football player, and it might’ve taken me a while to realize that, but now that I do, it’s made this whole journey a lot easier.”
Between a nagging cough and a slower-than-usual recovery after hits, Steele had sensed that something was wrong ahead of his junior year of high school, back in 2019. He was diagnosed with thymoma, a rare form of cancer in the chest. The Raleigh, N.C., native had surgery at Duke Medical Center. He missed his junior season, but Boston College, under then-coach Jeff Hafley, still offered him.
The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Steele played in 11 games as a true freshman with the Eagles in 2021, starting one, but cancer returned after that season and again after the 2022 season, when he played in 12 games. A chest x-ray in May of 2023 showed grim markers, leading to chemotherapy, which Steele chose over surgery in hopes of continuing his playing career. Scans following chemo in August showed no real progress, however, leading to a 15.5-hour surgery in October.
Steele spent a month in the hospital, and he was cleared to train about a month after getting out. New BC coach Bill O’Brien told the team in August of 2024 that Steele was set to return to practice, and Steele played in the Eagles’ first two games. But he could tell that he was not fully ready, opting to redshirt. He returned for two late-season games before seeing the field for 18 snaps in the Pinstripe Bowl against Nebraska in New York.
Steele began to feel more like himself this past March, and he has taken full advantage of this fifth and final season in Chestnut Hill.
The redshirt senior has played in seven games this season for the Eagles, starting one, and he has tallied 14 total tackles. He has career totals of 83 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and one sack, to go with one pass defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He has missed just one college season (2023).
“This offseason, I hit it as hard as I possibly could, literally to the point of nearly passing out,” Steele said. “I want it that bad, and any way I can push myself to get back to what I was before, I’ll do it.”
The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. The winner of the award will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and receive his trophy at an on-field presentation.
Previous winners of the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award are North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft (2025), Virginia running back Mike Hollins (2023), Oregon tight end Cam McCormick (2022), the University of Utah football Team (2021), Arkansas State analyst Alex Charlton (2020), Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson (2019), SUNY Cortland linebacker Kyle Richard (2018), Wisconsin safety D’Cota Dixon (2017), Pitt running back James Conner (2016), Miami offensive lineman Hunter Knighton (2015), Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson (2014), San Jose State defensive lineman Anthony Larceval (2013), Clemson wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez (2012), Michigan State offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr. (2011), Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand (2010), the University of Connecticut football team (2009), Tulsa’s Wilson Holloway (2008), Navy’s Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis’ Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State’s Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo’s William Bratton (2002).008), Navy’s Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis’ Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State’s Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo’s William Bratton (2002).
About Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl is a primarily volunteer non-profit sports organization with more than 400 members that promotes and serves the South Florida community. With its primary mission since being created in 1935 to bring tourism to South Florida through an annual football game and events, it has also maintained a legacy of charitable contributions and community outreach. Orange Bowl’s community outreach is embodied by the four pillars of its Orange Bowl Cares program: Youth Sports, Education, Community Engagement, and Legacy Programs. Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026.For more information about Orange Bowl events, including promotional inquiries and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, visit orangebowl.org or follow @OrangeBowl on social media.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.
To submit a nomination for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, contact Matt Fortuna at matt.fortuna@gmail.com.
2025 Weekly Nominees
- Sept. 17: Army safety Larry Pickett Jr.
- Sept. 24: Michigan linebacker Ernest Hausmann
- Oct. 1: North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson
- Oct. 8: Missouri State fullback Connor Lair
- Oct. 15: Auburn kicker Alex McPherson
- Oct. 22: Houston director of strength and performance Kurt Hester
- Oct. 29: Illinois linebacker Kenenna Odeluga
- Nov. 5: Boston College linebacker Bryce Steele
