Ernest Hausmann nominated for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award
DALLAS (FWAA) — Michigan’s Ernest Hausmann is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Hausmann, a senior linebacker, has overcome numerous childhood hardships to develop into a captain for the Wolverines who has started his own charity and poured his heart into numerous causes for the underserved.
Hausmann visited his home nation of Uganda in March, partnering with the nonprofit organization One Million Wells to build wells and provide access to clean water. He was born in Uganda, was put up for adoption at the age of 2 after his parents contracted AIDS, and lived in the landlocked East Africa country until moving to the United States when he was 5.
Hausmann also suffered from paralysis in his left foot as a child.
“I know that my calling is so true, that it comes from God,” Hausmann recently told The Detroit News. “He would never place responsibilities on myself if I was not able to handle them. Just knowing that, each day I have such a new sense of motivation and love and passion for it, and that’s all I want to do is help people and take care of people. It’s a complete honor to have these responsibilities, and I don’t take that lightly.”
This past summer, Hausmann’s own organization, Light Beneath the Well, achieved 501 (c)(3) status. ESPN’s Pat McAfee donated $100,000 to the organization on “College GameDay” ahead of Michigan’s game at Oklahoma, after an Oklahoma student made a field goal during the show’s weekly student kicking contest.
The 22-year-old Hausmann also works with Samaritas adoption in Michigan to advocate for adoption and provide first-person insights into the process. He has bonded with former Michigan linebacker Jarrett Irons, who helped draw Hausmann to Samaritas and who is now on the board of Hausmann’s nonprofit.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Hausmann recorded a team-high 9 tackles, including 1 sack, in Michigan’s 30-27 win Saturday at Nebraska. Hausmann grew up in Nebraska and began his career with the Cornhuskers in 2022, playing in every game and starting seven as true freshman before transferring to Michigan.
He currently leads the 3-1 Wolverines in tackles (29) on the season. In three years with the Wolverines, Hausmann has amassed 164 total tackles, including 10.5 for loss and 3 sacks, to go with one interception and two passes defended. He was voted a captain by his teammates for this season, he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors last season, and he played in all 15 games for Michigan’s national title team in 2023.
Hausmann has also developed a locker room cleaning schedule for the program in each of the past two seasons, assigning position groups to be responsible for the locker room’s cleanliness one week at a time.
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 404-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization 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 2024 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 9. 2025. For more information on the 2025 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
