Finney a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalist
11/05/25 | Football
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. was announced on Wednesday as one of 12 semifinalists for the 2025 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, which is presented to the most outstanding freshman player in college football.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award was created in 2018 and is presented at the Maxwell Football Club Awards along with several of the other top awards in college and professional football. It is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama and with the Seattle Seahawks.
Finney is one of three Big Ten freshmen to be named semifinalists for the honor. He is the first Duck ever to be selected as a semifinalist.
Finney has started all eight games for the Ducks as a true freshman, joining wide receiver Dakorien Moore as the first UO true freshmen to start a season opener since 2019. He leads all qualified FBS cornerbacks with just a 14.3 reception rate allowed this season, as Pro Football Focus credits him with just three receptions allowed on 21 targets.
A native of Owings Mills, Md., Finney has 15 total tackles on the season as well as four pass breakups and an interception, which he returned 35 yards for a touchdown in Week 7 against Indiana. He became the first UO true freshman with a pick-six since Rashad Bauman on Oct. 25, 1997.
Finney and the No. 9 Ducks (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) open the final month of the regular season this Saturday at No. 20 Iowa (12:30 p.m. PT, CBS).
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award was created in 2018 and is presented at the Maxwell Football Club Awards along with several of the other top awards in college and professional football. It is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama and with the Seattle Seahawks.
Finney is one of three Big Ten freshmen to be named semifinalists for the honor. He is the first Duck ever to be selected as a semifinalist.
Finney has started all eight games for the Ducks as a true freshman, joining wide receiver Dakorien Moore as the first UO true freshmen to start a season opener since 2019. He leads all qualified FBS cornerbacks with just a 14.3 reception rate allowed this season, as Pro Football Focus credits him with just three receptions allowed on 21 targets.
A native of Owings Mills, Md., Finney has 15 total tackles on the season as well as four pass breakups and an interception, which he returned 35 yards for a touchdown in Week 7 against Indiana. He became the first UO true freshman with a pick-six since Rashad Bauman on Oct. 25, 1997.
Finney and the No. 9 Ducks (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) open the final month of the regular season this Saturday at No. 20 Iowa (12:30 p.m. PT, CBS).
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