University of Pittsburgh Athletics
10/21/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2026 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, an award recognizing exemplary leadership on and off the field.
Heintschel is the only sophomore among this year's semifinalists and one of seven representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Now in its 10th year, the award honors college football players who demonstrate exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship.
Heintschel's commitment to serving others includes his "Have a Heart" campaign, which supports the Heart Institute at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. He launched the initiative in memory of his childhood friend Lukas Mason, whose organ donations saved six lives.
Through the campaign, Heintschel has turned a personal loss into an opportunity to help children and families in the Pittsburgh community. He has participated in 19 community service initiatives and contributed more than 32 volunteer hours while also earning recognition on the 2025-26 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
On the field, Heintschel made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2025, throwing for 2,354 yards and 16 touchdowns while leading the Panthers to a 6-3 record in his starts. He was named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
He opened the 2026 season by throwing for 1,304 yards on 98 completions and 14 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury in W eek 5.
Heintschel is seeking to become the second Pitt player to receive the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award. Former Panthers defensive lineman Deslin Alexandre earned the honor in 2022.
Three finalists will be announced Dec. 15. The winner will be revealed during a ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 11, 2027.
Presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, the award is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership on and off the field. The recipient will receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund from Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation.
