Trevon Diggs Named the ASWA Pro Athlete of the Year

The Dallas Cowboys cornerback led the NFL and tied a franchise record with 11 interceptions on his way to earning First Team All-Pro honors for the 2021 season.

It wasn't that long ago, 2017 to be exact, that Trevon Diggs switched positions at the University of Alabama. 

He had been a wide receiver, and also returned kicks, and wasn't too excited when Nick Saban converted him into a cornerback. 

It turned out to be the best thing that may have ever happened to him. 

Following his standout season while leading the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary during the 2021 NFL season, Diggs was named the Pro Athlete of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association on Monday. 

He led the National Football League and tied a franchise record with 11 interceptions on his way to earning First Team All-Pro honors. 

Everson Walls set the initial mark 40 years ago in 1981.

The interception total was the most for a player in a single season with Alabama football roots in NFL history.

Diggs helped pace the Cowboys defense with an NFL-leading 34 takeaways while the team jumped from 28th in 2020 to seventh in 2021 in points allowed per game (29.6 to 21.7). His 11 picks directly resulted in 43 points for the offense in the 10 games he had at least one interception. 

He finished among the top-10 for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, and landed the most votes for All-Pro honors among all league cornerbacks. 

It was the fifth time in the last six years a former Crimson Tide athlete won the award, and snapped the two straight years by Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry.

The ASWA will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sunday with its annual convention and awards banquet in Birmingham.

Trevon Diggs

At Alabama ...

National Football League

Diggs was a full-time starter for Nick Saban's defense in 2018 (20 tackles, one interception, six pass breakups in six games) but was lost midway through the year to a broken foot. Diggs started 12 contests as a senior, picking up third-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-SEC accolades after intercepting three passes and tying for the team lead with eight pass breakups (also posting 37 tackles and two fumble recoveries, including a 100-yard score). 

In the NFL Draft

Diggs wasn't selected until the 19th pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The knock on him, according to NFL.com was "He's inconsistent staying in phase with downfield routes and long speed is his kryptonite, causing grabbing and holding when panic sets in."

As a rookie ...

Dallas Cowboys

In 2020, Diggs became the only rookie defender in Cowboys history to lead the team in pass breakups (15) and interceptions (three) outright.

For an encore ...

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

During his second NFL season, 2021, Diggs' 11 interceptions were the fourth highest total by any player in the Super Bowl era.

Now considered one of the premier defensive players in the entire league, he told Cowboys.com that the key to topping last season is to stay hungry. 

"I just feel I've got to improve my game all around," Diggs said. "Just being a complete corner, just being that shutdown corner. I feel like I'm going to do everything I can working this offseason to take it to the next step and the next level."

Professional Athlete of the Year

2021 Trevon Diggs

2020 Derrick Henry

2019 Derrick Henry

2018 Philip Rivers

2017 Justin Thomas

2016 Julio Jones

2015 Cam Newton

2014 Deontay Wilder

2013 Jason Dufner

2012 Craig Kimbrel

2011 Cam Newton

2010 Graeme McDowell

2009 Stewart Cink

2008 Mo Williams

2007 Jake Peavy

2006 DeMeco Ryans

2005 Shaun Alexander

2004 Ben Wallace

2003 Shaun Alexander

2002 Ben Wallace

2001 Shaun Alexander

2000 Tim Hudson

1999 Tim Hudson

1998 Ronald McKinnon

1997 Frank Thomas

1996 Kevin Greene

1995 Robert Horry

1994 Frank Thomas

1993 Frank Thomas

1992 Davey Allison

1991 Frank Thomas

1990 Charles Barkley

1989 Bo Jackson

1988 Corneilus Bennett

1987 Jimmy Key

1986 Charles Barkley

1985 John Hannah

1984 Ozzie Newsome

1983 Bobby Allison

1982 Andrew Toney

1981 Dieter Brock

1980 William Andrews

1979 John Stallworth

1978 Bobby Allison

1977 Hubert Green

1976 Jerry Pate

1975 Kenny Stabler

1974 Henry Aaron 

ASWA Other Athlete of the Year Awards

Amateur Athlete of the Year

Winner will be announced Tuesday. 

Small College Athlete of the Year

Winner will be announced Wednesday. 

Community College of the Year

Winner will be announced Thursday.

Other honors ...

All on Sunday evening: 

• Tuscaloosa columnist Cecil Hurt and Huntsville columnist Mark MacCarter will be inducted into the ASWA Hall of Fame. 

• Mobile media icon Vic Knight will be inducted into the ASWA Hall of Honors.

• Recognition of the state's athletes of the year (pro, amateur, small college and community college), plus of the announcement of Mr. Baseball, Miss Softball and the Jimmy Smothers Courage Award winner. The organization's other major honors, including the Presidents’ Award and the Bill Shelton Award (person of the year in the state and in the ASWA) will be revealed.