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Who will be AP’s college football Player of the Year?

FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2016, file photo, Florida quarterback Austin Appleby (12) is sacked by Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, in Atlanta. The AP college football Player of the Year will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016. Jonathan Allen, of Alabama, Lamar Jackson, of Louisville, and Deshaun Watson, of Clemson, are the top three vote-getters. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2016, file photo, Florida quarterback Austin Appleby (12) is sacked by Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, in Atlanta. The AP college football Player of the Year will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016. Jonathan Allen, of Alabama, Lamar Jackson, of Louisville, and Deshaun Watson, of Clemson, are the top three vote-getters. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File) FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2016, file photo, Florida quarterback Austin Appleby (12) is sacked by Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, in Atlanta. The AP college football Player of the Year will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016. Jonathan Allen, of Alabama, Lamar Jackson, of Louisville, and Deshaun Watson, of Clemson, are the top three vote-getters. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

By Associated Press 2 min read

The Associated Press has been handing out a college football player of the year award since 1998. Five times the AP’s award has gone to a player other than the Heisman Trophy winner, including last year when Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey beat out Alabama’s Derrick Henry.

In the past the AP has asked its college football poll voters to cast a vote for one player it determines to be the best in college football. This season the AP used a Heisman-style system, asking voters to cast a ballot with a top three in order. First-place votes receive three points, two points for second and one for third. The winner is the player who receives the most points.

The AP player of the year will be announced Tuesday. Here are the top three vote-getters in alphabetical order:

Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

Allen has 56 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries and returned two fumbles for touchdowns. He won the Bronco Nagurski Award given to the nation’s top defensive player. The 293-pound junior has been a dominant player on the nation’s best defense for the No. 1 team in the country. Alabama leads the country in total defense, scoring defense and rush defense. The defending national champions will play No. 4 Washington in College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl.