(Here’s the press release in its entirety from the Waler Camp Football Foundation announcing the “Players to Watch” for their prestigious player-of-the-year award.)
New Haven, Conn. – The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of fifteen “Players to Watch” for its 2010 Player of the Year award, the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation.
Quarterbacks from four of the top six teams in the most recent BCS standings are on the list, including Auburn’s Cam Newton, TCU’s Andy Dalton, Boise State’s Kellen Moore and Stanford’s Andrew Luck. The 15-player watch list includes nine quarterbacks, three running backs, one wide receiver and two defensive players.
“It’s been another exciting college football season with many teams and players still in the hunt for national recognition,” Foundation president Alphonse Paolillo, Jr. said. “We’ve identified some outstanding players and we know the final weeks of the regular season should be even more thrilling.”
A list of five finalists will be announced on Wednesday, December 1.
The 2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, who is voted on by the Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be presented live on Thursday, December 9 during the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN SportsCenter.
The winner will receive his trophy at the Foundation’s annual national awards banquet on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. Sponsorships and tickets are available by calling (203) 288-CAMP.
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and continue the tradition of selecting an annual All-America team.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. Visit http://www.ncfaa.org.
2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year “Players to Watch”
Justin Blackmon, Sophomore, WR, Oklahoma State – Leads nation in receiving yards (158.9 ypg) for the 9-1 Cowboys; has caught 84 passes on the season, 16 for touchdowns.
Da’Quan Bowers, Junior, DL, Clemson – Leads nation in quarterback sacks (13.5) and ranks second in tackles for loss (22.0) for the Tigers.
Andy Dalton, Senior, QB, TCU – Has passed for 2,897 yards and 23 touchdowns for undefeated Horned Frogs; has also rushed for 415 yards.
LaMichael James, Sophomore, RB, Oregon – Nation’s top rusher at 158.0 yards per game; has scored 17 touchdowns for top-ranked and undefeated Ducks.
Nick Fairley, Junior, DL, Auburn – Has 18.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 quarterback sacks for 11-0 and second-ranked Tigers.
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor – Fourth in nation in total offense (325.4 ypg); has passed for 3,071 yards and 20 touchdowns for 7-4 Bears.
Kendall Hunter, Senior, RB, Oklahoma State – Has rushed for 1,356 yards and 16 touchdowns for 9-1 Cowboys; averaging 135.6 yards per game.
Colin Kaepernick, Senior, QB, Nevada – Averaging 310.7 yards of total offense per game for 9-1 Wolfpack; has passed for 17 touchdowns and rushed for 15 more.
Andrew Luck, Sophomore, QB, Stanford – Has passed for 2,511 yards and 22 touchdowns for the 9-1 Cardinal; ranks 10th in the nation in passing efficiency (159.71).
Ryan Mallett, Junior, QB, Arkansas – Has passed for 2,967 yards and 24 touchdowns for the 8-2 Razorbacks; ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency (166.49).
Kellen Moore, Junior, QB, Boise State – Leads nation with 191.45 passing efficiency; completing 71.9% of passes for undefeated Broncos.
Cam Newton, Junior, QB, Auburn – Second in nation in passing efficiency (183.6) for 10-0 Tigers; has passed for 2,038 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 1,297 and 17 scores.
Terrelle Pryor, Junior, QB, Ohio State – Ranks fifth in the nation in passing efficiency (166.4 rating) for the 9-1 Buckeyes; has passed for 2,136 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Denard Robinson, Sophomore, QB, Michigan – Second in nation in total offense (340.7 ypg) for 7-3 Wolverines; has passed for 1,990 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 1,417 and 12 scores.
Jordan Todman, Junior, RB, Connecticut – Second in nation in rushing at 147.0 yards per game for Huskies; has rushed for nine touchdowns.
