Leak Named To 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class and Draddy Award Finalist
Thursday, October 26, 2006 | Football
University of Florida senior quarterback Chris Leak (Charlotte, N.C.) has been selected as one of 17 members of the 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class as well as a finalist for the 2006 Draddy Trophy, the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame announced Thursday.
"This is a great honor, but I would not have been able to achieve this without the guidance from our coaching staff and the Office of Student Life," said Leak. "Coach Meyer has put a tremendous emphasis on academic success and graduating and that message has had a positive effect on our entire team. It is clear that Dr. (Keith) Carodine, Jason Storch and the entire staff truly cares about how each student-athlete at Florida lives on and off the field each day. My family has also played a significant role in showing me the importance of getting my education and I can not thank them enough for everything they have done to support me. I'd also like to congratulate the other members of the National Scholar-Athlete Class on their efforts."
The winner of the Draddy Award will be announced at the 49th NFF Awards Dinner Dec. 5 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The winner is selected by the NFF Awards Committee, comprised of former coaches, Hall of Famers and college administrators. Each finalist will also be recognized that night as part of the 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship.
"We take great pride in providing each member of the scholar-athlete class with a coveted $18,000 scholarship for their post-graduate studies," said NFF President Steven J. Hatchell. "They have set the standard for their teammates and for all who play sports. By highlighting their achievements, we hope to inspire future generations of student-athletes to higher levels of achievement in all aspects of their lives."
One of college football's most sought-after and competitive awards, the Draddy Trophy recognizes an individual as the top performer in the country for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. Nominated by their schools, semifinalists must be a senior in their final year of eligibility, have at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
"After thorough review of 148 outstanding candidates representing schools from all levels of collegiate play, the committee's deliberations resulted in the selection of an exceptional class of 17 scholar-athletes," said Robert E. Mulcahy III, chairman of the NFF Awards Committee and director of athletics at Rutgers University. "Knowing the importance and prestige of these awards, the committee takes the utmost care in making the selections, and I applaud them for their efforts."
Leak is the NCAA's active leader in touchdown passes, and currently ranks fourth in Southeastern Conference history, with 80 for his career. He is Florida's career leader in pass completions (773) and passing attempts (1,266), while his 9,774 passing yards are second on the school's all-time career chart. Through seven games this season, he is fourth in the SEC in pass efficiency (158.2), as well as fifth in passing yards per game (214.7) and total offense per contest (210.7). Leak has completed 110-of-173 passes (63.6 percent) for a league-high-tying 15 touchdowns.
Off the field, Leak is a two-year member of the Gators' Leadership Committee, a group of players charged with acting as spokesmen for the team and handling situations related to team policy issues, academic affairs, off-campus circumstances and other topics. He is also a three-year volunteer with Jump Rope for Heart, and, in the summer of 2006, participated in the Gator Spirit Campus Beautification Project. During his career at UF, Leak has made several visits to children in area hospitals, in addition to donating time to Gator Tracks Delivery and Chomp the Vote.
Two Florida players have won the Draddy Trophy since its inception in 1990, making Florida one of only four schools with multiple recipients. Brad Culpepper was UF's initial Draddy honoree in 1991, and former Gator great Danny Wuerffel garnered the honor in 1996. Former UF center Mike Degory was a semifinalist for the award in 2005.
DIVISION I-A
*Brian Daniels - University of Colorado - OG - Finance - Superior, Colo.
*Rhema Fuller - University of Connecticut - DT - Finance - Cocoa, Fla.
*Jay Henry - West Virginia University - LB - Finance / Accounting - Tulsa, Okla.
*Chris Leak - University of Florida - QB - Sociology - Charlotte, N.C.
*Brian Leonard - Rutgers University FB - Labor & Employment Rels. - Hailesboro, N.Y.
*Carl Pendleton - University of Oklahoma - DT -Sociology - Sapulpa, Okla.
*Paul Posluszny - Penn State University - LB - Finance - Aliquippa, Pa.
*Joe Thomas - University of Wisconsin - OT - Business - Brookfield, Wis.
*John Wendling - University of Wyoming - S - Business Admin. - Rock Springs, Wyo.
DIVISION I-AA
*Ed McCarthy - Yale University - OL - History - Fairfield, Conn.
*Luke Palko - Saint Francis Univ. (Pa.) - WR - Accounting - Imperial, Pa.
*Kristian Smith - Alabama A&M University - OL - Telecommunications - Alpine, Calif.
DIVISION II
*Michael Klobucher - Ferris State Univ. (Mich.) - LB - Applied Bio. - Grand Haven, Mich.
*Ryan Meredith - Pittsburg State Univ. (Ka.) - DE - Management - Pittsburg, Kan.
DIVISION III
*Aaron Lewis - Carnegie Mellon Univ. (Pa.) - DB - Business Admin. - Englewood, Ohio
*P.J. Theisen - Univ. of St. Thomas (Minn.) - WR - Accounting - Elko, Minn.
DIVISION NAIA
*Brad Cook - St. Ambrose Univ. (Iowa) - C - Economics / Finance - Bettendorf, Iowa
