Tim Tebow Named Finalist for Manning Award
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 | Football
UF senior quarterback Tim Tebow (Jacksonville, Fla.) was named a finalist for the 2009 Manning Award, announced today by the Allstate Sugar Bowl. He captured the award last season and has been a finalist for three-straight years.
This year's 10 finalists include: Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Andy Dalton (TCU), Max Hall (BYU), Case Keenum (Houston), Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Colt McCoy (Texas), Kellen Moore (Boise State), Tony Pike (Cincinnati) and Tebow.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. The winner will be announced following the holiday bowl season on Thursday, Jan. 14. It is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidates' bowl performances.
This year's finalists are an outstanding class which includes five players from undefeated teams and a combined 102 victories with over 30,000 passing yards and 275 touchdowns. As far as national statistical leaders, eight of the top 12 in touchdown passes, five of the top 10 in passing yardage and 10 of the top 12 in passing efficiency are included on the list.
“It has been another entertaining year to watch great quarterbacks in college football,” Archie Manning said. “There have been outstanding performances by so many different players, but we are very excited with this list of 10 quarterbacks which we think represent the best that college football has to offer. We will be very excited to follow these 10 young men through the bowl season and then decide which one is the best in the nation.”
The first five winners of the Manning Award reads like a Who's Who list at the quarterback position. USC's Matt Leinart was the inaugural winner of the award in 2005, followed by Texas' Vince Young in 2006. Both went on to be top-10 NFL Draft picks. In 2007, LSU's JaMarcus Russell earned the award and was the NFL's No. 1 Draft pick. Boston College's Matt Ryan claimed the award in 2008 and was drafted No. 3, quickly becoming the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. Last season's winner was Tebow, who is making his bid to become the first two-time winner of the honor this year.
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