.png)
.png)
Tulsa's Mills Up For Prestigious Draddy Trophy Tonight
12/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 6, 2005
Tulsa, Oklahoma - College football's most prestigious academic award -- the Draddy Trophy -- will be presented tonight in New York City at the National Football Foundation's 48th Annual Awards Dinner.
University of Tulsa senior tight end Garrett Mills is one of 16 finalists for the award that will be presented at the Waldorf Astoria. The announcement is expected to be made between 7:15-8 p.m. (central time).
The 16 finalists were selected from a list of 184 semi-finalists. All 16 of the finalists have already earned an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship from the NFF. All the candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least a 3.0, have outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Known in many circles as the "Academic" Heisman, the Draddy Trophy continues to be one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.
Mills possesses a 3.91 grade point average in management.
On the field, Mills is the nation's leading tight end with 83 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns. He has had seven 100+ yard receiving games including a career-best 152 yards twice this season, coming against #18-ranked Oklahoma and Central Florida in the Conference USA Football Championship Game.
Mills established an NCAA single season record for a tight end with his 1,183 receiving yards, surpassing a record set by BYU's Chris Smith in 1990 of 1,156 yards.
"The Draddy symbolizes everything right about college football. It's synonymous with past, present and future greatness in all areas of one's life," said NFF President Steven J. Hatchell. "This year's finalists all deserve praise for their exceptional accomplishments, and the winner will truly join an elite group of previous recipients."
The past recipients include: Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990); John B. Culpepper (Florida, 1991); Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992); Thomas Burns, Virginia, 1993); Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994); Bobby Hoying, (Ohio State, 1995); Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996); Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998); Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999); Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000); Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, 2001); Brandon Roberts (Washington U.-Missouri, 2002); Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003); and Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004).
Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who founded the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a stunning 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.
The NFF Awards Committee is comprised of former coaches, Hall of Famers and college administrators. Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The Draddy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program's mystique.
The 16 finalists are: Josh Betts (QB, Miami-Ohio), Cory Cangelosi (DB, Central Arkansas), Jose David Castillo (C, Florida State), Reed Doughty (FS, Northern Colorado), Chris Edwards (QB, Washington and Jefferson College), Tyler Emmert (QB, Carroll College), Greg Eslinger (C, Minnesota), Nick Hartigan (RB, Brown University), Matt Hawn (LB, St. John's, Minn.), Ryan Koch (WR, St. Cloud State), Grayling Love (OL, Arizona State), Santo Maimone (CB, Case Western Reserve), Garrett Mills (TE, Tulsa), Rudy Niswanger (C, LSU), DeMeco Ryans (LB, Alabama), Bradley Smith (QB, Missouri).
