Tulsa's Smith and Marion Earn C-USA Awards
11/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 28, 2007
Irving, Texas - University of Tulsa senior quarterback Paul Smith (Owasso, Okla.) was named the Conference USA co-Offensive Player of the Year and junior transfer receiver Brennan Marion (Greensburg, Pa.) was selected as the C-USA's Newcomer of the Year as voted on by the league's media, it was announced today.
Smith shared the honor with the nation's leading rusher Kevin Smith of UCF. The two stars will face-off this Saturday in the Conference USA Football Championship Game in Orlando, Florida, at 12 noon on ESPN.
Tulsa has the nation's top-ranked offense, gaining 548.6 yards per game and is third nationally in passing (369.3), fourth for pass efficiency (163.1) and ninth for scoring offense (40.7).
"It's a great honor to have both Paul and Brennan represent the Conference as Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year," said Graham. "I think it speaks volumes for what we've been able to accomplish as a team this year. We're very proud of those two as well as our team. We have some great players here at Tulsa, and both of those guys will tell you that this is not only recognition for them but for our entire team."
Smith ranks among the nation's top-3 quarterbacks for total passing yards, total offense, passing yards per game and pass efficiency and is first for points responsible for. He has completed 61-percent of his passes for 4,327 yards and 39 touchdowns this season, thus establishing Conference USA single-season records for total offense, passing yards, touchdowns responsible for and TD passes thrown.
This season he is tied with Texas Tech's Graham Harrell for the most 300+ passing games by throwing for over 300 yards in all 12 games. Smith has set school career and single-season records for passing, touchdown passes and total offense.
It's the eighth time in the last 10 years that a quarterback has won the award.
"There's no question in our mind that Paul Smith is one of the best college football players in the country and one of the greatest football players to ever play at The University of Tulsa," said Graham. "He owns most of the records as a quarterback and has been our leader. Paul is very deserving of the recognition as Offensive Player of the Year in Conference USA."
One of Smith's main targets has been the C-USA Newcomer of the Year Brennan Marion. The junior transfer from DeAnza (Calif.) Junior College has amassed 1,148 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 32 catches. His whopping yards per catch average of 35.9 yards far out-ranks any other receiver in the country and puts him on pace to establish a new NCAA record for average yards per catch of 27.9 yards set by Houston's Elmo Wright in 1968.
Marion ranks second in C-USA for receiving yards per game at 95.7, and 24 of his receptions have gone for over 25 yards while 17 have been for more than 35 yards. He has had touchdown receptions of 75, 73, 53, 52,52, 50, 49, 48, 35, 32 and 31 yards.
"Brennan has made an unbelievable impact on our offense. He's led the nation for yards per catch and is on track to set a record for that category in the history of college football," said Graham. "He's been a deep threat down the field and has been a big part of helping us be the number one offense in the country."
In other C-USA awards as voted on by the media, UCF Head Coach George O'Leary was named Coach of the Year, Southern Miss' linebacker Gerald McRath was the Defensive Player of the Year, and Houston red-shirt freshman Case Keenum was named the Freshman of the Year.
The Conference USA Coaches all-league team and special awards will be announced next week.
