McFadden Named Finalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden is one of five finalists for the 2006 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award it was announced by The Walter Camp Football Foundation on Wednesday. McFadden joins West Virginia running back Steve Slaton as one of two sophomores on the finalist list. Ohio State senior quarterback Troy Smith, Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn and Hawaii junior quarterback Colt Brennan round out the finalists.

“Darren has earned his place among the elite players in college football,” Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt. “I appreciate his hard work and his humble nature. He is always quick to thank his teammates who have helped him achieve his success. His play on the field certainly merits very strong consideration for this award. I know he has my vote.”

The 2006 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, voted on by the 119 Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN’s SportsCenter on Thursday, Dec. 7. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation’s annual national awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven, Conn.

The Little Rock, Ark., product is also one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top running back. McFadden, Slaton and Michigan tailback Mike Hart are finalists for that award to be presented next week in Orlando, Fla., at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

McFadden has rushed for a school-record 1,485 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. His season rushing total already ranks 10th on the SEC single season record list. He has rushed for more than 100 yards seven times this season, including four games of more than 180 yards rushing. McFadden ranks eighth in the nation in rushing with an average of 123.75 yards per game. He is averaging 132.4 yards in five games against nationally-ranked opponents including 145 yards against No. 2 Auburn, 181 yards against No. 13 Tennessee and 182 yards against No. 9 LSU.