The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Benson one of five finalists for Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year award
12.01.2004 | Football
ATLANTA -- The nominations are in and it's time for fans to vote on who they think is the best college football player in 2004.
Cingular Wireless today announced the five finalists for the Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year award. The candidates include Texas running back Cedric Benson, Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, Utah quarterback Alex Smith and Oklahoma quarterback Jason White. All were selected by a panel of ABC Sports and ESPN college football analysts, led by John Saunders, and the winner will be determined exclusively by fan voting between December 1 and 8.
The credentials of the candidates are quite impressive and between them, their teams have a combined record of 43-1 and are all ranked among the Top 6 in the current BCS rankings. Below is a statistical overview of each player's season.
Cedric Benson (SR) - running back - University of Texas
Benson, also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and picked as one of 10 players to watch for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award, he has rushed for 1,764 yards (No. 3 on the UT single-season list) and 19 TDs (No. 4 on the UT single-season list), while catching 22 passes for 179 yards. Benson ranks third in the nation and first in the Big 12 in rushing (160.4 ypg), fifth in all-purpose yards (176.6 ypg) and fifth in scoring (10.9 ppg). Benson ranks sixth on the NCAA Division all-time rushing list (5,470 yards) and is tied for third in NCAA history with 64 rushing TDs. He is only the fifth player in NCAA history, and the first in UT history, to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons. Benson has registered at least one TD in an NCAA record 37 career games.
Notes: Week 9 nominee for All-America Player of the Week; ten 100-yard rushing games this season
(NCAA rankings in parenthesis below)
Matt Leinart (JR) - quarterback - University of Southern California
2,748 yards passing, 28 touchdowns (T6), 66.2% completions, 157.5 QB rating (8)
Notes: Week 12 All-America Player of the Week; tied school record with five touchdown passes against Notre Dame; has thrown two or more touchdown passes in 22 of his 24 starts
Adrian Peterson (FR) - running back - University of Oklahoma
1,671 yards rushing (5), 12 touchdowns, 151.2 yards/game (7)
Notes: Only player to win All-America Player of the Week three times (Weeks 5, 8 & 11); tied the NCAA record for most 100-yard rushing games by a freshman with 10
Alex Smith (JR) - quarterback - University of Utah
2,624 yards passing, 28 touchdowns (T6), 66.1% completions, 174.9 QB rating (2)
Notes: Only All-America Player of the Year finalist without a Player of the Week nomination this season; also has 10 rushing touchdowns
Jason White (SR) - quarterback - University of Oklahoma
2,707 yards passing, 30 touchdowns (T2), 64.3% completions, 162.3 QB rating (6)
Notes: Week 9 All-America Player of the Week; completed school-record 18 consecutive passes against Nebraska; 2003 Heisman Trophy winner
The Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year honor marks the first time in college football history where fans are in command and can vote on who they think is the best player in college football. Fans have from December 1 until December 8 to text-message their votes or submit them online at www.abcsportsallamerica.com or at ESPN.com (keyword: cingular). The selection process will culminate on December 11 at 2 p.m. EST in a one-hour special on ABC Sports when the Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year and the All-America team (selected by the Football Writers Association of America) will be announced.
Here's how fans can vote for the Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year:
Text "PLAYER" to "64444" on your wireless phones*
Follow the prompt to vote for your All-America Player of the Year selection
Alternatively, go to or log onto and enter keyword "Cingular"
*For fans voting on their wireless phones, they need only register one time. Then the five candidates for Player of the Year will automatically be sent to their wireless phones. Each time fans vote, they will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the Bowl Championship Series game of their choice or thousands of other instant prizes. Fans can vote as many times as they would like.
2004 Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week Winners
September 12 - Kyle Orton, Purdue QB
September 19 - Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech QB
September 26 - Kyle Orton, Purdue QB
October 3 - David Greene, Georgia QB
October 10 - Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma RB
October 17 - Jason Campbell, Auburn QB
October 24 - Michael Hart, Michigan RB
October 31 - Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma RB
November 6 - Jason White, Oklahoma QB
November 13 - Carnell Williams, Auburn RB
November 20 - Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma RB
November 27 - Matt Leinart, USC QB
