The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
McCoy named The Sporting News Player of the Year
12.17.2008 | Football
Dec. 17, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas -- Junior QB Colt McCoy has been selected as The Sporting News Player of the Year for 2008, the magazine announced.
McCoy, who is the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year, runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, and a Maxwell Award (college player of the year), O'Brien Award (nation's top quarterback) and Manning Award (nation's top quarterback) finalist, was named WCFF National Player of the Week on Oct. 19 and was a three-time O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week this season. He has earned first-team All-America honors from the WCFF and FWAA, second-team honors from the Associated Press and was named to the AFCA's Good Works Team.
During the regular season, McCoy went 291-of-375 (77.6%) for 3,445 yards and 32 TDs, with seven INTs, for a passer rating of 179.2. He set a UT single-season passing record against Texas A&M, bettering Major Applewhite's 3,357 yards in 1999. His 77.6 completion percentage is the best in the country and is on pace to break the NCAA record and his 179.2 passer rating ranks third nationally. McCoy has thrown a TD pass in 16 consecutive games, which ranks second on UT's all-time list behind Applewhite's 19. In addition, McCoy leads the team in rushing with 576 yards and 10 TDs on 128 carries (4.5 ypc).
Overall, McCoy has posted 4,021 yards of total offense (3,445p/576r) and is averaging 8.0 yards per play and 335.1 total yards per game, which ranks sixth nationally. He is only the second player in UT history to surpass 4,000 yards in a single season and trails only Vince Young (4,086 yards, 2005) for the UT record.
With 11 wins in 2008, McCoy has a career record of 31-7, which is first on UT's all-time victories list, passing Vince Young (30-2, 2003-05). During his 38-game career, McCoy has completed 784-of-1,117 passes (70.2%/No. 1 on UT's all-time list) for 9,318 yards and 83 TDs against 32 INTs for a passer rating of 159.1 (No. 1 on UT's all-time list). His 9,318 yards, 83 career TD passes, 784 completions and 1,117 attempts are all the most in UT history. McCoy also ranks first on UT's TD responsible for list with 99, having passed Ricky Williams (76) and Vince Young (81) earlier this season.
In addition, McCoy has rushed for 1,238 yards and 16 TDs on 310 carries (4.0 ypc) and has rushed and passed for a TD in the same game 11 times during his career. Overall, McCoy is UT's all-time leader in total offense, having produced 10,556 yards (9,318p/1,238r) to better Vince Young's 9,167 total yards.
McCoy shared The Sporting News honor with QB Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and QB Graham Harrell of Texas Tech.
