The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
McCoy named Heisman Trophy finalist
12.07.2009 | Football
Dec. 7, 2009
Senior QB Colt McCoy has been named a finalist for the 2009 Heisman Trophy, it was announced Monday.
McCoy becomes the first player in UT history to make the trip to New York twice as a finalist.
McCoy's selection gives Texas a finalist in three of the last five years, following QB Vince Young, who finished second in 2005. McCoy will attempt to become the Longhorns' third winner of the award, in addition to RB Ricky Williams in 1998 and RB Earl Campbell in 1977.
Texas' other top finishers in the voting include RB Cedric Benson (6th/2004), LB Derrick Johnson (12th/2004), Williams (5th/1997), DT Kenneth Sims (8th/1981), RB Roosevelt Leaks (3rd/1973), FB Steve Worster (4th/1970), RB Chris Gilbert (8th/1968), LB Tommy Nobis (7th/1965), T Scott Appleton (5th/1963), RB James Saxton (3rd/1961), QB Bobby Layne (6th/1947; 8th/1946) and RB Jack Crain (10th/1941).
McCoy became the all-time winningest quarterback in NCAA history when he won his 43rd game as a starter against Kansas. He has now posted a 45-7 record, bettering David Greene's (Georgia) mark of 42 victories. He is the first QB in major college football history to lead a team to four 10-win seasons and is also is the first QB in Texas history to lead his team to consecutive 12-win seasons and just the second Longhorn, joining Vince Young, to lead his team to consecutive 11-win seasons.
McCoy holds 46 school records including 16 career, 12 single-season, five single-game, six freshman and seven miscellaneous marks. During his 52-game career, McCoy has completed 1,155-of-1,643 passes (70.3%) for 13,244 yards and 112 TDs (45 INTs) for a passer rating of 155.0. His 13,244 yards are sixth on the NCAA all-time list, his 112 TD passes are seventh and his 70.3 career completion percentage is just shy of the NCAA record of 70.4%, which is held by Colt Brennan (Hawaii).
His 1,155 completions, 1,643 attempts, 70.3 completion percentage, 13,244 yards, 112 TDs and 155.0 passer rating rank first on UT's all-time list and he is the first Longhorn to pass for more than 10,000 yards. He is one of just five QBs in NCAA history to pass for at least 2,500 yards in four seasons.
In addition, McCoy has rushed for 1,571 yards and 20 TDs on 446 carries (3.5 ypc) and has rushed and passed for a TD in the same game 14 times during his career. In combining his passing (112) and rushing (20) TDs, McCoy ranks sixth on the NCAA list and first on UT's TD responsible for list with 132. He's scored at least one TD in 30 straight games. McCoy is UT's all-time leader in total offense and ranks fourth on the NCAA all-time list, having produced 14,815 yards (13,244p/1,571r) on 2,089 plays (7.1 ypp).
This season, McCoy has already won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (nation's top senior QB), is a finalist for the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year Award, Maxwell Award (nation's top player), Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, Davey O'Brien Award (nation's top QB), Manning Award (nation's top QB) and William V. Campbell Trophy (college football's top scholar-athlete), and was also named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and league's coaches.
In 13 games this year, McCoy has gone 330-of-468 (70.5%) for 3,512 yards and 27 TDs for a 147.5 passer rating, while rushing for another 348 yards and three TDs. His 70.5 completion percentage ranks third nationally. McCoy's 147.5 pass efficiency rating ranks 19th, his 270.2 passing yards per game are 14th and his 296.9 total yards per game rank 10th. McCoy is averaging 26.6 yards per TD pass on his 27 scoring throws.
A National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and three-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection, McCoy will graduate in December with a degree in sports management. He also is one of UT's most active community service participants and has been selected to the Allstate AFCA and Big 12 Good Works teams. McCoy has spent his last two spring breaks traveling to Peru to perform mission work, and he regularly serves as a featured speaker representing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The other finalists include Stanford RB Toby Gerhart, Alabama RB Mark Ingram, Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh and Florida QB Tim Tebow.
The winner of the 2009 Heisman Trophy will be announced live from the Nokia Theatre in Times Square on Saturday, Dec. 12th at 7 p.m. Central on ESPN.
