Nov. 11, 2007
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- UCF running back Kevin Smith is one of four nominees for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week award, and now it's up to the fans to determine the winner. Smith joins University of Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz, University of Kansas wide receiver Marcus Henry and University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow on the ballot list, which was selected by ESPN based on the players' outstanding performances during the week.
This is the first time a player from UCF has been nominated for the Award. Fans can determine the winner by text messaging VOTE to 87654 on their wireless phone.
Smith carried 41 times for 320 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Knights to a 45-31 victory over UAB. Ganz threw 30-40 with 510 passing yards and seven touchdowns to set school records in the Cornhuskers' 73-31 win over Kansas State. Henry had a career-high 199 yards receiving on eight receptions and three touchdowns in the Jayhawks' 43-28 win over Oklahoma State. Tebow was 22 for 32 with a career-best 304 yards and ran 120 yards on 26 carries, accounting for more than three quarters of Florida's offense. He also accounted for seven touchdowns, five rushing, in the Gators' 51-31 win over South Carolina.
Fans have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday to submit their votes. The winner will be announced Nov. 8 during Thursday's ESPN College Football Primetime Presented by Applebee's college football game between Louisville and West Virginia. There is no limit on fan voting, and each vote counts as one entry into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the 2008 BCS National Championship game in New Orleans, La. The AT&T All-America Player of the Week program will continue throughout the season, with the nominees being revealed each Sunday on ESPN SportsCenter at 9 a.m. ET and on the Web at www.espnallamerica.com. AT&T customers can visit AT&T's wireless NCAA® Football Portal on their handsets to view video highlights of each week's candidates, retrieve photos, check scorecards, track their favorite teams and download school ringtones.
In December, four finalists for the AT&T All-America Player of the Year award will be announced during a one-hour special on ABC Sports when the Football Writers Association of America All-America team will also be announced. Fans will then get a chance to say who the best player in the nation is by voting for the AT&T All-America Player of the Year up until the Bowl Championship Series. Voting ends on Jan. 4 and the winner will be announced during the BCS National Championship game on FOX on Jan. 8.
Last year, University of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn was crowned as the AT&T All-America Player of the Year, beating out Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner, Rutgers running back Ray Rice and Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan. Voting for the AT&T All-America Player of the Year was the highest total in the three year history of the award.