Nov. 15, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - After four days of voting, the nation's voice was heard as thousands of college football fans elected UCF junior running back Kevin Smith this season's 11th recipient of the AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Week Award. Smith garnered 35 percent of the nationwide vote, beating out quarterbacks Tim Tebow of Florida (26 percent), Joe Ganz of Nebraska (24 percent) and wide receiver Marcus Henry of Kansas (15 percent) in the fan voting.
Smith rushed for a school-record 320 yards and added four rushing touchdowns in the Knights' 45-31 victory over UAB, which put UCF (7-3, 5-1) a top the C-USA East Division standings. His 320-yard output was the third-highest in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season as UCF improved its winning streak to four games.
Smith's last carry was a 41-yard touchdown run that put the Knights up by two scores late in the contest. With his four rushing touchdowns, Smith tied former Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams' Conference USA single-season records for both rushing (22) and total (23) touchdowns.
ESPN analysts will officially announce the award during Thursday's ESPN College Football Primetime Presented by Applebee's college football game between No. 2 Oregon and Arizona.
Earlier this week, Smith earned his third Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week award for his efforts vs. the Blazers. The Miami native was also named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation's best running back and one of 15 `Players to Watch' for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
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 Jan. 4, and the winner will be announced during the BCS National Championship game on FOX Jan. 8.
Last year, University of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn was crowned as the AT&T All-America Player of the Year after beating out Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith -- the Heisman Trophy winner -- Rutgers running back Ray Rice and Hawai'i 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.
The Knights return to the gridiron on Saturday to face SMU in Dallas. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. ET.
Tickets for UCF's final regular season home game vs. UTEP are still available and can be purchased by calling 407-UCF-1000.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out www.ucfphotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
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