DALLAS, November 28, 2007 – As the 2007 college football season comes to a close, the 15 Draddy Finalists will head to New York City next week, where each will claim an $18,000 scholarship, and The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) will announce that one of them has become the 16th recipient of the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth.

The Draddy Trophy is one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.

“The Draddy represents excellence in all aspects of one’s life,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “Past recipients have gone on to become lawyers, doctors and some of the best players in the NFL. I have no doubt we can expect the same success from this year’s finalists, who have combined to represent the most superior academic class in NFF history.”

The announcement will be made between 8:15 - 9 p.m. during the NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria on Tuesday, December 4. A live satellite feed will be provided at coordinates AMC 5/5i (ice); Downlink: 11870V; Data: 5.5; Symbol: 3.978723; FEC: ¾.

All 15 class members are team captains, and the group also boasts two perfect 4.0 grade point averages; eight Academic All-Americas; five All-America athletic performers; six members of nationally ranked teams, including one No. 1 squad; nine athletic All-Conference picks; one Heisman Trophy contender; and the NCAA’s all-time career rushing leader. The finalists maintain the highest average class GPA in NFF history, with a 3.74.

The centerpiece to the NFF’s scholar-athlete program, which has awarded over $8.6 million to 693 top athletes, the Draddy Trophy honors former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands. The award, college football’s most prestigious academic honor, comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and increases the winner’s scholarship by $7,000 to $25,000.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The Draddy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program’s mystique. Past Draddy winners, including two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, a Heisman winner and a 3.7 average GPA, are: Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990 – Leader in Higher Education); John B. Culpepper (Florida, 1991 - Attorney); Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992 – MIT Professor); Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993 – Ph.D. Nuclear Engineer); Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994 - Physician); Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995 – Real Estate Developer); Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996 – Nonprofit Director); Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997 – NFL Player); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998 – Television Broadcaster); Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999 – NFL Player); Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000 – NFL Player); Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, 2001 – Entrepreneur); Brandon Roberts (Washington University-Mo., 2002 – Medical Student); Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003 – Real Estate Investment Analyst); Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004 – Nonprofit director and political candidate); Rudy Niswanger (LSU, 2005 – Medical Student); and Brian Leonard (Rutgers, 2006 – NFL Player).

Listed in alphabetical order, the 2007 Draddy Finalists are:

Alex Brink – QB – Washington State University: Passed for 3,419 yards and 21 touchdowns this season… The first Cougar QB in history to beat intrastate rival Washington three times… Member of WSU’s Honor Roll each of his last six semesters… Finalist for the 2007 Wuerffel Trophy… 3.55 GPA… Participates in the WSU Reading Buddies program and selected for exchange trip with International Christian University in Japan.

John Carlson – TE – University of Notre Dame: Finished season with 37 receptions for 343 yards and three touchdowns… Ranks third all-time for the Fighting Irish in receptions by a tight end… 2006 finalist for the John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end… 2006 Sports Illustrated.com Second Team All-America pick… Reigning Westwood One/State Farm Student-Athlete of the Year… 3.63 GPA… Involved with the Tackle the Arts program.

Nick Clark – DE – Texas State University: Earned All-Southland Conference Honorable Mention honors this season… Amassed 53 tackles, including 9.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks… Graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and is currently working towards a master’s degree in Physics… 3.76 GPA… Involved in the Bobcat Build and Community ‘Cats outreach programs and a member of the Texas State Gospel Expressions group.

Brandon Cramer – S – University of Dayton: Ended 2007 regular season with 57 tackles, including three TFL, and two interceptions… Led Flyers to a share of Pioneer Football League title… Two-time All-Pioneer Football League pick… Two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America choice… 4.0 GPA… 2006 Second Team I-AA Mid-Major All-America by The Football Gazette… president of Dayton’s chapter of Athletes in Action.

Dennis Dixon – QB – University of Oregon: Tallied 2,136 yards and 20 touchdowns passing and 583 yards rushing and nine touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury against Arizona… Finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and the Maxwell Award… Heisman Trophy candidate… Recorded a team-record 11 terms with at least a 3.0 GPA… 3.33 GPA… Drafted in the fifth round of the Amateur Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves… Participates in activities through Life Skills.

Michael Eubanks – LB – Delta State University (Miss.): Finished regular season as DSU’s leader in tackles (90), TFL (27) and sacks (12)… Finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy… Two-time All-America pick… Reigning Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year… Three-time All-Gulf South Conference Academic Team selection… 3.59 GPA… Mentor reader for the Cleveland School District and youth group director and musician at church.

Dallas Griffin – C – University of Texas: Instrumental in helping Jamaal Charles, the Big 12 Conference’s No. 1 rusher, amass nearly 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns this season before suffering a season-ending injury against Nebraska… Three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 pick… 3.88 GPA… Graduated with a double major in Business Honors and Finance, currently enrolled in UT’s MBA program… Volunteers for the Austin Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network telethon.

Mike Klinkenborg – LB – University of Iowa: Amassed 79 tackles, including three TFL and one sack this season… 2007 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention pick… 2006 First Team Academic All-America selection… Two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District VII Academic All-America… 3.95 GPA… Youth counselor Iowa’s sports camps… Volunteer for the Iowa City Shelter House, the Ronald McDonald House and Camp Courageous.

J Leman – LB – University of Illinois: Finished 2007 regular season as team leader in tackles with 124 (9.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks)… 2007 First-Team All-Big Ten pick… Finalist for the Lott Trophy and Wuerffel Trophy… Led Illini to No. 15 ranking and first bowl since 2001… Three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection… 3.68 GPA… Heavily involved in his church, The Vineyard, where his father is a pastor… Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and participates in Hometown Heroes.

Brandon Renkart – LB – Rutgers University: Recorded 60 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks and one interception this season… Voted by his teammates as a member of the team’s leadership council… Two-time All-Big East Academic Team… Member of Chi Alpha Sigma National Athletic Fraternity and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society… Ranks fourth in civil engineering class… 3.70 GPA… Serves as a mentor for area school systems.

Eric Safran – C – Mount Union College (Ohio): Crucial element to MU offense that has outscored opponents 643-49 and outpaced rivals by more than 5,000 yards of total offense this season… Led Purple Raiders to Division III No. 1 ranking… 2007 All-Ohio Athletic Conference First Team pick… Member of the Tau Pi Phi and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Fraternities… 3.68 GPA… Three-year participant in the Raider Buddy Program.

Paul Smith – QB – University of Tulsa: Passed for 4,327 yards and 39 touchdowns this season… Led team to C-USA West Division Title and a spot in C-USA championship game… Finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy… Reigning C-USA Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Football… 3.84 GPA… 2006 Second Team Academic All-America honors… Guest speaker at nearly 20 events in the Tulsa area this year alone… Leads Praise & Worship at Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings.

Jacob Tamme – TE – University of Kentucky: Caught 53 passes for 584 yards and five touchdowns this season for SEC’s No. 1 passing offense… Completed bachelor’s degree in Integrated Strategic Communications and currently working towards MBA… Three-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District pick… 3.85 GPA… Volunteer peer instructor for summer orientation classes… Visits UK’s Children’s Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital for numerous events.

Jake Weller – DB – Illinois College: Finished 2007 season with 58 tackles, including two TFL, and two interceptions… 2007 All-Midwest Conference First Team pick... Holds Illinois College record for longest interception return for a touchdown (99 yards)... Earned the American Chemistry Society’s POLYED Organic Chemistry Award… 4.0 GPA… 2006 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team… Volunteer for Camp Care A Lot and the Special Olympics.

Danny Woodhead – TB – Chadron State College (Neb.): Became most prolific rusher in college football history earlier this season, breaking Grove City College’s (Pa.) R.J. Bowers’ all-time career rushing record of 7,353 yards… Rushed for 1,506 yards and 21 touchdowns during regular season… Reigning Harlon Hill Trophy winner and finalist for the 2007 award… 2006 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA First Team College Division Academic All-America… 3.72 GPA… Campus Crusade for Christ participant.


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