University of Memphis Athletics
Rusty Clayton Named Semifinalist for Draddy Trophy
Oct 17, 2006 | Football
Oct. 17, 2006
MEMPHIS, TENN. - Senior deep snapper Rusty Clayton is one of 64 NCAA Division I-A semifinalists for the 2006 Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, as announced today by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF).
Clayton is the second Tiger in as many years named to the prestigious list as kicker Stephen Gostkowski was also a semifinalist last year. He is also one of six semifinalists from Conference USA.
A native of Sumrall, Miss., Clayton has already earned bachelor's degrees in psychology and history, and is currently working towards a master's degree in criminal justice. He has started all 43 games of his career as the Tigers' deep snapper and has not had a muffed snap while working with the punt, PAT and field goal units. He received one of the team's Role Player Awards at the 2005 team banquet and has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District squad the last two years.
One of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, the Draddy Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.
"The Draddy epitomizes everything right about college football," said NFF President Steven J. Hatchell. "By recognizing this group, we highlight the countless hours and demands that each college football player must balance as they pursue their dreams of a higher education and their passion for football. The NFF has both the privilege and responsibility to pay tribute to this exceptional group of role models, who truly embody the term student- athlete."
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who founded the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a stunning 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.
The NFF Awards Committee, comprised of former coaches, Hall of Famers and college administrators, will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 26. The winner, also selected by the committee, will be announced at the 49th NFF Awards Dinner on December 5 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Each finalist will also be recognized that night as part of the 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship.
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); John B. Culpepper (Florida, 1991); Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992); Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993); Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994); Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995); Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996); Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998); Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999); Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000); Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, 2001); Brandon Roberts (Washington University-Mo., 2002); Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003); Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004); and Rudy Niswanger (Louisiana State, 2005).
2006 National Scholar-Athlete Nominations and Draddy Semifinalists
Division I-A
School, Nominee Akron, Timothy Crouch Arizona State, Andrew Carnahan Army, Peter Bier Auburn, Karibi Dede Ball State, Justin Schneider Baylor, Shawn Bell Brigham Young, Nathan Meikle California, Scott Smith Central Michigan, Daniel Bazuin Cincinnati, Brent Celek Colorado, Brian Daniels Colorado State, Clint Oldenberg Connecticut, Rhema Fuller Duke, Eli Nichols East Carolina, Kevin Roach Florida, Christopher Leak Fresno State, Joseph Fernandez Georgia, Quentin Moses Hawaii, Kenneth Patton Houston, Wade Koehl Indiana, Will Meyers Iowa, Mike Elgin Iowa State, Seth Zehr Kansas, Jonathan Lamb Kansas State, Blake Seiler Kent State, Usama Young Kentucky, Hayden Lane Louisiana - Monroe, Christopher Bauman Maryland, Adam Podlesh Memphis, Rusty Clayton Miami, Anthony Wollschlager Middle Tennessee State, Germayle Franklin Minnesota, Matthew Spaeth Mississippi, William Moseley Nebraska, Dane Todd North Carolina State, William Lee Northern Illinois, Douglas Free Ohio State, Stanley White Ohio University, Austen Everson Oklahoma, Carl Pendleton Oklahoma State, Darnell Smith Oregon, Jordan Kent Oregon State, Adam Koets Penn State, Paul Posluszny Pittsburgh, Tyler Palko Purdue, Michael Otto Rutgers, Brian Leonard San Diego State, Patrick Justman Southern Methodist, Duke Hasson Southern Mississippi, Travis Cooley Temple, Elliot Seifert Tennessee, James Wilhoit Texas, Neale Tweedie Texas A&M, Chad Schroeder Texas Tech, Antonio Huffman Tulsa, Brandon Diles Utah, Casey Evans Utah State, Ryan Taylor Vanderbilt, Benjamin Koger Virginia, Marcus Hamilton Virginia Tech, Brandon Pace West Virginia, Jay Henry Wisconsin, Joseph Thomas Wyoming, John Wendling
