Troy Smith, the senior quarterback for the Ohio State University football team, was recognized as the most outstanding college football player in 2006 when he was awarded college football’s top honor “The Heisman Trophy” at the presentation Saturday evening (Dec. 9) at the Nokia Theater in New York City.
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Smith became the frontrunner in the chase for the Heisman back in September after leading his team to victory over No. 2 Texas back in September. Smith had the attention of the nation all season long as he led the Buckeyes to an undefeated (12-0) season, a BIG-10 championship and a spot in the BCS Championship game to be played on Jan 8 in Glendale, Az. On Thursday night Smith was also recognized as player of the year by the Walter Camp foundation and he picked up the Davey O’Brien award as the best college quarterback.
Smith won the Heisman Trophy in a landslide, besting Arkansas runner-up and Doak Walker award winner Darren McFadden by 1,662 points. Smith collected the highest percentage of first place votes in history and the second-largest margin of victory. McFadden’s 878 points edged Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn (782) who was third.
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When accepting the award Smith thanked his entire Ohio State offensive line by name as well as his mother, father and his two sisters. Smith was joined in New York by dozens from his home town of Cleveland, Ohio and his Buckeye’s head coach Jim Tressel.
It was the seventh Heisman won by an Ohio State player and the first since running back Eddie George who won it in 1995. Ohio State is tied with Notre Dame and Southern California for most won by a school.
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McFadden pulled off a mini-upset in the Heisman voting by beating out Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn to finish as the runner-up behind Smith. McFadden was considered the dark horse among the three finalists, and the popular assumption was that the sophomore would finish behind Smith and Quinn in the Heisman race. McFadden will clearly enter the 2007 football season as the Heisman frontrunner.
