Max Hall Named Manning Award Finalist

PROVO, Utah – BYU quarterback Max Hall was named one of finalists for the Manning Award on Tuesday. The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, recognizes the nation’s top quarterback.

This season’s winner will be announced after the bowls in January and will be honored at a banquet in New Orleans. The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidates’ bowl performances.

Joining Hall as finalists for this year’s Manning Award are Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame; Andy Dalton, TCU; Case Keenum, Houston; Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan; Ryan Mallett, Arkansas; Colt McCoy, Texas; Kellen Moore, Boise State; Tony Pike, Cincinnati; and Tim Tebow, Florida.

Hall has helped BYU to a 10-2 overall record and No. 14 position in the BCS Standings while ranking among the nation’s top statistical performers. The following list highlights some of Hall’s accomplishment’s this season.

Max Hall – BYU

Senior – Quarterback

-No. 1 in MWC, No. 3 nationally in pass efficiency (160.9)

-No. 1 in MWC, No. 7 nationally in total passing yards (3,368)

-No. 1 in MWC, No. 8 nationally in points responsible/game (16.00)

-No. 1 in MWC, No. 9 nationally in passing yards/game (280.67)

-No. 1 in MWC, No. 9 nationally completion percentage (70.3)

-No. 1 in MWC, No. 13 nationally in total offense (287.17 yards/game)

-Five-time MWC Offensive Player of the Week in 2009 for performances against No. 3 Oklahoma, Tulane, San Diego State, Wyoming and Air Force

-Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week and Davey O’Brien Quarterback of the Week (Sept. 5) and College Football Performance Awards National Player of the Week once, National Quarterback of the Week once, and Honorable Mention National Quarterback of the Week twice during 2009

-Set MWC single-season record with eight 300-yard passing games, breaking his own record of seven he shared with former BYU quarterbacks John Beck and Kevin Feterik and Wyoming’s Casey Bramlet

-Has thrown for 30 touchdowns to date, the fifth-best single-season total in MWC history. Hall holds the all-time mark with 35 touchdowns last season

-Has thrown for 3,368 yards to date, becoming only the second player in MWC history to pass for 3,000 or more yards three consecutive seasons

-Set the MWC single-game record for a senior quarterback with five touchdowns vs. Air Force. Hall holds the all-time BYU and MWC records with seven touchdowns vs. UCLA last year

Overall, this year’s Manning finalists are an outstanding class that includes five players from undefeated teams and a combined 102 victories with over 30,000 passing yards and 275 touchdowns. As far as national statistical leaders, eight of the top 12 in touchdown passes, five of the top 10 in passing yardage and 10 of the top 12 in passing efficiency are included on the list.

“It has been another entertaining year to watch great quarterbacks in college football,” Archie Manning said. “There have been outstanding performances by so many different players, but we are very excited with this list of 10 quarterbacks which we think represent the best that college football has to offer. We will be very excited to follow these 10 young men through the bowl season and then decide which one is the best in the nation.”

The winner will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 14.

The first five winners of the Manning Award include USC’s Matt Leinart, Texas’ Vince Young, LSU’s JaMarcus Russell, Boston College’s Matt Ryan and Florida’s Tim Tebow.