Arkansas’ McFadden picked as Walter Camp Player of the Year

 

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) – Arkansas running back Darren McFadden was honored as the 2007 player of the year Thursday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the first player from his school to receive the honor.
McFadden, a junior, beat four quarterbacks for the award: Chase Daniel of Missouri, Dennis Dixon of Oregon, Matt Ryan of Boston College and Tim Tebow of Florida.
The announcement by foundation president John Barbarotta came two days before the Heisman Trophy was to be handed out in New York.
McFadden is the 41st recipient of the Walter Camp player of the year award and the first player from the Southeastern Conference to win it since Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel in 1996.
The winner was chosen by the nation’s 119 Football Bowl Subdivision coaches and sports information directors. The trophy will be presented Jan. 12 at the foundation’s annual awards banquet in New Haven.
“We are extremely pleased with the selection of Darren McFadden as our Player of the Year,” Barbarotta said. “His all-around offensive performance for the Razorbacks – whether it was running the ball or passing it – has been most impressive and extremely worthy of this prestigious honor.”
The 6-foot-2 McFadden set Arkansas single-season records this year with 1,725 rushing yards and 2,172 all-purpose yards, breaking the records he set last year. He scored 16 touchdowns and had nine 100-yard rushing games, including a 321-yard effort in a win over South Carolina Nov. 3 that tied an SEC record.
McFadden led Arkansas to a 50-48 triple overtime upset of then No. 1 LSU on Nov. 23 with 206 yards rushing, three touchdowns and a TD pass.
He is the Razorbacks’ all-time leading rusher (4,485 yards) and all-purpose yardage leader (5,743).
T Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 1.
Walter Camp, known as “The Father of American Football,” first picked an All-America team in 1889. The former Yale athlete and football coach is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays and the limit of 11 players per side.