Conerly Trophy

Conerly Trophy
Awarded for	the best college football player in the state of Mississippi
Location	Mississippi
Country	United States
Presented by	Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
First awarded	1996
Currently held by	Austin Davis, Southern Miss QB
Official website	http://www.msfame.com/sevents_conerly.html

The Conerly Trophy or Cellular South Conerly Trophy is an award given annually to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

Voting

Sixty media representatives from across Mississippi determine the Trophy recipient. All players at Mississippi's four-year college football programs are eligible on the first ballot. The top three vote-getters are listed in a second and final ballot.

Voters are instructed to evaluate a player's entire regular season performance and ignore post-season honors or professional potential

The trophy

The Conerly Trophy is a bronze casting, 19" high x 11" long x 7.5" wide, weighing 18.5 lbs. (8.4 kg). The original trophy is on permanent display at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. A replica of the trophy is presented to the winner each year at the announcement dinner.

History

The award was begun in 1996. Cellular South has sponsored since 1998, with a contract that extends to June 2010. Previous presentations have been held in Jackson, Clarksdale, Tunica and Biloxi. The namesake of the award is Mississippi-born Charlie Conerly who also starred as quarterback at the University of Mississippi, and was later a pro-bowler for the New York Giants

Winners and finalists

1996: Tregnel Thomas (Delta State, running back)

• Finalists: Marchant Kenney (Southern Miss, linebacker), Kris Mangum (Ole Miss, tight end)

1997: Stewart Patridge (Ole Miss, quarterback)

• Finalists: John Avery (Ole Miss, running back), Patrick Surtain (Southern Miss, defensive back)

1998: J. J. Johnson (Mississippi State, running back)

• Finalists: Rufus French (Ole Miss, tight end), Sherrod Gideon (Southern Miss, wide receiver)

1999: Deuce McAllister (Ole Miss, running back)

• Finalists: Ashley Cooper (Mississippi State, defensive back), Adalius Thomas (Southern Miss, linebacker)

2000: Josh Bright (Delta State, quarterback)

• Finalists: Dicenzo Miller (Mississippi State, running back), Fred Smoot (Mississippi State, defensive back)

2001: Eli Manning (Ole Miss, quarterback)

• Finalists: Robert Kent (Jackson State, quarterback), T.C. Taylor (Jackson State, wide receiver)

2002: Rod Davis (Southern Miss, linebacker)

• Finalists: Robert Kent (Jackson State, quarterback), Eli Manning (Ole Miss, quarterback)

2003: Eli Manning (Ole Miss, quarterback)

• Finalists: Rod Davis (Southern Miss, linebacker), Scott Eyster (Delta State, quarterback)

2004: Michael Boley (Southern Miss, linebacker)

• Finalists: Scott Eyster (Delta State, quarterback), Jerious Norwood (Mississippi State, running back)

2005: Jerious Norwood (Mississippi State, running back)

• Finalists: Scott Eyster (Delta State, quarterback), Patrick Willis (Ole Miss, linebacker)

2006: Patrick Willis (Ole Miss, linebacker)

• Finalists: Scott Eyster (Delta State, quarterback), Damion Fletcher (Southern Miss, running back)

2007: Damion Fletcher (University of Southern Mississippi, running back)

• Finalists: Anthony Dixon (Mississippi State, running back), Titus Brown (Mississippi State, defensive end)

2008: Juan Joseph (Millsaps, quarterback)

• Finalists: Peria Jerry (Ole Miss, defensive line), Michael Oher (Ole Miss, offensive line)

2009: Anthony Dixon (Mississippi State, running back)

• Finalists: Dexter McCluster (Ole Miss, running back/wide receiver), Adam Shaffer (Mississippi College, quarterback)

2010: Chris White (Mississippi State, linebacker)

• Finalists: Austin Davis (Southern Miss, quarterback), Casey Therriault (Jackson State, quarterback)

2011: Austin Davis (Southern Miss, quarterback)

• Finalists: Johnthan Banks (Mississippi State, defensive back), Charles Sawyer (Ole Miss, defensive back), Casey Therriault (Jackson State, quarterback), Micah Davis (Delta State, quarterback)

2012: Bo Wallace (Ole Miss, quarterback)

Trophies won by school

Rank	School	Trophies
1	Ole Miss	5*
2 (tie)	Mississippi State	4
2 (tie)	Southern Miss	4
4	Delta State	2
5	Millsaps	1

• Eli Manning won 2; one in 2001 and the other in 2003.

External links

• Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum - Conerly Trophy