Colorado University Athletics

Daniels Finalist for Prestigious Draddy Award

Daniels Finalist for Prestigious Draddy Award
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             MORRISTOWN, N.J. ? University of Colorado senior captain Brian Daniels has been named one of 17 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award winners, and thus is a finalist for the prestigious Vincent Draddy Award.

 

            Daniels is the recipient of an $18,000 scholarship for his postgraduate studies.  He is the sixth Colorado Buffalo to earn one of college football’s top academic honors, the first since offensive tackle Jim Hansen did so in 1992.  Hansen also went on to win the Draddy Award that year, which is often referred to as the “Academic Heisman.”

 

            Other past winners from CU included Joe Romig (1961), Jim Cooch (1970), Rich Bland (1973) and Eric McCarty (1987).  Daniels joins Romig and Hansen as offensive linemen to have earned the recognition.  Cooch and Bland were defensive backs and McCarty was an inside linebacker.

 

The Draddy winner, established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, will be announced Dec. 5 at the 49th annual National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame awards dinner in New York City.  Daniels will attend the dinner, and that same night, former CU quarterback and running back Bobby Anderson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

 

The award comes with a stunning 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and increases the winner’s scholarship to a total of $25,000.

 

“This is a great honor, especially after all the hard work that goes into both football and school,” Daniels said.  “What I really like is that part of the award is for working with and giving back to the community.  I really enjoy doing that kind of work.  It’s a great honor to be included with this group of people.

 

“When I found out that it was the same time that Bobby is going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, that made it even more special,” Daniels added.  “It’s going to be a real privilege to be there and witness that.”

 

“We take great pride in providing each member of the scholar-athlete class with a coveted $18,000 scholarship for their post-graduate studies,” said NFF President Steve Hatchell, a CU graduate and the school’s former co-sports information director.  “They have set the standard for their teammates and for all who play sports.  By highlighting their achievements, we hope to inspire future generations of student-athletes to higher levels of achievement in all aspects of their lives.”

 

“After thorough review of 148 outstanding candidates representing schools from all levels of collegiate play, the committee’s deliberations resulted in the selection of an exceptional class of 17 scholar-athletes,” said Robert Mulcahy, chairman of the NFF Awards Committee and director of athletics at Rutgers University. “Knowing the importance and prestige of these awards, the committee takes the utmost care in making the selections, and I applaud them for their efforts.”


              Successful in all aspects of life, Brian Daniel’s performance has earned high praise from Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins who has called him “a representative of the best of college athletics, both on the field and in the classroom.”


              A member of the Dean’s List, Daniels is a two-time First-Team Academic All-Big 12 Conference selection and a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.  A Finance major, he ranks in the Top 10 percent of Colorado’s prestigious Leeds School of Business.  He also made formal application for the Rhodes Scholarship, but did not advance in the process.


              A mainstay on CU’s offensive line since starting a school record nine games as a true freshman in 2003, Daniels has twice earned honorable mention all-conference recognition and was first-team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News.  He is one of 54 players on the official watch list for the Outland Trophy.


             Dedicated to his community, Daniels makes numerous visits to local hospitals before home games; participates with the Read With The Buffs program; and plays in Children’s Donor Flag Football Games.


              There are eight other Division I-A finalists: Connecticut defensive tackle Rhema Fuller; West Virginia linebacker Jay Henry; Florida quarterback Chris Leak; Rutgers fullback Brian Leonard; Oklahoma defensive tackle Carl Pendleton; Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny; Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas; and Wyoming safety John Wendling.

 

In addition, there are eight finalists from other divisions and the NAIA: Yale offensive lineman Ed McCarthy; St. Francis, Pa., receiver Luke Palko, Alabama A&M offensive lineman Kristian Smith; Ferris State linebacker Michael Klobucher; Pittsburg State defensive end Ryan Meredith; Carnegie Mellon defensive back Aaron Lewis; St. Thomas receiver P.J. Theisen; and Ambrose center Brad Cook.