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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Manning Named National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete
10/30/2003 | Football
Oct. 30, 2003
MORRISTOWN, N.J. - Ole Miss senior quarterback Eli Manning is among 15 student-athletes selected by The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as its 2003 National Scholar-Athlete Class, it was announced here this week. The class includes student-athletes from all NCAA divisions, I-A, I-AA, II, III, and the NAIA.
Members of the 2003 National Scholar-Athlete Class from Division I-A include Robert Droege, University of Missouri, OT, Education, St. Louis, MO; Nathaniel Jones, Rutgers University, CB, Finance, Scotch Plains, NJ; Craig Krenzel, Ohio State University, QB, Molecular Genetics, Sterling Heights, MI; Eli Manning, University of Mississippi, QB, Marketing, New Orleans, LA; Rodney Reed, Louisiana State University, OT, Accounting, Raceland, LA ; Dontarrious Thomas, Auburn University, LB, Management, Hawkinsville, GA ; Jonathan Vilma, University of Miami, LB, Finance, Miami, FL; and Renaldo Works, University of Oklahoma, RB, Management,Tulsa, OK.
Selected from Division I-AA were John Frieser, Colgate University (NY), TE, Sociology / Anthropology, Endwell, NY; and Jason Whaley, Western Carolina University, OL, Computer Info. Systems, Pink Hill, NC; while those honored from Division II included John Edmonds, NW Missouri State University, LB, Accounting, Maryville, MO; and Keith Heckendorf, St. Cloud State University (MN), QB, Physical Education, Mosinee, WI.
Flynn Cochran, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. (NY), WR, Management, Kent, WA; and Justin Napotnik, Thiel College (PA), RB, Biology / Pre-Medicine, Sharpsville, PA, represented Division III. Daniel Woodburn, Hastings College (NE), WR, Business, Curtis, NE, represented the NAIA.
Following in a rich family tradition of quarterbacks with academic genius and athletic supremacy, Eli Manning has maintained a rigorous academic ledger while establishing himself as one of the nation's elite at his position.
A Second Team Academic All-America selection in 2002, Manning has earned Academic All-Southeastern Conference honors three times and First Team Academic All-District VI honors twice. Listed in Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges, he is a member of the Chancellor's, Dean's and UMAA Honor Rolls.
A Second Team All-Conference pick in 2002, Manning is a two-time semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award (nation's top quarterback). Named All-America Honorable Mention in 2001 by The Football News, he holds 45 school records, including single-season passing yards (3,401), career passing yards (8,791) and career touchdown passes (70). A preseason All-America in 2003, Manning currently leads the SEC in passing average per game (284.0), total offense (287.8), and pass efficiency (147.4).
Very active in the community, Manning was selected as a member of the American Football Coaches Association's Good Works Team as well as the Southeastern Conference Good Works Team. Honorary Chairman for the 2003 Yocona Area Council Boy Scout Membership Drive, he has taped "Stay In School" commercials for the NCAA and is a vital part of the "Reading with the Rebels" program.
The selection of Manning marks the eighth time for a University of Mississippi student-athlete to receive the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award. Previous selectees include tailback Steve Hindman (1968), quarterback Norris Weese (1973), offensive tackle Dick Lawrence (1975), quarterback Kent Austin (1985), defensive back Jeff Noblin (1986), offensive lineman Danny Hoskins (1987), and tight end-outside linebacker Wesley Walls (1988).
The scholar-athletes will be recognized at The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's 46th Annual Awards Dinner on December 9, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Also being honored at the dinner will be the 2003 College Football Hall of Fame class, which will share the dais with the scholar-athletes, as well as Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat, who will receive the Foundation's Distinguished American Award.
"Since 1959, these highly sought after awards have recognized only a chosen few who have excelled above all in the areas of scholarship, citizenship and athletic performance," said National Football Foundation Chairman Jon F. Hanson. "We are pleased to honor these outstanding young men for all of their achievements with an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship."
To be eligible for a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame post-graduate fellowship, the nominee must be a senior or graduate student in his final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have shown superior academic application and performance, have outstanding football ability as a first team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
"The 15 exceptional scholar-athletes we chose this year represent the best and brightest this nation has to offer on all playing levels," stated Robert E. Mulcahy III, chairman of the Awards Committee and director of athletics at Rutgers University. "Each year it seems the talent pool continues to expand, and our job to select the most deserving individuals gets more difficult. This year's incredible class is a testament to the hard work of our committee."
Each scholar-athlete receives an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship, and that evening, one will receive the Draddy Trophy as the top scholar-athlete in the nation, increasing the scholarship to $25,000.
With 119 chapters and over 13,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in America's young people. NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., PLAY IT SMART, The NFF Center for Youth Development Through Sport at Springfield College (Mass.), the NFL-NFF Coaching Academy, and scholarships of nearly $1 million for College and High School Scholar-Athletes.
