NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma quarterback Jason White, who returned from a torn knee ligament sustained last season to beat out three quarterbacks for the starting job and put Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series title game, was honored Wednesday as the Associated Press College Player of the Year.
"During my rehab, there were people saying that there was no way that I was going to come back or be as good as I was," White said. "That really drove me."
White, the nation's top-rated passer, received 27 votes in balloting by the panel of writers and broadcasters on the AP poll.
"His emergence as a great, great football player is the story of college football," coach Bob Stoops said.
Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald had 19 votes, followed by Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning (three), Kansas State running back Darren Sproles (three), Michigan running back Chris Perry (two), USC quarterback Matt Leinart (one) and USC receiver Mike Williams (one).
In other news, Fitzgerald was vague about whether he will return or enter the NFL draft.
"I'm going to play the bowl game (Continental Tire Bowl on Dec. 27) and let the pieces fall where they fall," Fitzgerald said.
LOMBARDI AWARD TO HARRIS: Oklahoma tackle Tommie Harris was named the nation's top lineman, beating out Shawn Andrews of Arkansas, Dave Ball of UCLA and David Pollack of Georgia.
"It's nice to get some accolades for the fat boys in the line instead of the pretty boys getting all the praise," Harris said. The finalists vote for the award but Harris declined to cast one for himself. Andrews won his second straight Jacobs Award as the SEC's top offensive lineman. He is the first SEC player to win consecutive awards since Florida's Jason Odom in 1994-95.
MACKEY AWARD TO WINSLOW: Miami's Kellen Winslow was named the nation's best tight end, beating Florida's Ben Troupe and Pittsburgh's Kris Wilson.
ALABAMA: Defensive end Antwan Odom announced his eligibility for the NFL draft, the Mobile Register reported. NFL Report.com lists Odom as the 11th-best underclassman available and projects him as the No. 21 pick.
CLEMSON: Overwhelmed by a sudden demand for tickets to the Jan. 2 game, the Peach Bowl mistakenly sold seats that didn't exist, likely leaving a number of Tigers fans ticketless.
FSU: More than 14,000 of the 15,000-ticket allotment for the Orange Bowl have been sold. Call toll-free 1-888-FSU-NOLE or go to www.seminoles.com
LOUISIANA-MONROE: Todd Berry, fired as Army's coach, was hired as offensive coordinator.
UCF: New coach George O'Leary said assistant Alan Gooch won't return. Gooch spent 21 seasons as running backs coach, and was named interim coach after Mike Kruczek was fired Nov. 10. Gooch was pondering an offer to be executive director fund-raising for the athletic department. O'Leary plans to retain assistant Sean Beckton.
