Dec. 8, 2006
Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver, announced Thursday during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Fla.
Johnson is just the second Georgia Tech player ever to win a national award, joining Joe Hamilton, the 1999 Heisman Trophy runnerup who won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Tech punter Durant Brooks was also at the Awards Show as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, which went to Baylor’s Daniel Sepulveda.
Johnson and Brooks were also named to the Walter Camp All-America team, with Johnson on the first team and Brooks on the second team. That marks the first time that Tech has had more than one player earn all-America recognition in a season since 1999, when Hamilton was a consensus first-team selection and tackle Jon Carman added second-team honors.
A junior from Tyrone, Ga., Johnson has 67 catches for 1,016 yards and 13 touchdowns, which ranks fourth in the nation.
Brooks, a junior from Macon, Ga., ranks fourth in the nation in punting average (45.49) and second in net (40.96).
THE HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS FINALISTS (Players Listed Alphabetically, Winners are marked)
Maxwell Award (best all-around player)
Brady Quinn, Notre Dame- AWARD RECIPIENT
Ray Rice, Rutgers
Troy Smith, Ohio State
Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver)
Jarett Dillard, Rice
Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech- AWARD RECIPIENT
Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame
Chuck Bednarik Trophy (best defensive player)
Dan Connor, Penn State
*Paul Posluszny, Penn State- AWARD RECIPIENT
Lamarr Woodley, Michigan
Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back)
Leon Hall, Michigan
Reggie Nelson, Florida
Aaron Ross, Texas- AWARD RECIPIENT
Outland Trophy (best interior lineman)
Justin Blalock, Texas
Dan Mozes, West Virginia
Joe Thomas, Wisconsin- AWARD RECIPIENT
Butkus Award (best linebacker)
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Paul Posluszny, Penn State
Patrick Willis, Mississippi- AWARD RECIPIENT
Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award
Colt Brennan, Hawaii
Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
Troy Smith, Ohio State- AWARD RECIPIENT
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award
Arthur Carmody, Louisville- AWARD RECIPIENT
Garrett Hartley, Oklahoma
John Vaughn, Auburn
Doak Walker Award (best running back)
Mike Hart, Michigan
Darren McFadden, Arkansas- AWARD RECIPIENT
Steve Slaton, West Virginia
Ray Guy Award (best punter)
Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech
Jeremy Kapinos, Penn State
Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor- AWARD RECIPIENT
The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award
Greg Schiano, Rutgers- AWARD RECIPIENT
Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award
Patrick Henry Hughes,Louisville – AWARD RECIPIENT
NCFAA Contribution to College Football Award
Chuck Neinas, CFA (Executive Director 1980-97)- AWARD RECIPIENT
*Award Winner in 2005
The Walter Camp All-America Team
Walter Camp Player of the Year: Troy Smith
(Offensive Team)
Quarterback:
Troy Smith, Ohio State
Wide Receiver:
Dwayne Jarrett, USC
Wide Receiver:
Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
Tight End:
Zach Miller, Arizona State
Offensive Linemen:
Justin Blalock, Texas
Jake Long, Michigan
Aaron Sears, Tennessee
Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
Dan Mozes, West Virginia
Running Backs
Darren McFadden, Arkansas
Steve Slaton, West Virginia
Place Kicker
Mason Crosby, Colorado
(Defensive Team)
Defensive Linemen:
Gaines Adams, Clemson
Justin Hickman, UCLA
Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
Linebackers:
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Paul Posluszny, Penn State
Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
Defensive Backs:
Leon Hall, Michigan
Daymeion Hughes, Cal
Reggie Nelson, Florida
Aaron Ross, Texas
Punter:
Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
Kick Return:
DeSean Jackson, Cal
The winners from the following list of award finalists also received recognition during the program:
Rotary Lombardi AwardSM (outstanding lineman)
Justin Blalock, Texas
Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
Paul Posluszny, Penn State
LaMarr Woodley, Michigan- AWARD RECIPIENT
John Mackey Award (best tight end)
John Carlson, Notre Dame
Zach Miller, Arizona State
Matt Spaeth, Minnesota- AWARD RECIPIENT
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (outstanding defensive player)
Gaines Adams, Clemson
Leon Hall, Michigan
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State- AWARD RECIPIENT
Reggie Nelson, Florida
Patrick Willis, Mississippi
Rimington Trophy (outstanding center)
Mark Bihl, Michigan
Doug Datish, Ohio State
Ryan Kalil, Southern California
Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
Dan Mozes, West Virginia- AWARD RECIPIENT
Darnell Stapleton, Rutgers
