Nick Fitzgerald will be honored as a top returning QB in 2017.
Fitzgerald To Be Honored at TD Club of Columbus (Ohio), Prescott Named NFL Rookie of the Year
February 03, 2017 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- After breaking a pair of Southeastern Conference records and leading the league in total offensive yards in his first year as a starter, Mississippi State sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald will be among multiple college football players honored at the 62nd Annual Touchdown Club of Columbus Awards on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio.
The annual banquet, held at Express Live in Columbus, will honor standout high school and collegiate players and coaches from the 2016 football season as well as players projected to be national standouts in 2017.
Fitzgerald is one of multiple players receiving the Touchdown Club's 2017 Player to Watch Award, which is based on outstanding performance during the 2016 season. He will join Riley Ferguson (QB, Memphis); Quinton Flowers (QB, South Florida); Deondre Francois (QB, Florida State); Khalil Hodge (LB, Buffalo); Micah Kiser (LB, Virginia); Ray Lawry (RB, Old Dominion); Anthony Miller (WR, Memphis); Mason Rudolph (QB, Oklahoma State); Mike Weber (RB, Ohio State); Mike White (QB, Western Kentucky); Cedrick Wilson (WR, Boise State) and Logan Woodside (QB, Toledo).
In 2016, Nick Fitzgerald shattered SEC single-season records for 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback (8) and average yards per rush by a quarterback (7.1, minimum 175 carries). He led the nation in 300-yard passing/100-yard rushing games with three and became the second Bulldog quarterback in the past three seasons to take the SEC total offensive yards crown, racking up 3,798 yards.
Fitzgerald was tops in the SEC in rushing touchdowns (16) and 100-yard rushing games among all players (8). He accounted for 37 touchdowns, which was second in the league and in the top 15 nationally.
Fitzgerald will anchor a Bulldog offense in 2017 that returns seven starters and begins spring practice on March 2.
Among the other 2016 Touchdown Club season awards presented at the banquet will be: Chic Harley Award for college football player of the year (Deshaun Watson, Clemson) and the Archie Griffin Award for college football most valuable player (Sam Darnold, USC).
Meanwhile, another MSU quarterback was recognized on Friday as Dak Prescott earned Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. The Dallas Cowboys signal caller officially received the award during Super Bowl week in Houston.
Prescott arguably had the best rookie season ever for a quarterback. He tied an NFL record for most regular-season wins by a rookie with 13 and set NFL rookie records for completion percentage (67.8), passer rating (104.9) and touchdown/interception differential (+19).
Prescott is the fifth SEC player to win the honor since its inception in 2002. Of the five winners, three have been coached by MSU head coach Dan Mullen. Mullen mentored 2009 winner Percy Harvin at Florida as well as 2011 recipient Cam Newton for two seasons in Gainesville.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
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The annual banquet, held at Express Live in Columbus, will honor standout high school and collegiate players and coaches from the 2016 football season as well as players projected to be national standouts in 2017.
Fitzgerald is one of multiple players receiving the Touchdown Club's 2017 Player to Watch Award, which is based on outstanding performance during the 2016 season. He will join Riley Ferguson (QB, Memphis); Quinton Flowers (QB, South Florida); Deondre Francois (QB, Florida State); Khalil Hodge (LB, Buffalo); Micah Kiser (LB, Virginia); Ray Lawry (RB, Old Dominion); Anthony Miller (WR, Memphis); Mason Rudolph (QB, Oklahoma State); Mike Weber (RB, Ohio State); Mike White (QB, Western Kentucky); Cedrick Wilson (WR, Boise State) and Logan Woodside (QB, Toledo).
In 2016, Nick Fitzgerald shattered SEC single-season records for 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback (8) and average yards per rush by a quarterback (7.1, minimum 175 carries). He led the nation in 300-yard passing/100-yard rushing games with three and became the second Bulldog quarterback in the past three seasons to take the SEC total offensive yards crown, racking up 3,798 yards.
Fitzgerald was tops in the SEC in rushing touchdowns (16) and 100-yard rushing games among all players (8). He accounted for 37 touchdowns, which was second in the league and in the top 15 nationally.
Fitzgerald will anchor a Bulldog offense in 2017 that returns seven starters and begins spring practice on March 2.
Among the other 2016 Touchdown Club season awards presented at the banquet will be: Chic Harley Award for college football player of the year (Deshaun Watson, Clemson) and the Archie Griffin Award for college football most valuable player (Sam Darnold, USC).
Meanwhile, another MSU quarterback was recognized on Friday as Dak Prescott earned Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. The Dallas Cowboys signal caller officially received the award during Super Bowl week in Houston.
Prescott arguably had the best rookie season ever for a quarterback. He tied an NFL record for most regular-season wins by a rookie with 13 and set NFL rookie records for completion percentage (67.8), passer rating (104.9) and touchdown/interception differential (+19).
Prescott is the fifth SEC player to win the honor since its inception in 2002. Of the five winners, three have been coached by MSU head coach Dan Mullen. Mullen mentored 2009 winner Percy Harvin at Florida as well as 2011 recipient Cam Newton for two seasons in Gainesville.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
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Players Mentioned
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