82CardsGrad
7 x 70
By CHRIS GABEL
Sun Sports Staff
Thursday, December 14, 2006 9:50 AM CST
Written off by some and doubted by many others, Jason Murrietta never lost faith in his abilities and he silenced his critics with one of the best seasons in Lumberjacks history.
And tonight in Chattanooga, Tenn., the NAU quarterback hopes to cap his prolific senior season with the ultimate individual honor. Murrietta is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given to top player in Division I-AA.
"In life and in sports you hope perseverance is rewarded, and I think that it has been in Jason's case," NAU head coach Jerome Souers said of Murrietta bouncing back this year after a pair of sub-par seasons.
The announcement will be made during the 20th Annual I-AA College Football Awards ceremony, which comes on the eve of the division's national championship game.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Murrietta had a dazzling year, completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,827 yards and a school-record 34 touchdowns, with only five interceptions, to lead the Lumberjacks to a 6-5 record after tying for last in the Big Sky Conference a year ago.
Murrietta's competition for the award is New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos and Southern Illinois running back Arkee Whitlock.
"It's hard to measure myself up against those guys," Murrietta, who finished sixth in voting for the award his freshman season, said. "I had a great season but so did they. We'll just have to see."
Ballots were cast by 110 sports writers and I-AA sports information directors just prior to Thanksgiving and voting was based on regular-season statistics only.
Murrietta stacks up well against Santos, a junior who finished second last year in the closest Payton Award vote ever.
Murrietta led the nation in touchdown passes and has a better passing efficiency rating, 168.3 to 147.8 for Santos, whose numbers this year are not as good as last season. Santos, however, did catch Murrietta in total touchdowns as he ran for 12, and averaged 278.7 yards of total offense per game to Murrietta's 261.1 yards.
Whitlock, also a senior, rushed for 1,541 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Salukis. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 140.1 per game.
One aspect that may hurt Murrietta is NAU missing out on the postseason. Both New Hampshire and Southern Illinois qualified for the playoffs, though both were knocked out in the second round.
"Not making the playoffs would probably hurt me," Murrietta said.
An East Coast bias is unlikely as Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer won the award last year and six players from the Big Sky, including NAU running back Archie Amerson a decade ago, have been the top vote-getters since 1989.
Other past winners include Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois, 2002), Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook (Villanova, 2001) and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair (Alcorn State, 1994).
"The Walter Payton Award was very meaningful for me mainly because of the man whose name is on the award," Romo said. "The opportunity for me to be connected with Walter Payton's legacy, in some small way, is a much greater honor than anything that I could have ever accomplished as an athlete. I think it helped me gain entrance into the NFL, simply because having an association with Walter's name is something that NFL people understand, respect and appreciate."
Murrietta, who has not been invited to play in any senior bowls, said he does not think tonight's outcome will affect his football future, though if he wins it certainly would not hurt.
Each of the past three quarterbacks to win the award were invited to training camp with an NFL team.
"It's just going to be a great experience, to go with my family and be a part of it all," Murrietta said. "It's a great honor and achievement and something I'll look back on for the rest of my life.
"The winner is already said and done, it's just a matter of finding out."
Sun Sports Staff
Thursday, December 14, 2006 9:50 AM CST
Written off by some and doubted by many others, Jason Murrietta never lost faith in his abilities and he silenced his critics with one of the best seasons in Lumberjacks history.
And tonight in Chattanooga, Tenn., the NAU quarterback hopes to cap his prolific senior season with the ultimate individual honor. Murrietta is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given to top player in Division I-AA.
"In life and in sports you hope perseverance is rewarded, and I think that it has been in Jason's case," NAU head coach Jerome Souers said of Murrietta bouncing back this year after a pair of sub-par seasons.
The announcement will be made during the 20th Annual I-AA College Football Awards ceremony, which comes on the eve of the division's national championship game.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Murrietta had a dazzling year, completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,827 yards and a school-record 34 touchdowns, with only five interceptions, to lead the Lumberjacks to a 6-5 record after tying for last in the Big Sky Conference a year ago.
Murrietta's competition for the award is New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos and Southern Illinois running back Arkee Whitlock.
"It's hard to measure myself up against those guys," Murrietta, who finished sixth in voting for the award his freshman season, said. "I had a great season but so did they. We'll just have to see."
Ballots were cast by 110 sports writers and I-AA sports information directors just prior to Thanksgiving and voting was based on regular-season statistics only.
Murrietta stacks up well against Santos, a junior who finished second last year in the closest Payton Award vote ever.
Murrietta led the nation in touchdown passes and has a better passing efficiency rating, 168.3 to 147.8 for Santos, whose numbers this year are not as good as last season. Santos, however, did catch Murrietta in total touchdowns as he ran for 12, and averaged 278.7 yards of total offense per game to Murrietta's 261.1 yards.
Whitlock, also a senior, rushed for 1,541 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Salukis. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 140.1 per game.
One aspect that may hurt Murrietta is NAU missing out on the postseason. Both New Hampshire and Southern Illinois qualified for the playoffs, though both were knocked out in the second round.
"Not making the playoffs would probably hurt me," Murrietta said.
An East Coast bias is unlikely as Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer won the award last year and six players from the Big Sky, including NAU running back Archie Amerson a decade ago, have been the top vote-getters since 1989.
Other past winners include Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois, 2002), Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook (Villanova, 2001) and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair (Alcorn State, 1994).
"The Walter Payton Award was very meaningful for me mainly because of the man whose name is on the award," Romo said. "The opportunity for me to be connected with Walter Payton's legacy, in some small way, is a much greater honor than anything that I could have ever accomplished as an athlete. I think it helped me gain entrance into the NFL, simply because having an association with Walter's name is something that NFL people understand, respect and appreciate."
Murrietta, who has not been invited to play in any senior bowls, said he does not think tonight's outcome will affect his football future, though if he wins it certainly would not hurt.
Each of the past three quarterbacks to win the award were invited to training camp with an NFL team.
"It's just going to be a great experience, to go with my family and be a part of it all," Murrietta said. "It's a great honor and achievement and something I'll look back on for the rest of my life.
"The winner is already said and done, it's just a matter of finding out."
