Dec 12, 2003 4 min read

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) – Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning was one of four Heisman Trophy finalists to be honored Thursday night, capturing the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best all-around player. Oklahoma’s Jason White won the Davey O’Brien Award as the top quarterback, Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald got the Biletnikoff Award for best receiver and Michigan’s Chris Perry earned the Doak Walker Award as top running back.

Before this show, Fitzgerald also won the Walter Camp Award as the top player in the nation.

Fitzgerald had 87 catches for 1,595 yards and 22 touchdowns. Fitzgerald has caught a touchdown pass in a record 18 consecutive games dating to last season. He beat out Oklahoma’s Mark Clayton and Southern California’s Mike Williams for the Biletnikoff.

“It’s always a surprise to hear your name called,” Fitzgerald said. “My heart was racing right until they called my name. All the guys that were up for this award this year had tremendous years and really helped their teams. I thought it was the most talented group for any of the awards.”

Manning also was taken by surprise when he heard his name for the Maxwell.

“I came here not expecting to win, so I’m shocked that I won it,” Manning said after beating out White and Fitzgerald. “The other two guys had outstanding seasons on outstanding teams so this really is a surprise for me.”

The Maxwell Award once was a good predictor of the Heisman Trophy, with 14 of 19 players earning both awards from 1981-99. But the last three Maxwell winners fell short in the Heisman race.

The Manning family knows all about that. Eli’s older brother, Peyton, won the Maxwell in 1997 but finished second to Michigan’s Charles Woodson in the Heisman.

“I know he’s watching and very proud of me,” Manning said. “I was proud of him when he won the award and it’s great that we could share such a prestigious honor.”

Two other Oklahoma players joined White by winning awards Thursday night. Linebacker Teddy Lehman won the Chuck Bednarik Trophy as best defensive player and cornerback Derrick Strait won the Jim Thorpe Award as best defensive back.

“I think it just goes to show what kind of athletes we have at Oklahoma and how good we have it going on there now,” Lehman said. “If you ask me, we should have had 10 or 11 All-Americans just from the defense. We work really hard, we’re well coached and this shows you how good we played all year.”

Other award winners announced Thursday night were Iowa offensive lineman Robert Gallery for the Outland Trophy as best interior lineman; Ohio State’s B.J. Sander won the Ray Guy Award as best punter; and Southern California’s Pete Carroll won the Home Depot Coach of the Year Award.

Earlier in the day, Carroll was beaten out by LSU’s Nick Saban for the Associated Press Coach-of-the-Year honor.

San Jose State’s Neil Parry won Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award.

Manning, White, Fitzgerald and Perry are finalists for the Heisman Trophy, which will be handed out Saturday night in New York.

Manning directed the Rebels with the precision of a surgeon this season, passing for 3,341 yards with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

White, who won the AP Player of the Year on Wednesday, completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,744 yards, with 40 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He beat out Manning and North Carolina’s Philip Rivers for the O’Brien.

“I’m really surprised that I’m the first Oklahoma QB to win this award, especially when you consider how many great quarterbacks there have been at the school,” White said. “This really is unreal to be put in the same category with the other winners and the other guys.”

Perry finished fifth in the nation with 132.4 yards rushing per game and also scored 19 touchdowns. He also set a school-record for running backs with 42 catches. He beat out Virginia Tech’s Kevin Jones and Kansas State’s Darren Sproles for the Doak Walker Award.

“It’s definitely an honor, but not just for me, for my team and especially my offensive linemen,” Perry said. “They were all part of getting me that award and they deserve credit, too.”

Also Thursday, Virginia Tech’s Jake Grove won the Dave Rimington award as the top center.