Accolades Continue for Dixon

EUGENE – University of Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon has been named one of three finalists for both the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award according to separate announcements Monday.

The Maxwell Award is given to the Collegiate Player of the Year as presented by the Maxwell Football Club, while the O’Brien Award is bestowed upon the nation’s top collegiate quarterback.

Joining Dixon as finalists for the Maxwell Award are Arkansas running back Darren McFadden and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, while Tebow and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel are the remaining two finalists for the O’Brien Award.

All three finalists for the two awards will be recognized as part of the Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 6, in Orlando, Fla., where the winners of nine national awards will be announced.

Dixon, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the year after suffering a left knee injury, finished the season completing 172 of 254 passes for 2,136 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions. In addition, he ran for 583 yards and nine TDs to land second on the school’s single-season list for most rushing yards by an Oregon quarterback (trailing Reggie Ogburn’s 644 yards in 1979).

The San Leandro, Calif., senior, who ranks fifth in the country in passing efficiency and 29th in total offense (271.9 avg.) completes his collegiate career as the Ducks’ single-season and career record holder in completion percentage (season - 67.7%, surpassing Kellen Clemens’ 64.0% in 2005; career - 63.9, surpassing Clemens’ 61.0, 2002-05), in addition to sixth on the school’s all-time total offense chart (6,339 yards) and eighth in passing yards (5,129).