Jason McCourty Named Draddy Trophy Semifinalist
Oct 01 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers senior defensive back Jason McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) has been selected as a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth and is a candidate for the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, the group announced on Wednesday.
McCourty is the fourth Scarlet Knight in as many years to be named a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy. In 2006, former Rutgers All-American fullback Brian Leonard was the recipient of the prestigious award. Last season, standout linebacker Brandon Renkart was named a finalist for the Draddy Trophy and was honored as a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete, while former Scarlet Knight All-American defensive end Ryan Neill was named a semifinalist in 2005. All three former players are currently on NFL rosters with Leonard a member of the St. Louis Rams, Neill a member of the Buffalo Bills and Renkart a member of the New York Jets.
McCourty, who is a starting cornerback for the Scarlet Knights alongside his twin brother Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.), owns a 3.34 cumulative GPA in Information Technology and Informatics. A two-year member of the BIG EAST Football All-Academic team, he has maintained a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and recently earned a 4.0 in the summer 2008 semester. Jason has also earned a Smart Grant Scholarship during his time at Rutgers.
Voted a team captain by his teammates for the 2008 season, the senior has volunteered his time to several community service events throughout the local area and near his home in New York.
He has played all four seasons since arriving at Rutgers in 2005 and has started at cornerback each of the last three seasons. McCourty entered the 2008 season as a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection by Athlon and Phil Steele for the second-straight season. He has broken up several key passes throughout his career, most notably was his breakup of a pass in the endzone in the waning moments of a game at USF in 2006 that clinched the 22-20 victory for Rutgers. He owns more than 100 tackles during his playing career with the Scarlet Knights.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a 25- pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.
"The Draddy semifinalists represent everything good about college football," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "They are another fine example of how football builds leaders, and it is the NFF's duty to promote their accomplishments while encouraging future generations of gridiron standouts to aim high on and off the football field."
The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2008 National Scholar- Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Draddy winner, who will receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship, will be announced at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on December 9 at the prestigious Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. A total distribution of more than $300,000 in scholarships will be awarded that evening.
Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The Draddy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program's mystique, having previously honored two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist and a Heisman winner. The University of Texas's Dallas Griffin was named the 2007 Draddy recipient.
Notable NFF National Scholar-Athlete alumni include NFL standout Derrick Brooks (Florida State); actor Mark Harmon (UCLA); NASA astronaut Leland Melvin (Richmond); former Dateline NBC anchor Stone Phillips (Yale); chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament, Billy Payne (Georgia); famed NFL quarterback Steve Young (BYU); and Heisman Trophy winners Terry Baker (Oregon State), Gary Beban (UCLA); Doug Flutie (Boston College) and Danny Wuerffel (Florida).
Rutgers travels to Morgantown, W. Va. to take on West Virginia in its BIG EAST opener Saturday at noon. The game will be televised on the BIG EAST Network and can be seen in the New York area on SNY and in Philadelphia and South Jersey on WPVI-ABC6.
