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Jones Named Football News Player Of The Year Semifinalist
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Nov. 11, 1999
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia tailback Thomas Jones is one of15 players named semifinalists for the Football News Offensive Player ofthe Year. Jones is one of five running backs selected by the magazine’seditorial staff.
Jones, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, leads the nation in rushing thisseason (165.1 ypg) as he rewrites the Virginia record book. He is UVa’sall-time leading rusher with 3686 yards during his career. His 1486 yardsthis season is a school record as he pursues the Atlantic Coast Conferencesingle-season mark. North Carolina’s Don McCauley rushed for 1720 yards in1970, Jones needs 235 yards in the Cavaliers’ final two games to break thatrecord. Jones also owns ACC records for most 200-yard games in a season(three) and career (five).
Other semifinalists (listed alphabetically) include: RB Shaun Alexander(Sr., Alabama), QB Major Applewhite (Soph., Texas), QB Drew Brees (Jr.,Purdue), RB Darren Davis (Sr., Iowa State), RB Ron Dayne (Sr., Wisconsin),QB Kevin Feterik (Sr., Brigham Young), QB Joe Hamilton (Sr., Georgia Tech),WR Darrell Jackson (Jr., Florida), QB Jarious Jackson (Sr., Notre Dame), QBChad Pennington (Sr., Marshall), QB Chris Redman (Sr., Louisville), RBLaDanian Tomlinson (Jr., TCU), WR Troy Walters (Sr., Stanford) and WR PeterWarrick (Sr., Florida State).
The magazine also selected the following defensive players for itsDefensive Player of the Year Award-LB Keith Adams (So., Clemson), LB LaVarArrington (Jr., Penn State), DE Alex Brown (Soph., Florida), DE CourtneyBrown (Sr., Penn State), S Tyrone Carter (Sr., Minnesota), LB Na’il Diggs(Jr., Ohio State), DB Deon Grant (Jr., Tennessee), LB Julius Jackson (Sr.,Nebraska), DE Corey Moore (Sr., Virginia Tech), LB Julian Peterson (Sr.,Michigan State), DT Corey Simon (Sr., Florida State), LB Mark Simoneau(Sr., Kansas State), DE Adalius Thomas (Sr., Southern Mississippi), S BrianUrlacher (Sr., New Mexico), LB Nate Webster (Jr., Miami, Fla.).
The Football News offensive and defensive winners will be announced on Dec. 1.