Buckeyes' Smith honored

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith won the Walter Camp player of the year award Thursday, two days before he's expected to win the Heisman Trophy.

Smith is the third Ohio State player to win the Walter Camp award. Running backs Archie Griffin (1974, 1975) and Eddie George (1995) were the others.

Smith is fourth in the nation in passer rating (167.9) with 2,507 yards, 30 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. He will lead No. 1 Ohio State against No. 2 Florida for the national title on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.

The Walter Camp winner is voted on by the nations 119 Division I-A coaches and sports information directors. Other finalists this season were quarterbacks Brady Quinn of Notre Dame and Colt Brennan of Hawaii and running backs Steve Slaton of West Virginia and Darren McFadden of Arkansas.

MAXWELL AWARD: Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn won the Maxwell Award as college football's top player Thursday night, beating out Ohio State's Smith. Rutgers tailback Ray Rice was the other finalist. Quinn passed for 3,278 and 35 touchdowns this season, leading the Fighting Irish (10-2) to a Sugar Bowl bid. Notre Dame will face LSU on Jan. 3 in New Orleans. Texas quarterback Vince Young won the Maxwell last season then was runner-up to USC running back Reggie Bush for the Heisman. Quinn is the first Notre Dame player to win the Maxwell since defensive lineman Ross Browner in 1977.

DOAK WALKER: Darren McFadden of Arkansas won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back on Thursday night. McFadden, a Heisman Trophy finalist, set a school record with 1,558 yards rushing and scored 16 touchdowns to help Arkansas reach the Southeastern Conference title game. The sophomore beat out Michigan's Mike Hart and West Virginia's Steve Slaton and became the first Arkansas player to win the Doak Walker Award, which dates to 1990. USC's Reggie Bush won the Doak Walker last season.

OUTLAND TROPHY: Wisconsin's Joe Thomas won the Outland Trophy on Thursday night as the best interior lineman in college football. Thomas is the first Wisconsin player to win the award that dates to 1946. The other finalists were Texas offensive lineman Justin Blalock and West Virginia center Dan Mozes.