ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The Maxwell Award for best all-around player and the Davey O'Brien Award for top quarterback will be among the honors bestowed Thursday night at the college football awards show.
Quarterbacks Eric Crouch of Nebraska, Ken Dorsey of Miami, Rex Grossman of Florida and Joey Harrington of Oregon will all be present -- three days before they learn which of them will win the Heisman Trophy.
Crouch, Dorsey and Grossman also made the final cut for the Maxwell Award while Harrington joins Crouch and Grossman as nominees for the Davey O'Brien Award.
Crouch, known more for his running than passing, rushed for 1,115 yards and 19 touchdowns for the fourth-ranked Cornhuskers.
Dorsey threw for 2,652 yards and 23 scores for top-ranked Miami, which will play for the national title in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 3.
Grossman leads the nation in passing efficiency, throwing for 3,896 yards and 34 touchdowns for the No. 6 Gators.
Harrington led No. 3 Oregon to the Pac-10 Conference title, throwing for 2,415 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Dorsey's teammate, offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, is one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman. Defensive tackle John Henderson of Tennessee, the 2000 winner, and Nebraska offensive lineman Toniu Fonoti are the others.
Travis Stephens, who along with Henderson has the Volunteers in contention for the national title, is among the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given to the best running back.
Stephens averages 129 rushing yards per game and rumbled for 226 in a victory over Florida on Saturday. The Volunteers will play Louisiana State in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Saturday and will advance to the Rose Bowl with a victory.
Luke Staley, the nation's leading scorer with 15.45 points per game, and Bruce Perry of Maryland are the others in contention for the Doak Walker Award.
The Biletnikoff Award for top receiver will go to either Jabar Gaffney of Florida, Lee Evans of Wisconsin or Josh Reed of Louisiana State.
Players on the other side of the ball also will be honored on Thursday night. The Chuck Bednarik Award for best defensive player will go to either linebacker Rocky Calmus of Oklahoma or one of two defensive ends -- Dwight Freeney of Syracuse or Julius Peppers of North Carolina.
The Jim Thorpe Award honors the nation's defensive back. The finalists are Edward Reed of Miami, Roy Williams of Oklahoma and Quentin Jammer of Texas.
Reed was part of one of the most memorable plays of the season, scoring a touchdown on a bizarre interception return that secured a victory over Boston College.
Specialists also will receive their due. Either Travis Dorsch of Purdue, Damon Duval of Auburn or Seth Marler of Tulane will win the Lou Groza Award as top kicker. The Ray Guy Award for best punter in the land will be either Dorsch, Freddie Capshaw of Miami or Jeff Ferguson of Oklahoma.
Maryland's Ralph Friedgen, who guided Maryland to a 10-1 record and a date in the Orange Bowl, already has been named Coach of the Year and will receive his award Thursday.
The Butkus Award for top linebacker will be named Friday.
