ORLANNDO, Fla., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn has been named the winner of the Maxwell Award as the nation's top college football player this season.
The 6-foot-4 inch, 227-pound native of Columbus, Ohio beat out Ohio State counterpart Troy Smith and junior running back Ray Rice of Rutgers.
Quinn, a senior, has led the Fighting Irish to a No. 11 national ranking and a 10-2 record heading into a matchup with fourth-ranked LSU at the Sugar Bowl Jan. 3.
He has 35 touchdown passes and five interceptions, and has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,278 yards.
Quinn is the most prolific passer in Notre Dame history with 36 school records.
He has led Notre Dame to 29 wins in his 45 starts. That is tied for best in school history with Tom Clements. He and Smith are finalists for the Heisman Trophy.
The Heisman award will be announced Saturday in New York. The Maxwell Award was announced Thursday in Orlando, Fla.
