JACKSON - Senior quarterback
Chris Graves of Millsaps College has been named one of 10 finalists by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame for the 2009 Cellular South Conerly Trophy, given annually to the state's top player at a four-year institution.
No Millsaps fan will ever forget last year's surprise upset winner, 2009 graduate and All-American Juan Joseph, who beat out two first-round NFL draft choices in Ole Miss' Peria Jerry and Michael Oher. Joseph was both the first player from a Division III school to be named a finalist and to win the award.
Now in its 14th year, the Cellular South Conerly Trophy is named after the late Charlie Conerly – the only football inductee in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame who was an All-American at a Mississippi university, an NFL rookie of the year and NFL All-Pro member, and quarterbacked a team to a world championship. Cellular South has served as title sponsor of the Cellular South Conerly Trophy since 1998.
In his only year as a starter, Graves completed 58 percent of his passes for 2,566 yards and 30 touchdowns (1st in the SCAC) against just six interceptions, earning second team all-conference honors. Graves had three, 300-yard games on the year en route to setting a new SCAC record by throwing 230-straight passes without an interception.
Per the new voting system installed this year, all 10 state four-year colleges now have nominees (previously just three finalists) for the Conerly Trophy instituted by the MS Sports Hall of Fame. Voters will nominate one player per college football team for the award and then three finalists and the winner will be chosen from that group.
"The change was made to broaden the scope of the award and to help avoid double nominees from a single school," executive director Michael Rubenstein said. "That scenario could lead to a split vote. Two teammates have been nominated five times in the 13 years of the award, but the pairing has produced just one winner."
Graves will be joined at the ceremony by 2007 Conerly Trophy winner and USM running back Damion Fletcher, Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster, Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon, Alcorn State quarterback Tim Buckley, Belhaven wide receiver Cordario Calvin, Delta State receiver Trevar Deed, Jackson State defensive back Malcolm Palmer, Mississippi College quarterback and ASC Player of the Year Adam Shaffer and Mississippi Valley State defensive tackle Jared Green.
The Conerly trophy will be presented November 30, at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum. For ticket information, contact 1-800-280-FAME (3263). The award is voted on by select media representatives throughout Mississippi.