Conerly Trophy
The C Spire Conerly Trophy is an award given annually to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
Awarded for | The best college football player in the state of Mississippi |
---|---|
Location | Mississippi |
Country | United States |
Presented by | Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame |
History | |
First award | 1996 |
Most recent | Patrick Shegog, QB, Delta State |
Website | Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Events |
Voting
Sixty media representatives from across Mississippi determine the Trophy recipient. All players at Mississippi's four-year college football programs are eligible on the first ballot. Previously, the top three vote-getters were listed on a second and final ballot, but starting with the 2011 award, each of the four-year colleges and universities in Mississippi that field football teams are represented by one finalist.[2] In 2013, fans were allowed to vote on the award for the first time. Fan voting accounted for 10 percent of the total vote.[3]
Voters are instructed to evaluate a player's entire regular season performance and ignore post-season honors or professional potential.
The trophy
The Conerly Trophy is a bronze casting, 19" high x 11" long x 7.5" wide, weighing 18.5 lbs. (8.4 kg).[4] The trophy was sculpted by Bruce Holmes Brady, a Brookhaven, Mississippi native and graduate of the University of Mississippi.[5] The original trophy is on permanent display at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. A replica of the trophy is presented to the winner each year at the announcement dinner.[4]
History
The award was begun in 1996 and has been sponsored by C Spire Wireless, formerly known as Cellular South, since 1998. Previous presentations have been held in Jackson, Clarksdale, Tunica and Biloxi. The namesake of the award is Mississippi-born Charlie Conerly who also starred as quarterback at the University of Mississippi, and was later a star for the New York Giants.[4]
Winners and finalists


Year | Winner | Pos | School | Ref | Other Finalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Tregnel Thomas | RB | Delta State | [6] | Marchant Kenney, LB, Southern Miss Kris Mangum, TE, Ole Miss |
1997 | Stewart Patridge | QB | Ole Miss | [7] | John Avery, RB, Ole Miss Patrick Surtain, CB, Southern Miss |
1998 | J. J. Johnson | RB | Mississippi State | [8] | Rufus French, TE, Ole Miss Sherrod Gideon, WR, Southern Miss |
1999 | Deuce McAllister | RB | Ole Miss | [9] | Ashley Cooper, S, Mississippi State Adalius Thomas, LB, Southern Miss |
2000 | Josh Bright | QB | Delta State | [10] | Dicenzo Miller, RB, Mississippi State Fred Smoot, CB, Mississippi State |
2001 | Eli Manning | QB | Ole Miss | [11] | Robert Kent, QB, Jackson State T. C. Taylor, WR, Jackson State |
2002 | Rod Davis | LB | Southern Miss | [12][13] | Robert Kent, QB, Jackson State Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss |
2003 | Eli Manning | QB | Ole Miss | [14][15] | Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss Scott Eyster, QB, Delta State |
2004 | Michael Boley | LB | Southern Miss | [16] | Scott Eyster, QB, Delta State Jerious Norwood, RB, Mississippi State |
2005 | Jerious Norwood | RB | Mississippi State | [17] | Scott Eyster, QB, Delta State Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss |
2006 | Patrick Willis | LB | Ole Miss | [18] | Scott Eyster, QB, Delta State Damion Fletcher, RB, Southern Miss |
2007 | Damion Fletcher | RB | Southern Miss | [19] | Titus Brown, DE, Mississippi State Anthony Dixon, RB, Mississippi State |
2008 | Juan Joseph | QB | Millsaps | [20][21] | Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss |
2009 | Anthony Dixon | RB | Mississippi State | [22] | Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Ole Miss Adam Shaffer, QB, Mississippi College |
2010 | Chris White | LB | Mississippi State | [23][24] | Austin Davis, QB, Southern Miss Casey Therriault, QB, Jackson State |
2011 | Austin Davis | QB | Southern Miss | [25][26] | Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State Paul Cox, WR, Mississippi Valley State Jarrad Craine, CB, Mississippi College Micah Davis, QB, Delta State Justin Gaines, RB, Belhaven Terrence Lewis, WR/PR, Alcorn State Jason O'Rear, WR, Millsaps Charles Sawyer, S/CB, Ole Miss Casey Therriault, QB, Jackson State |
2012 | Bo Wallace | QB | Ole Miss | [27][28] | Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State Cornelius Brown, OT, Alcorn State Jamie Collins, DE, Southern Miss Kendall Hunter, OT, Delta State Garrett Pinciotti, QB, Millsaps Rico Richardson, WR, Jackson State Robert Simpson, DT, Mississippi Valley State Keith Villafranco, S, Mississippi College Isiah Wiley, CB/KR, Belhaven |
2013 | Gabe Jackson | G | Mississippi State | [29][30] | Mike Barthelemy, RB, Millsaps Avery Boykin, CB, Mississippi Valley State Matt Hall, OT, Belhaven Ricky Hunt, WR, Delta State Clayton Moore, QB, Jackson State Jonathan Redd, QB, Mississippi College Khyri Thornton, DT, Southern Miss Arnold Walker, RB, Alcorn State Bo Wallace, QB, Ole Miss |
2014 | Dak Prescott | QB | Mississippi State | [31] | Zach Bell, DE, Millsaps John Gibbs Jr., QB, Alcorn State Senquez Golson, CB, Ole Miss Dylan Klibert, S, Mississippi College Greg Livingston, WR, Belhaven Dasman McCullum, DE, Southern Miss Julian Stafford, WR, Mississippi Valley State Tyler Sullivan, QB, Delta State Daniel Williams, WR, Jackson State |
2015 | Dak Prescott | QB | Mississippi State | [32][33] | Marquis Green, S, Mississippi Valley State Javancy Jones, DE, Jackson State Nick Mullens, QB, Southern Miss Marcel Newsome, WR, Mississippi College Darryan Ragsdale, RB, Alcorn State Hector Sandoval, LB, Millsaps Isaiah Swopes, CB, Belhaven Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Jarvis York, WR, Delta State |
2016 | Evan Engram | TE | Ole Miss | [34] | Darien Anderson, LB, Alcorn State Austin Bray, QB, Mississippi Valley State Alex Foust, DT, Millsaps Javancy Jones, DE, Jackson State Hunter McEachern, QB, Belhaven Marcel Newsome, WR, Mississippi College Chris Robinson, RB, Delta State Fred Ross, WR, Mississippi State Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss |
2017 | A. J. Brown | WR | Ole Miss | [35] | De'Lance Turner, RB, Alcorn State Shawn Bishop, LB, Jackson State Mark Pegues, DB, Mississippi Valley State Chris Robinson, RB, Delta State Hunter McEachern, QB, Belhaven Jacob Kendall, LB, Millsaps Chris Manning, DB, Mississippi College Nick Fitzgerald, QB, Mississippi State Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss |
2018 | Jeffery Simmons | DL | Mississippi State | [36] | Noah Johnson, QB, Alcorn State Christian Jacquemin, K, Jackson State Booker Chambers, WR, Mississippi Valley State Patrick Shegog, QB, Delta State Dennarrios Noel, LB, Belhaven Chandler Coleman, LB, Millsaps Tiberias Lampkin , RB, Mississippi College A. J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss |
2019 | Kylin Hill | RB | Mississippi State | [37] | Felix Harper, QB, Alcorn State Keonte Hampton, LB, Jackson State Tracy Thompkins, DB, Mississippi Valley State Junior Faulk, DB, Delta State Hunter McEachern, QB, Belhaven Liam Vincfora, DL, Millsaps Detric Hawthorn, QB, Mississippi College John Rhys Plumlee, QB, Ole Miss Jack Abraham, QB, Southern Miss |
2020 | Elijah Moore | WR | Ole Miss | [38] | Daylen Baldwin, WR, Jackson State Jerry Garner, LB, Mississippi Valley State Brad Foley, RB, Belhaven Christian Roberts , DB, Millsaps Cole Fagan , RB, Mississippi College Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State Arvin Fletcher, G, Southern Miss |
2021 | Matt Corral | QB | Ole Miss | [39][40] | Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss Brad Foley, RB, Belhaven Caleb Johnson, RB, Mississippi Valley State Jonathan Jones, LB, Mississippi College Will Rogers, QB, Mississippi State Shedeur Sanders, QB, Jackson State Malik Shorts, CB, Southern Miss Juwan Taylor, S, Alcorn State Marvin Terry, LB, Delta State Moïse Tezzo, WR, Millsaps |
2022 | Quinshon Judkins | RB | Ole Miss | [41][42] | Jarveon Howard, RB, Alcorn State Connor Fordham, LB, Belhaven Patrick Shegog, QB, Delta State Shedeur Sanders, QB, Jackson State Moïse Tezzo, WR/KR, Millsaps Marcus Williams, RB, Mississippi College Emmanuel Forbes, DB, Mississippi State Ronnie Thomas, DL, Mississippi Valley State Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ole Miss Jason Brownlee, WR, Southern Miss |
2023 | Patrick Shegog | QB | Delta State | [43][44] | Aaron Allen, QB, Alcorn State Kolbe Blunt, RB, Belhaven Patrick Shegog, QB, Delta State Irv Mulligan, RB, Jackson State Ethan Klapatch, P, Millsaps Marcus Williams, RB, Mississippi College Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State Rondey Luckett, C, Mississippi Valley State Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ole Miss Frank Gore Jr., RB, Southern Miss |
Kent Hull Trophy
Starting in 2013, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame began awarding a second award, the Kent Hull Trophy, for the best college offensive lineman in Mississippi.[45]
Year | Winner | Pos | School | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Gabe Jackson | G | Mississippi State | [46] |
2014 | Laremy Tunsil | T | Ole Miss | [47] |
2015 | Fahn Cooper | T | Ole Miss | [48] |
2016 | Justin Senior | T | Mississippi State | [49] |
2017 | Martinas Rankin | T | Mississippi State | [50] |
2018 | Elgton Jenkins | C | Mississippi State | [51] |
2019 | Drake Dorbeck | T | Southern Miss | [52] |
2020 | Royce Newman | G | Ole Miss | [53] |
2021 | Charles Cross | T | Mississippi State | [54] |
2022 | Nick Broeker | G | Ole Miss | [55] |
2023 | Cole Smith | C | Mississippi State | [56] |
Trophies won by school
Conerly Trophy | ||
---|---|---|
Rank | School | Won |
1 | Ole Miss | 10 |
2 | Mississippi State | 9 |
3 | Southern Miss | 4 |
4 | Delta State | 3 |
5 | Millsaps | 1 |
Hull Trophy | ||
---|---|---|
Rank | School | Hull |
1 | Mississippi State | 6 |
2 | Ole Miss | 5 |
3 | Southern Miss | 1 |
See also
- Howell Trophy - award given annually to the best men's college basketball player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
- Gillom Trophy - award given annually to the best women's college basketball player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
- C Spire Ferriss Trophy - award given annually to the best men's college baseball player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
References
- "Cellular South Outstanding Player Awards". Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- Talbott, Chris (2009-11-30). "Dixon wins Conerly Trophy". SDNMSU.Wordpress.com. The Starkville Daily News Bulldog Blog. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.
- MBJ Staff (2013-11-26). "Fan voting opens for first time in Conerly Trophy history". MSBusiness.com. Mississippi Business Journal.
- Blevins, Dave (2012). College Football Awards: All National and Conference Winners Through 2010. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-9080-6.
- "Senate Concurrent Resolution SB589, 2000 Regular Session" (PDF). Mississippi State Legislature. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- The Best - and Worst - of 1996 Season
- Mississippi House Concurrent Resolution 103
- J.J. Johnson @ Debate.org Archived 2013-12-17 at the Wayback Machine
- "Deuce McAllister Bio" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
- Delta State honors its student-athletes
- "Eli Manning's College Statistics & Records". Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
- Davis Wins Conerly Trophy, "Mississippi's Heisman"
- Davis Named Finalist For Conerly Trophy
- "Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 542". Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
- Davis Named Finalist For Conerly Trophy
- "USM's Boley Wins Conerly Trophy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
- Mississippi House Resolution 19
- Patrick Willis Honored with Conerly Trophy
- "Southern Miss' Fletcher Wins Conerly Trophy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
- Joseph Wins 2008 Cellular South Conerly Trophy
- 2008 CellularSouth Conerly Trophy Finalists Archived 2013-12-17 at the Wayback Machine
- "State's Dixon Awarded Conerly Trophy As Best Collegiate Football Player In Mississippi". Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
- Miss St. LB Chris White wins Conerly Trophy
- Therriault Among Top Three in Conerly Trophy
- USM Quarterback Austin Davis Wins 2011 Conerly Trophy as Top College Football Player in Mississippi
- Conerly trophy Nominees Gifted
- Bo Wallace wins 2012 Conerly Trophy
- "10 Nominees for 2012 Conerly Trophy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
- Gabe Jackson Wins 2013 Conerly Trophy Archived 2015-09-08 at the Wayback Machine
- Ten Finalists Announced for C Spire Conerly Trophy
- Prescott Claims 2014 C Spire Conerly Award
- "Mississippi State QB Prescott wins Conerly Trophy". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
- 2015 C Spire Conerly Trophy nominees
- This year's C Spire Conerly Trophy nominees
- Ole Miss receiver A. J. Brown wins 2017 C Spire Conerly Trophy
- MSU's Jeffery Simmons, Elgton Jenkins collect Conerly and Hull awards
- Kylin Hill wins 24th Annual C-Spire Connerly Trophy
- C Spire Outstanding Player Award Winners Announced for the 2020-2021 Seasons
- "Matt Corral wins 2021 C Spire Conerly Trophy as best college football player in Mississippi". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2021-12-01.
- Conerly winner Matt Corral says he won’t skip the Ole Miss bowl game
- Busby, Garrett (November 14, 2022). "Mississippi sports museum announces 2022 C Spire Conerly trophy nominees". wlbt.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- Busby, Garrett (November 29, 2022). "Ole Missl freshman sensation claims 2022 Conerly Trophy". wlbt.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- Johnstone, Patrick (November 14, 2023). "Nominees announced for 2023 C Spire Conerly Trophy". wlbt.com. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- "Delta State's Patrick Shegog wins 2023 C Spire Conerly Trophy". msfame.com. Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. November 28, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- Kent Hull Trophy, tribute banquet announced
- State's Gabe Jackson wins first Hull Trophy
- Laremy Tunsil wins Kent Hull Trophy
- Ole Miss’ Fahn Cooper wins 2015 Kent Hull Trophy
- Justin Senior wins Kent Hull Trophy as top OL in state
- Senior Martinas Rankin Wins 2017 Kent Hull Trophy
- Senior State’s Elgton Jenkins wins Kent Hull Trophy
- USM standout Dorbeck wins Kent Hull Trophy
- The Kent Hull Trophy
- Cross Earns 2021 Kent Hull Trophy
- "Nick Broeker Earns 2022 Kent Hull Trophy". olemisssports.com. November 29, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- "Cole Smith Named Winner of Kent Hull Trophy". hailstate.com. November 22, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.