Lorenzen Named Semifinalist For Draddy Trophy

STORRS, Conn. (October 3, 2008) – University of Connecticut senior quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (Fremont, Iowa) has been selected as a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth and is a candidate for the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award.

Lorenzen is a management major at UConn and carries a 3.316 cumulative grade point average. He is in his second year at Connecticut and has led the Huskies to wins in 14 of his 17 career starts. Lorenzen is currently sidelined with a broken foot which he suffered in UConn’s win over Louisville last Friday.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

UConn had its first Draddy Award finalist and National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award winner in 2006 with Rhema Fuller.

Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a 25- pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.

"The Draddy semifinalists represent everything good about college football," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "They are another fine example of how football builds leaders, and it is the NFF's duty to promote their accomplishments while encouraging future generations of gridiron standouts to aim high on and off the football field."

The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2008 National Scholar- Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Draddy winner, who will receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship, will be announced at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on December 9 at the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. A total distribution of more than $300,000 in scholarships will be awarded that evening.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The Draddy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program's mystique, having previously honored two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist and a Heisman winner.