Eli Manning, who broke records set by the award’s namesake, claimed the 2001 Conerly Trophy presented by Cellular South, December 6, 2001. Manning, a sophomore quarterback at Ole Miss, was the selection of a majority of the 60 voters representing radio, television and print outlets from across the state as Mississippi’s college football player of the year. Robert Kent, and T.C. Taylor, both from Jackson State University, were the other finalists as determined by the voters.

2001 CONERLY TROPHY RECIPIENT: Eli Manning is shown holding the Conerly Trophy after being named Mississippi's college football player of the year for 2001. Pictured with Manning (L-R) are: Bart Starr, who presented the trophy; Hu Meena, President of Cellular South, which sponsored the presentation; Manning; and, Perian Conerly, wife of the late Charlie Conerly for whom the trophy is named.

"It's truly been a great honor to come here with Robert and T.C., Manning said in his acceptance speech. "They both had a great season and for me to win this and to even be mentioned with Mr. Conerly's name is a great tribute."

The Conerly Trophy is named after the late Charlie Conerly, a Clarksdale, MS native who was an All-American quarterback at Ole Miss as well as an All-Pro quarterback with the New York Giants. Manning shattered Conerly’s Rebel single-season mark of 18 touchdown passes set in 1947 and tied by Romaro Miller in 2000 . The New Orleans, LA native threw for 31 touchdowns and almost 3000 yards in his first year as a full-time starter, setting 13 new school records in the process.

NFL Hall of Famer Bart Starr presented the trophy to Manning in front of a packed house at the Museum that included past Conerly Trophy recipients Stewart Patridge (1997) and Josh Bright (2000). Starr was the third member of the NFL Hall of Fame to present the Conerly Trophy, joining the late Tom Landry and Frank Gifford.

Kent, JSU’s sophomore signal caller, finished second nationally in Division 1-AA in total offense while accounting for 40 touchdowns. Taylor, Kent’s favorite receiver, set a Jackson State single season record with 84 receptions for 1234 yards.

Pictured with NFL Hall of Famer Bart Starr (left), who presented the award, are Conerly Trophy finalists Eli Manning (second from left) and Jackson State University teammates Robert Kent and T.C. Taylor. Perian Conerly, wife of the late Charlie Conerly is on the right.

© Copyright 2001-2002 by Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Museum

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