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].
Background
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 played quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels.Sixty media representatives from across Mississippi determine the winner. 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. In 2013, fans were allowed to vote on the award for the first time. Fan voting accounted for 10 percent of the total vote.
The trophy itself is a bronze casting, 19" high x 11" long x 7.5" wide, weighing 18.5 lbs.. The trophy was sculpted by Bruce Holmes Brady, a Brookhaven, Mississippi native and graduate of the University of Mississippi. 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.
Winners
Image:Elimanning1.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning won the Conerly Trophy in 2001 and 2003.Image:Dak_Prescott_20151105.png|thumb|right|150px|Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott won the Conerly Trophy in 2014 and 2015.