For the first time ever, East Mississippi Community College can now boast a national Player of the Year in football.
Less than a month after leading the Lions to a first-ever national championship, freshman quarterback Bo Wallace was named National Offensive Player of the Year by the NJCAA Thursday afternoon.
“It feels great not only for me, but for my teammates, coaches and the entire East Mississippi Community College family,” Wallace said.
A native of Pulaski, Tenn., the Arkansas State University transfer set three national junior college passing records during the 2011 campaign.
Wallace set new standards in passing yards (4,604), total offensive yards (4,810) and touchdowns (53). Wallace completed an amazing 67 percent of his passes, with 336 completions in 502 attempts, with only 14 interceptions.
EMCC set a school record for victories this year with 12 wins against no defeats. EMCC won the school’s second-ever state championship before knocking off Arizona Western College in the El Toro Bowl to win the NJCAA national championship.
“This season has been a dream year for all of us,” Wallace said. “It just goes to show how hard work during the off-season can pay off and about what can be achieved when a coaching staff puts players in position to win games.”
Wallace threw seven touchdown passes in EMCC’s 55-47 victory over Arizona Western at the bowl game.
That contest marked an amazing fourth time this season where Wallace threw seven touchdowns in a game.
Earlier this week, Wallace and teammate Denico Autry were named NJCAA All-Americans. Wallace and Autry each also earned All-Region 23 honors, with Wallace being tabbed as the region’s Most Valuable Player.
Rochester Community & Technical College (Minn.) freshman defensive back Caleb Leichtnam earned the National Defensive Player of the Year award.
Wallace becomes the second-ever freshman to throw for 4,000 yards nationally and the first to win this award since 2004.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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