Villanova's Robertson Says Winning Jerry Rice Award Is 'A Real Honor'
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A breakthrough season for Villanova redshirt freshman quarterback John Robertson was capped on Monday night as the Paramus, New Jersey, native was named the winner of the Jerry Rice Award, given annually to the top freshman in all of the Football Championship Subdivision.
"It's a true honor, honestly, to have my name underneath that award," Robertson tells KYW Newsradio. "Just because, he (Rice) is one of the best players that ever played the game. So it's a real honor."
LISTEN: Matt Leon interviews John Robertson
Robertson led the Wildcats back to the playoffs in 2012, after they struggled to just two wins in 2011. Villanova went 8-4 as Robertson completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,965 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed for an additional 1,021 yards and 14 more scores. Not bad for a guy who didn't even begin the season as a starter. He didn't take over the reigns of the offense until week two.
"We had a great team this year," Robertson says. "So going into the season, we had high expectations. It felt good to bring us back to the playoffs and let our seniors leave with a good season."
Safe to say, the 2013 season can't get here soon enough for Robertson.
"We're ecstatic over here," Robertson says. "We're going to work hard all offseason and work towards bigger and greater goals."
Robertson is the fourth Villanova player to win a major FCS award. Wide receiver Brian Finneran (1997) and running back Brian Westbrook (2001) both won the Walter Payton Award as the best player in FCS. Head coach Andy Talley won the Eddie Robinson Award as the top coach in FCS in 1997.
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