Dudley finalists well-known to state football fans

The finalists for the 2008 Dudley Award have become household names to football fans in this state. They're seniors who grew up in Virginia and have regularly made headlines for their exploits on the field.

In alphabetical order, the Dudley finalists are Virginia Tech cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris, James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers and University of Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim.

Harris helped the Hokies beat Boston College for the ACC championship Saturday at Tampa, Fla. Later that day, Landers led JMU past Villanova and into the semifinals of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

The finalists for the award presented annually to the top state player in Division II, Division III or NAIA -- U.Va.-Wise quarterback Randy Hippeard, Emory & Henry all-purpose back Caleb Jennings and Christopher Newport tailback Tunde Ogun -- are less-experienced.

Hippeard, who starred at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, is a senior, but Ogun is a junior and Jennings is a sophomore. Ogun played at Douglas Freeman High School and Jennings at Richlands High School.

The winners of the Dudley and Division II/III/NAIA awards will be announced Thursday night during a banquet at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch sponsors the awards.

The Dudley, named after former U.Va. star "Bullet" Bill Dudley, is presented annually to the player of the year from state schools that compete in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision.

Chris Long, then a U.Va. senior, won the Dudley in 2007. Hampden-Sydney College wide receiver Drew Smith won the Division II/III/NAIA award last year.

Harris starred at Highland Springs High School, Landers at Tallwood High School in Virginia Beach and Sintim at Gar-Field High School in Dale City.

Landers, the Colonial Athletic Association's offensive player of the year, also is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top FCS player. Harris was named last week to the all-ACC first team, and Sintim was a second-team selection.

Each state college or university with a football team may nominate one player for the awards. A panel of 15 sports writers and broadcasters from across the state votes for three players in each group, with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

The top three vote-getters in each group are named finalists. No second round of voting is held.

Also at the banquet, the Touchdown Club of Richmond will honor Landers, Harris, U.Va. offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, University of Richmond defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, Hampden-Sydney tailback Josh Simpson, Randolph-Macon offensive lineman Kevin Wagner, Christopher Newport defensive end DeShaun Park and Virginia State linebacker Isaac Mitchell.
Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or .