December 2, 2005

RICHMOND, Va. - University of Richmond quarterback Stacy Tutt, University of Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Virginia Tech defensive end Darryl Tapp are finalists for the 2005 Dudley Award. All are seniors.

Hampden-Sydney quarterback J.D. Ricca and Washington and Lee wide receiver Jack Martin are finalists for the Division II/III player of the year award. Ricca is a senior, Martin is a sophomore.

The Dudley Award is named after former University of Virginia standout "Bullet" Bill Dudley and has been presented annually since 1990 to the player of the year at a state school. Last year, a separate award was created for players at Division II and Division III schools. The Times-Dispatch sponsors the awards.

A Virginia Tech player has won the award five times in the last six years after Bryan Randall won the award last year. Kevin Jones (2003), Lee Suggs (2002, 2000), Corey Moore (1999), Cornell Brown (1995) and Jim Pyne (1993) are all former Hokies to receive the honor.

Winners will be announced Thursday, Dec. 8 at a banquet at the Sheraton Richmond West Hotel.

Also at the banquet, the Touchdown Club of Richmond will present its annual state college awards. The winners of those awards will be announced early next week.

The banquet will start at 7:30 p.m., with a social hour at 6:30. Tickets are $40 and available only through Tuesday. Call (804) 741-1144 for more information.

Each football-playing school in the state is allowed to nominate one player for the Dudley and Division II/III awards. Voting is conducted among 15 sports writers and broadcasters around the state. Voters rank three players for each award, with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. The top three point-getters become Dudley finalists, the top two become Division II/III finalists.

Tapp has been named as a finalist for the Lott Award (nation's top defensive player), a semifinalist for the Hendricks Award (nation's top defensive end) and is a two-time first-team All-ACC performer.

Ferguson also made the all-ACC team this season and last year.

Tutt has guided Richmond into the Division I-AA quarterfinals. Richmond has not lost to a Division I-AA foe since he was inserted at quarterback Sept. 17.

Ricca was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's player of the year. He threw for 42 touchdowns and 3,731 yards. Martin caught 70 passes for 1,353 yards and 15 touchdowns.