Earl Thomas finalist for Thorpe Award

DALLAS (AP) - Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy are set for at least one

showdown off the field.

The quarterbacks for No. 1 Florida and third-ranked Texas were

chosen finalists Monday for two of the biggest postseason awards

outside the Heisman Trophy.

Tebow, McCoy and Alabama running back Mark Ingram are the

finalists for the Maxwell Award that goes to the best all-around

player in college football. Tebow won the past two Maxwells.

Houston's Case Keenum joins Tebow and McCoy as finalists for the

Davey O'Brien Award given to the best quarterback.

The winners of the Maxwell, O'Brien and seven other awards will

be announced at Walt Disney World in Florida on Dec. 10, two days

before Tebow and McCoy figure to be in New York as Heisman

finalists for the second year in a row.

Tebow won the Heisman in 2007 and finished third behind winner

Sam Bradford and McCoy, the runner-up, last year.

If the Gators and Longhorns win twice more each to get to 13-0,

Tebow and McCoy will probably face off on the field in the BCS

championship game at the Rose Bowl.

One of Florida's victories, though, will have to come against

No. 2 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship. And

Ingram figures to be a worthy opponent in Heisman balloting as

well. The sophomore is fifth nationally in rushing at 127 yards per

game with 12 touchdowns.

Tebow doesn't measure up statistically among quarterbacks, but

has led the Gators to BCS titles two of the past three years. McCoy

set an NCAA record with his 43rd victory Saturday against Kansas.

Keenum is the statistical darling of the bunch. He leads the

nation in passing by more than 1,000 yards and is the leader in

total offense and completions as well.

Ingram is also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. The others

are Toby Gerhart of Stanford, the national leader with 23

touchdowns, and Clemson's C.J. Spiller.

McCoy's favorite target, receiver Jordan Shipley, is a finalist

for the Biletnikoff Award. He is joined by Freddie Barnes of

Bowling Green and Golden Tate of Notre Dame.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is a finalist for the

Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and the Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player).

The other Outland finalists are Mike Iupati of Idaho and Russell

Okung of Oklahoma State. The other Bednarik contenders are Alabama nose guard Terrence Cody and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes.

The winner of the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back will come from the trio of Tennessee's Eric Berry, Florida's Joe Haden and EARL THOMAS of Texas.

The Lou Groza finalists for best kicker are Kai Forbath of UCLA,

Leigh Tiffin of Alabama and Blair Walsh of Georgia. The finalists

for the Ray Guy Award (best punter) are Georgia's Drew Butler,

Michigan's Zoltan Mesko and Florida's Chas Henry.

By SCHUYLER DIXON-Associated Press Writer

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)