Jan. 19, 2012
PHILADELPHIA, PA. -- Old Dominion quarterback Taylor Heinicke (Atlanta, Ga.) was among the FCS newcomers named to the first College Sports Journal All-Freshman Team it was announced this week.
Heinicke's nod to the All-Freshman Team adds to an already impressive list of post-season honors for the rookie signal caller. He was named the College Football Performance Awards National Performer of the Year as well as the organization's Freshman Performer of the Year and winner of their Quarterback Award. He was also the runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award by The Sports Network, awarded to the National Freshman of the Year. Heinicke was also a Third Team All-CAA honoree.
Taking over quarterback duties for the Monarchs in the second half of ODU's October 1st contest with #20 UMass, Heinicke finished out the 2011 campaign completing 211 of his 307 passes with just one interception, a hail mary pass at the end of ODU's contest with Towson, and 25 touchdowns.
In playoff action, the true freshman signal caller set school records with five touchdown passes in games against both Norfolk State and #3/2 Georgia Southern and averaged 307.5 yards passing in the post-season.
Heinicke's name does not appear in the conference or national stats having not played in the minimum 75% of games played to qualify. However, if his name did appear, his 265 passing yards per game would have ranked 18th nationally, his 160.2 pass efficiency rating would place him fifth nationally, and his 305.3 yards of total offense per contest would put his name 10th nationally.
A two-time National Freshman of the Week by The Sports Network during the 2011 season, Heinicke also averaged 40.3 yards rushing per game, running the ball into the end zone four times and averaged 42.5 yards in his four punts.
A three-time CAA Rookie of the Week selection, Heinicke was among the 11 Monarchs to earn All-CAA honors as he helped to guide the team to a 10-3 overall record, a second-place 6-2 mark in the CAA after being picked to finish 10th in the preseason polls, a second round playoff berth, and not only ODU's first appearance in the national polls, but a top-10 ranking.
To view the entire College Sports Journal All-Freshman Team, click here.
MONARCH MOMENTS:
Members of the Monarch football team and coaching staff will be honored at the ODU vs. William and Mary men's basketball game on Jan. 28 (4 p.m. tipoff). On Thursday, Feb. 2 during the ODU vs. James Madison game at 7 p.m., Taylor Heinicke will be awarded with The College Football Performance Awards National Performer of the Year trophy.