Postseason Honors Coming Cutler’s Way

Postseason Honors Coming Cutler’s Way

2/22/2006

The postseason awards keep coming for Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler, who is expected to rack up Tennessee Male Amateur on the Year honors later this week.

The leading passer in Vanderbilt history is expected to add the Tennessee amateur honor this Friday during the annual Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame banquet scheduled at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.

Cutler will not attend the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame affair because of another event that is key to his professional future, the NFL Combine. Cutler is scheduled to showcase his athleticism and throwing ability in front of hundreds of NFL officials and scouts at the combine this weekend in Indianapolis. The quarterback’s parents, Jack and Sandy Cutler of Evansville, Ind., are expected to represent their son at the Hall of Fame banquet.

In recent weeks, the All-SEC recipient has accepted postseason awards while attracting plenty of attention for his football talents. Sparked by an incredible late-season stretch that helped produce one of the greatest seasons ever by a Southeastern Conference quarterback, Cutler has garnered a bevy of honors.

Cutler was recognized as the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year by both league coaches and Associated Press sportswriters. On Feb. 13, the four-year Commodore starter became the first person to win Middle Tennessee Amateur Athletics Award and Sports Person of the Year honors from the Nashville Sports Council. Last week, Cutler became the first Commodore in 15 years to receive “SEC Back of the Year” honors from the Birmingham Touchdown Club.

Cutler capped off an incredible career at Vanderbilt by setting all-time Commodore records in virtually every category for quarterbacks, including touchdown passes (59), passing yards (8,697), completions (710), total offense (9,953), combined touchdowns (76) and total plays (1,695). 

As a senior, Cutler led the SEC with 3,073 yards, 21 touchdown passes and 273 completions. The season concluded in spectacular fashion, as Cutler threw for 1,410 yards and 13 touchdowns in the final four games.  Cutler capped his collegiate career by guiding the Commodores to a last-minute road victory over Tennessee.

A three-year team captain, Cutler was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Award and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year Award. After the season, Cutler was also the first player named to the prestigious Senior Bowl. He then used that occasion to greatly enhance his NFL draft status.