Elliott a semifinalist for the AAU Sullivan Award
Award has been presented since 1930 to outstanding amateur athlete in the United States
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ezekiel Elliott, who rushed for 1,874 yards this season and starred in Ohio State's three-game post-season march to the national championship with 696 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, has been named a semifinalist for the 85th AAU James E. Sullivan Award, which honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.
Elliott rushed for a Big Ten championship game record 220 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a record 81-yard rush, in Ohio State's 59-0 win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.
In the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Elliott sparked the Buckeyes to a 42-35 win over No. 1 Alabama with 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a Sugar Bowl and Ohio State bowl game-record 85-yard rush to cap the scoring and earn offensive MVP honors.
And in the CFP National Championship game, the St. Louis, Missouri native led an offensive charge with an Ohio State bowl game-record 246 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the 42-20 victory.
Off the playing field, Elliott is a leader among Buckeyes in community service endeavors and he is an OSU Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree.
Fans Can Vote
Fans can help Elliott become a finalist by voting for him once a day through March 15 at http://review.wizehive.com/voting/sullivan2015. The top six (6) finalists will then be named. Finalists will attend the award ceremony on April 19, 2015 at 2 p.m. during which time the winner will be announced. Tim Morehouse, 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist in fencing, will emcee the event.
This year's ceremony marks the return to the prestigious New York Athletic Club (NYAC). Founded in 1868, the NYAC was one of the first organized amateur athletic clubs in the United States.
The semifinalists for this year's AAU Sullivan Award are:
* Pole vaulter Shawn Barber;
* Gymnast Simone Biles;
* Ice dancers Meryl Davis & Charlie White;
* Ohio State football player Ezekiel Elliott;
* Wrestler Adeline Gray;
* Luger Erin Hamlin;
* Penn State volleyball player Micha Hancock;
* USC diver Haley Ishimatsu;
* Stanford swimmer Katie Ledecky;
* Oregon football player Marcus Mariota;
* UConn basketball player Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis;
* Duke basketball player Jahlil Okafor;
* Georgia Tech golfer Ollie Schneiderjans; and
* Water polo player Maggie Steffens.
The AAU Sullivan Award
Known as the "Oscar" of sports awards, and older than The Heisman, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.
Award has been presented since 1930 to outstanding amateur athlete in the United States
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ezekiel Elliott, who rushed for 1,874 yards this season and starred in Ohio State's three-game post-season march to the national championship with 696 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, has been named a semifinalist for the 85th AAU James E. Sullivan Award, which honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.
Elliott rushed for a Big Ten championship game record 220 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a record 81-yard rush, in Ohio State's 59-0 win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.
In the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Elliott sparked the Buckeyes to a 42-35 win over No. 1 Alabama with 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a Sugar Bowl and Ohio State bowl game-record 85-yard rush to cap the scoring and earn offensive MVP honors.
And in the CFP National Championship game, the St. Louis, Missouri native led an offensive charge with an Ohio State bowl game-record 246 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the 42-20 victory.
Off the playing field, Elliott is a leader among Buckeyes in community service endeavors and he is an OSU Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree.
Fans Can Vote
Fans can help Elliott become a finalist by voting for him once a day through March 15 at http://review.wizehive.com/voting/sullivan2015. The top six (6) finalists will then be named. Finalists will attend the award ceremony on April 19, 2015 at 2 p.m. during which time the winner will be announced. Tim Morehouse, 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist in fencing, will emcee the event.
This year's ceremony marks the return to the prestigious New York Athletic Club (NYAC). Founded in 1868, the NYAC was one of the first organized amateur athletic clubs in the United States.
The semifinalists for this year's AAU Sullivan Award are:
* Pole vaulter Shawn Barber;
* Gymnast Simone Biles;
* Ice dancers Meryl Davis & Charlie White;
* Ohio State football player Ezekiel Elliott;
* Wrestler Adeline Gray;
* Luger Erin Hamlin;
* Penn State volleyball player Micha Hancock;
* USC diver Haley Ishimatsu;
* Stanford swimmer Katie Ledecky;
* Oregon football player Marcus Mariota;
* UConn basketball player Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis;
* Duke basketball player Jahlil Okafor;
* Georgia Tech golfer Ollie Schneiderjans; and
* Water polo player Maggie Steffens.
The AAU Sullivan Award
Known as the "Oscar" of sports awards, and older than The Heisman, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.
