OSU's Smith takes Walter Camp honor before Heisman ceremony

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith won the Walter Camp player of the year award Thursday, two days before he's expected to win the Heisman Trophy.

Smith is the third Ohio State player to win the Walter Camp award. Running backs Archie Griffin (1974, 1975) and Eddie George (1995) were the others.

Smith is fourth in the nation in passer rating (167.9) with 2,507 yards, 30 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. He will lead No. 1 Ohio State against No. 2 Florida for the national title on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.

The Walter Camp winner is voted on by the nations 119 Division I-A coaches and sports information directors. Other finalists this season were quarterbacks Brady Quinn of Notre Dame and Colt Brennan of Hawaii and running backs Steve Slaton of West Virginia and Darren McFadden of Arkansas.

Southern California tailback Reggie Bush won the Walter Camp award last year.

Smith and the members of the 2006 Walter Camp All-America team will be honored at the foundation's national awards banquet on Jan. 13.