Skinner to Receive ACC's Jim Tatum Award
12/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 3, 2009
Wake Forest senior quarterback Riley Skinner has been named the recipient of the 2009 James Tatum Award, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced today.
The Tatum Award is given annually in memory of the late Jim Tatum to the top senior student-athlete (in athletic eligibility) among the league's football players. Tatum, a two-time ACC Coach of the Year, coached in the fifties at both Maryland and North Carolina and believed strongly in the concept of the student-athlete.
Skinner, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., has started 49 games at quarterback for the Demon Deacons and has compiled a 3.08 career GPA with a major in the Wake Forest business school. A member of the 2007 ACC All-Academic Football Team, he has been named to the Dean's List four times at Wake Forest and twice has earned selection to the ACC Honor Roll.
In addition to his academic achievements, Skinner has participated in mentoring children in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. and has visited children at the Brenner Children's Hospital.
In the midst of his best season athletically, Skinner has completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,160 yards and 26 touchdowns--both career highs. He is one of the most accurate passers in ACC history, having completed almost 67 percent of his passes and he completed his career ranked 2nd on the ACC career list with 903 pass completions, 4th in passing yardage with 9,762 yards and 7th in touchdown passes with 60.
In his four seasons as a starter he has posted a 31-18 record, led Wake Forest to one ACC Championship and three bowl games. Last year, he set an NCAA bowl game record for passing percentage, completing all 11 of his passes against Navy and was named MVP of the inaugural EagleBank bowl.
"I think it's so unusual to find somebody who's played at the level Riley has for four years and won as many games as he has, to still find time to excel in our Business School," said Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe. "Most people who know the rigors of a business school education at Wake Forest would tell you that they marvel that anybody could play at a level like Riley does and still do well in the classroom. He's just a remarkable young man and not only does he have great character and great football ability but we are obviously very proud of his accomplishments in the classroom. Riley is very deserving of the Tatum Award."
Skinner becomes the second player from Wake Forest to be honored with the Tatum Award, joining former standout student-athlete Steve Ainsworth who won the award in 1992.
