Jessica Davenport, Troy Smith Named 2007 Ohio State Athletes of the Year – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
COLUMBUS, Ohio Jessica Davenport and Troy Smith were named 2007 Ohio State Athletes of the Year Wednesday in an announcement made by the Ohio State department of athletics. Davenport finished her women’s basketball career in 2007 as the program’s first three-time All-American. Also in his senior campaign, Smith quarterbacked the Buckeyes to the 2007 Bowl Championship Series National Title game and was named Ohio State’s seventh Heisman Trophy winner.
Davenport, who also was named 2006 Women’s Ohio State Athlete of the Year, is the first repeat women’s winner since Donica Merriman earned the honor for her performance on the track and field team in 2000 and ’01. Stacey Gordon is the most-recent two-time recipient for her efforts on the volleyball court in 2003 and ’05. Smith is the third-consecutive football player to claim the men’s award. Mike Nugent, a place kicker, was the winner in 2005 and A.J. Hawk, a linebacker, received the honor last year.
Davenport, who graduated March 19 with a degree in family resource management/consumer affairs, became the first student-athlete to be named Big Ten player of the year three times in a career. The product of Columbus Independence High School led the Buckeyes to a 28-4 overall mark in 2006-07 and Ohio State’s third-consecutive league crown. She topped the conference in scoring at 20 points per game and ranked second in the league in rebounds per contest (9.6) and field goal percentage (.597/ 222-372).
The only player in Big Ten history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocked shots in a career, Davenport posted a four-year total of 384 blocks and ended her Buckeye run as the league’s all-time leader. Davenport finished with 2,303 career points, which rates fifth all-time in Big Ten history and second at Ohio State. The Buckeyes went a combined 108-22 (.831) during her career, the best four-year span in team history.
A native of Cleveland, Smith captained the 2006 football team to a 12-0 regular season and a successful defense of its 2005 Big Ten Championship. The 2007 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year established a Buckeye record with 30 touchdown passes last season. Smith capped his home career by becoming the first Ohio State quarterback to throw four TD passes vs. Michigan Nov. 18. The victory over the No. 2-ranked Wolverines (42-39), Smith’s third in a row vs. U-M, secured Ohio State’s 31st Big Ten title.
A graduate in 2006 with a degree in communications, Smith finished his career with a 25-3 record as the Buckeyes’ starting signal-caller. He passed for four touchdowns in four games last season and his total of 2,542 yards through the air in 2006 ranks fourth all-time at Ohio State.
Smith’s .653 completion percentage (203-311) in 2006 ranks first at Ohio State for a single season and his .627 career mark (420-670) rates No. 1 all-time. Smith’s total of 54 TD passes stands third for a career at Ohio State. The 2006 first-team All-American also netted 1,166 career rushing yards on 293 carries and accounted for 14 TDs on the ground.
Ohio State Athletes of the Year
| Year | Men | Sport | Women | Sport |
| 1982 | Art Schlichter | Football | — | |
| 1983 | Chris Perry | Golf | Cathy Kratzert | Golf |
| 1984 | John Frank | Football | Sarah Josephson | Synchro Swimming |
| 1985 | Robert Playter | Gymnastics | Yvette Angel | Basketball |
| 1986 | Mike Lanese | Football | Tracey Hall | Basketball |
| 1987 | Butch Reynolds | Track/Field | Karen LaFace | Diving |
| 1988 | Chris Spielman | Football | Bridgette Tate | Track/Field |
| 1989 | Joe Greene | Track/Field | Nikita Lowry | Basketball |
| 1990 | Mike Rancanelli | Gymnastics | Susan Gottlieb | Swimming |
| 1991 | Jim Jackson | Basketball | Holly O’Leary | Volleyball |
| 1992 | Jim Jackson | Basketball | Leisa Wissler | Volleyball |
| 1993 | Chris Nelloms | Track/Field | Audrey Burcy | Basketball |
| 1994 | Chris Sanders | Track/Field | Katie Smith | Basketball |
| 1995 | Blaine Wilson | Gymnastics | # Laura Davis | Volleyball |
| 1996 | * Eddie George | Football | Katie Smith | Basketball |
| 1997 | * Blaine Wilson | Gymnastics | Amy Langhals | Golf |
| 1998 | Hugo Boisvert | Hockey | Vanessa Wouters | Volleyball |
| 1999 | Scoonie Penn | Basketball | Dominque Calloway | Track/Field |
| 2000 | Jamie Natalie | Gymnastics | Donica Merriman | Track/Field |
| 2001 | Jamie Natalie | Gymnastics | Donica Merriman | Track/Field |
| 2002 | Raj Bhavsar | Gymnastics | Anna Smith | Softball |
| 2003 | Craig Krenzel | Football | Stacey Gordon | Volleyball |
| 2004 | Dan Taylor | Track/Field | Allison Hanna | Golf |
| 2005 | Mike Nugent | Football | Stacey Gordon | Volleyball |
| 2006 | A.J. Hawk | Football | Jessica Davenport | Basketball |
| 2007 | Troy Smith | Football | Jessica Davenport | Basketball |
* Recipient of the Big Ten Jesse Owens Award
# Recipient of the Big Ten Suzy Favor Award
