Senate Concurrent Resolution 508

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE "OLE MISS" STAR WIDE RECEIVER A.J. BROWN UPON HIS RECEIPT OF THE COVETED 2017 C SPIRE CONERLY TROPHY AND TO COMMEND HIS STELLAR FOOTBALL CAREER.

WHEREAS, Ole Miss Wide Receiver A.J. Brown won the 2017 C Spire Conerly Trophy on November 28, 2017, as Mississippi's most outstanding college football player this season; and

WHEREAS, now in its 22nd year, the C Spire Conerly Trophy is named after the late Charlie Conerly, the only football inductee in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame who was an All-American at a Mississippi university, an NFL Rookie of the Year and NFL All-Pro member and quarterbacked a team to a World Championship, and is given annually to the best college football player in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Brown, a sophomore from Starkville, Mississippi, finished the 2017 season as the Ole Miss single-season record-holder in receiving yards (1,252) and tied for the top spot in receiving touchdowns (11). He leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally in receiving yards per game (104.3); and

WHEREAS, his six 100-yard receiving games is tied for best in a single season, equaling Laquon Treadwell's mark in 2015. Brown finished third on the single-season record charts in receptions (75); and

WHEREAS, the award put an exclamation mark on a record-setting season for the sophomore from Starkville, who probably wrapped up the award by catching six passes for 167 yards and a touchdown in Ole Miss' 31-28 win over Mississippi State in the 2017 Egg Bowl; and

WHEREAS, Brown becomes the seventh Rebel, eighth time overall, to win the prestigious award. It also marks the first time Ole Miss has won the award in back-to-back seasons. The six former Rebels to win the Conerly Trophy include: Stewart Patridge (1997), Deuce McAllister (1999), Eli Manning (2001, 2003), Patrick Willis (2006), Bo Wallace (2012) and Evan Engram (2016); and

WHEREAS, we commend the stellar football career of an outstanding football player who has added another line to his Mississippi football legacy and has brought honor to his university, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize Ole Miss Wide Receiver A.J. Brown upon his win of the coveted C Spire Conerly Trophy and commend his stellar football career, and extend our best wishes to A.J. and his family on this auspicious honor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to A.J. Brown, forwarded to the University of Mississippi Football Coach Matt Luke, University of Mississippi Chancellor Jeffrey S. Vitter and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.