The Associated Press

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning was one of four Heisman Trophy finalists to be honored Thursday night, capturing the Maxwell Award as the nation's best all-around player.

Oklahoma's Jason White won the Davey O'Brien Award as the top QB, Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald got the Biletnikoff Award for best receiver and Michigan's Chris Perry earned the Doak Walker Award as top running back.

"I came here not expecting to win, so I'm shocked that I won it," Manning said after beating out White and Fitzgerald. "The other two guys had outstanding seasons on outstanding teams so this really is a surprise for me."

The Maxwell Award once was a good predictor of the Heisman Trophy, with 14-of-19 players earning both awards from 1981-99. But the last three Maxwell winners fell short in the Heisman race.

The Manning family knows all about that. Eli's older brother, Peyton, won the Maxwell in 1997 but was second to Michigan's Charles Woodson in the Heisman race.

"I know he's watching and very proud of me," Manning said. "I was proud of him when he won the award and it's great that we could share such a prestigious honor."

Two other Oklahoma players joined White by winning awards Thursday night. Linebacker Teddy Lehman won the Chuck Bednarik Trophy as best defensive player and cornerback Derrick Strait won the Jim Thorpe Award as best defensive back.

"I think it just goes to show what kind of athletes we have at Oklahoma and how good we have it going on there now," Lehman said. "If you ask me, we should have had 10 or 11 All-Americans just from the defense. We work really hard, we're well coached and this shows you how good we played all year."

Other award winners announced Thursday night were Iowa offensive lineman Robert Gallery for the Outland Trophy as best interior lineman, and Southern California's Pete Carroll won the Home Depot Coach of the Year Award.

San Jose State's Neil Parry won Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award.

Fitzgerald also won the Walter Camp Award as the top player in the nation.

SABAN HONORED: LSU coach Nick Saban's steady leadership helped him earn The Associated Press Coach of the Year honor Thursday.

"Even though I'm accepting the honor it's for all of the players and coaches and support staff also," Saban said. "They all had as big a part in it as I did. I'm very flattered and honored."

Saban received 22 votes in balloting by the panel of sports writers and broadcasters on the AP college football poll, beating out Southern California's Pete Carroll by five.

Terry Hoeppner of Miami of Ohio received one vote.

AUBURN: Coach Tommy Tuberville agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2008 season, a few weeks after top school officials were trying to replace him.

ALABAMA: Quarterback Brodie Croyle had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder Thursday.

Croyle is expected to participate in non-contact drills during spring practice, which starts on Feb. 23.