New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)

QB Pyne named Walter Camp Connecticu­t Player of the Year

- By Dave Stewart STAFF WRITER David.Stewart@hearstmedi­act.com; @dstewartsp­orts

New Canaan’s Drew Pyne, who led Notre Dame football to an 8-2 record in 10 starts before transferri­ng to Arizona State, has been selected as Walter Camp’s 2022 Connecticu­t Player of the Year, presented by The Outlier Project.

The award, voted on by Walter Camp Football Foundation members, is given to the “top college football player who is a resident and/or played scholastic­ally in the state of Connecticu­t.”

Pyne, a quarterbac­k, is the second New Canaan player to receive the award, joining DE Zach Alllen, who was selected in 2018 while playing for Boston College. Allen was drafted by Arizona in the 2019 NFL draft and is now in his fourth year with the Cardinals.

Pyne took over as Notre Dame’s starting quarterbac­k following an injury to Tyler Buchner during a 26-21 loss to Marshall in September.

He led the Fighting

Irish to victories over California, North Carolina and BYU in his first three games as the starter, and finished with four wins in five games against teams ranked in the Top 25.

Pyne was 164-for-254 passing, a 64.6 completion percentage, for 2,021 yards and 22 touchdowns with six intercepti­ons. His 155.3 quarterbac­k rating ranked 20th in the FBS.

Pyne’s performanc­e included five games with more than 200 passing yards, including a seasonbest 318 against USC in a 38-27 loss on Nov. 26.

He passed for a seasonhigh four TDs in a 35-32 win over Navy on Nov. 12, and had one passing TD and one rushing TD in a 35-14 victory over then fourth-ranked Clemson on Nov. 5

Pyne’s top target during the 2022 season was Walter Camp First Team AllAmerica tight end Michael Mayer.

In December, Pyne entered the transfer portal and later that month met with Arizona State’s new head coach Kenny Dillingham before committing to the Sun Devils. He has three years of eligibilit­y remaining.

While playing for New Canaan and head coach Lou Marinelli, Pyne set numerous program passing records, including yards (9.411), touchdowns (105), and completion­s (701). He ranks in Connecticu­t’s top five in all those categories, and is one of just six state QBs to reach 100 TD passes in their careers.

As a senior with the Rams, Pyne threw for 2,107 yards and 24 touchdown and earned Walter Camp Second Team AllConnect­icut honors

Pyne will be honored alongside the members of the 2022 Walter Camp AllAmerica Team, Player of Year Caleb Williams (USC) and Coach of Year Sonny Dykes (TCU) at the Foundation’s 57th National Awards Gala, presented by 777 Partners, on Saturday, Mar. 11, at Yale’s University Schwarzman Center in New Haven.

 ?? Chris Seward/Associated Press ?? Quarterbac­k Drew Pyne, a New Canaan native, has been selected as Walter Camp’s 2022 Connecticu­t Player of the Year, presented by The Outlier Project.
Chris Seward/Associated Press Quarterbac­k Drew Pyne, a New Canaan native, has been selected as Walter Camp’s 2022 Connecticu­t Player of the Year, presented by The Outlier Project.

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