JACKSON, Miss. - Jackson State's Tristan Jarrett and Dayzsha Rogan have won the fan portion of the voting process for the 2021 C Spire Howell and Gillom Trophies, awarded to the State of Mississippi's top men's and women's basketball player.

The fan vote will count for a weighted 10% of the C Spire Howell Trophy, and the C Spire Gillom Trophy.  Coaches, professional scouts, and a panel of statewide sports news media determine the remaining 90 percent of the voting.

Rogan was named SWAC Player of the Year and placed on the first team and Williams earned SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team accolades.
 
Rogan was the preeminent scorer in the conference. The Ripley, Mississippi native averaged 17.8 points per game and tallied 356 points. Rogan was an efficient 80.3 percent (53-for-66) from the free-throw line and her 49 three-pointers led the SWAC. She also ranked in the top 40 nationally with a 41.5 percent three-point field goal percentage and tallied 40 steals which was second in the conference.
 
Jarrett led the league in scoring with 20.3 points per contest. He was the key scoring threat for a Jackson State Tigers team that was crowned 2021 SWAC Men's Basketball regular season co-champions. Jarrett was named SWAC Player of the Year and to the All-SWAC team.

He also ranked 10^th in the league in rebounds per game (5.7), third in free throw percentage (.835), fifth in field goal percentage (.413), first in three-point field goals made per game (2.4), ninth n steals per game (1.5) and seventh in minutes played per game (31.7).

For the first time in the award program's 25-year history, Mississippi football, baseball, and basketball fans will have the opportunity to take part together in the voting for the 2021 C Spire Outstanding Player Awards, which annually honors the Magnolia state's top male and female college athletes.
 
The awards program was canceled last year after a global pandemic caused some sports to be discontinued and others to be curtailed due to health restrictions and concerns.  "College sports is back and we're anxious for fans to weigh on their favorite players and programs," said Bill Blackwell, executive director of the MSHOF.
 
Due to pandemic restrictions and general health concerns, the MSHOF and C Spire, which co-sponsor the awards, will confer the Outstanding Player Awards during a virtual program on Monday, May 24 at noon. Fans, players, coaches, and family members can watch the program live online at www.msfame.com. Veteran CBS NFL television analyst Charles Davis will be the special master of ceremonies.
 
"College sports are an important part of our state's social fabric - so we felt it was important that we continue to honor these athletes and schools while giving passionate fans another way to support their favorite teams and players in a safe and responsible way," said Jim Richmond, Vice President of Marketing for C Spire.

OFFICIAL RELEASE 

Mississippi State outfielder Tanner Allen, Jackson State guard Tristan Jarrett, Jackson State guard Dayzsha Rogan and Mississippi Valley State linebacker Jerry Garner were the top vote getters and winners of the fan voting segment for the 2021 C Spire Outstanding Player Awards, which annually honor Mississippi's top college baseball, football, men's and women's basketball players.

Fan voting results, which count for 10% of the total, were announced Monday afternoon after an email address validation process.  The awards program was curtailed last year by co-sponsors C Spire and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame after a public health crisis caused some sports to be discontinued and others to be rescheduled due to health restrictions and concerns.  

A total of 37,988 votes were cast for the 19 nominees from Magnolia state public colleges and universities via online voting during the six-day long fan voting period sponsored by C Spire and the MSHOF.  Overall winners of the four awards will be announced on Monday, May 24 at noon during a special virtual program online at www.msfame.com.  Veteran CBS NFL television analyst Charles Davis will be the special master of ceremonies.

Top-polling nominees and the votes they received for the C Spire Outstanding Players Awards in 2021:

• Football: Conerly Trophy (selected by the schools that played football last fall and this spring): Mississippi Valley State University linebacker Jerry Garner 3,435 votes; Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes with 3,061 votes, Jackson State wide receiver Daylen Baldwin, 2,148 votes; Southern Miss offensive lineman Arvin Fletcher, 1,929; Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore, 1,663; Belhaven running back Brad Foley, 572; Millsaps defensive back Christian Roberts, 192 and Mississippi College running back Cole Fagan with 17 votes.

• Men's basketball: Howell Trophy (selected by statewide media) Jackson State guard Tristan Jarrett received 6,481 votes while Mississippi State guard D.J. Stewart Jr. got 2,772 votes and Ole Miss guard Devontae Shuler trailed with 1,446 votes.

• Women's basketball: Gillom Trophy (selected by statewide media) Jackson State guard Dayzsha Rogan edged out fellow teammate, center Ameshya Williams, with 3,591 votes to 3,158 votes.  Ole Miss forward Shakira Austin garnered 2,170 votes.

• Baseball: Ferriss Trophy (selected by Major League Baseball professional scouts and coaches): Mississippi State outfielder Tanner Allen was the top vote getter with 2,612 votes followed by fellow teammate and pitcher Landon Sims with 903. A trio of Ole Miss players led by pitchers Doug Nikhazy (699 votes) and Gunnar Hoglund (573 votes) and outfielder Kevin Graham (566 votes) rounded out the baseball tally.

This is the ninth time in the award's 25-year history that fan voting has been allowed for the prestigious awards.  "We have some of the most passionate college sports fans in the country and this gives them a way to have their voice heard in choosing Mississippi's best players," said Jim Richmond, vice president of Marketing for C Spire.

The awards are named after some Mississippi sports legends, including former college and NFL star Charlie Conerly, Boston Celtics basketball great Bailey Howell, Ole Miss' best all-round women's basketball player Peggy Gillom-Granderson and long-time coach and former college and Major League Baseball star Dave "Boo" Ferriss. All four have had storied college and professional careers in football, baseball and basketball.

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