Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton has snagged two more postseason awards to add to his already-loaded trophy case.
Newton was named the AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year at the NFL Honors show in San Francisco on Saturday night. His father, Cecil, accepted the awards on his behalf.
An hour away in Santa Clara, Newton will attempt to lead the Carolina Panthers to their first Super Bowl title in franchise history on Sunday night. He will become the first Auburn quarterback to start in a Super Bowl when the Panthers face Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos at 5:30 p.m.
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tied for second in the MVP voting, while Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown took second in the Offensive Player of the Year.
Newton led the NFL this season with 45 touchdowns — 35 passing and 10 rushing. He threw for 3,837 yards and posted a career-high efficiency rating of 99.2 while leading the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record.
The fifth-year pro was named the NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and All-Pro quarterback by the Pro Football Writers of America in January.
In his one season at Auburn in 2010, Newton won the Heisman Trophy and helped Auburn wins its second national title. He racked up 4,327 yards, becoming only the second player in SEC history to eclipse the 4,000-yard mark in a single season.
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