US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLO. -- Air Force freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson was named the Mountain West Conference’s freshman of the year by Sporting News, according to a release today by the popular sports magazine.

Jefferson also earned MWC freshman of the year honors in a vote of head coaches and media within the league earlier this month.

Jefferson recorded a 5-2 record as the starting quarterback after taking over in the sixth game of the season. Just the fourth freshman starting quarterback in school history, Jefferson rushed for 373 yards and hit 37 of 66 passes for a team-best 557 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. His 142.86 quarterback efficiency rating is the eighth best in school history. He was named MWC offensive player of the week earlier this season vs. UNLV after rushing for a career-best 99 yards and hitting of seven passes for 162 yards and the first two touchdown passes of his career.

Air Force finished the season 8-4 overall and finished fourth in the MWC with a 5-3 mark. The Falcons play Houston (7-5, 6-2 C-USA) in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 11 a.m. central in Amon G. Carter Stadium.     

Information provided by US Air Force Academy Athletics.