GREENSBORO, N.C. – Miami freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya has been voted the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year following a 2014 season in which he leads the league in touchdown passes and holds a high ranking in a number of other categories.
The West Hills, California, native was also honored as the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year. He currently ranks second among ACC quarterbacks in passing yards with 2,962 and fifth in total offense with 236.5 yards per game. Kaaya’s 148.2 passing efficiency rating leads the conference.
Kaaya was chosen for the award by 22 of the 55 members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA) who cast ballots for postseason football honors.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Kaaya threw for over 200 yards on eight occasions while leading the Hurricanes to six wins and a spot in a postseason bowl game.
Kaaya’s impressive debut season saw him set the Miami true freshman single-game passing yardage record on two occasions – first with 342 yards against Arkansas State on Sept. 13, then with 359 a week later against Nebraska.
Kaaya threw a combined seven touchdown passes in the two games. He was voted the ACC Rookie of the Week on Oct. 13 after finishing 17-for-24 for 286 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Cincinnati.
His 25 touchdown passes tie Ken Dorsey and Bernie Kosar for the fourth most touchdown passes in a single season at Miami.
Kaaya’s 2,962 yards passing are the fourth-best by a freshman in ACC history, trailing only Florida State’s Jameis Winston (4,057 in 2013), FSU’s Drew Weatherford (3,208 in 2005) and NC State’s Philip Rivers (3,054 in 2000).