Dec 22, 2015 03:47 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

After finishing as the first runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, Christian McCaffrey took home the Associated Press' Player of the Year honors.

The AP voters, who voted weekly on the Top 25 poll, selected the Stanford running back with 29 out of 60 votes. Alabama running back finished second with 16 votes, followed by Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson with 11, and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds with two each.

"This award is a testament to all the efforts and support of my teammates, coaches, staff and the entire Stanford football program," McCaffrey told the AP.

McCaffrey finished second in the nation in rushing yards behind Henry, the Heisman Trophy winner. McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders' single-season record for all-purpose yards, tallying 1,847 yards on the ground, 540 in the air, 1,109 on kickoffs and punt returns, and even threw for 39 yards.

Stanford's athletics website noted McCaffrey was the first non-Heisman winner to win the AP Player of the Year in six years.

"What is Christian McCaffrey? The answer is football player," Stanford head football coach David Shaw told The AP. "It's not running back. It's not receiver. It's not returner. It's football player. What do you need for him to do?

"You can say he had the best year in the history of college football."

Stanford will play Iowa in the Rose Bowl against Iowa on Jan. 1.

(Stats courtesy of ESPN)

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