Aikman Wants Dallas Decision : Seeks Early Word on Draft to Get Ready for NFL

UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman says he hopes the Dallas Cowboys will soon let him know that they will make him the No. 1 pick in the National Football League draft.

Aikman made the comment in Ft. Worth on Monday night when he accepted the Davey O’Brien Trophy.

Aikman said he hopes the Cowboys will commit publicly that they will draft him so that he can work out contract negotiations and report to off-season workouts as soon as possible.

“Until Dallas tells me they will draft me, I can’t assume anything,” Aikman said. “I’d like to get where I’m going as soon as possible.”

Aikman, the 12th recipient of the O’Brien Award, was cited as the nation’s outstanding quarterback by members of the Davey O’Brien Education and Charitable Trust.

The award is named in honor of the late Texas Christian University quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner.

Aikman, a 6-foot-3, 217-pounder from Henrietta, Okla., said he was extremely honored to be chosen from such a large number of outstanding players.

Aikman edged Miami quarterback Steve Walsh in the balloting.

Among the previous winners present for the ceremony was last year’s recipient, Don MacPherson of Syracuse, and two former Brigham Young All-Americans, Jim McMahon and Steve Young.

Aikman, rated by NFL scouts as the top quarterback prospect since Stanford’s John Elway in 1983, is expected to be taken by the Cowboys as the top pick in the NFL draft.