NEW YORK -- AP player of the year Jason White was picked yesterday as one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy award. The Oklahoma quarterback was joined by Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning and Michigan running back Chris Perry.

White, voted as AP's top player earlier yesterday, is the favourite along with Fitzgerald. The winner will be announced Saturday night at the Yale Club in New York.

Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer won the award last year.

Manning was the only one of the finalists who was prominently mentioned as a leading candidate before the season started.

White was coming off a pair of season-ending knee injuries, Fitzgerald was only a sophomore and Perry had never had a breakout season.

White had one of the best seasons ever for a college quarterback, guiding the Sooners to a 12-1 record and keeping them at the top of the polls until the final week of the season.

He threw at least two touchdown passes every game until struggling in the Big 12 championship last Saturday against Kansas State. He went 27-of-50 for 298 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 35-7 loss to the Wildcats.

Fitzgerald had 87 catches for 1,595 yards and 22 touchdowns, but his team finished 8-4. He caught at least one touchdown pass in all 12 games -- tying Randy Moss's single-season NCAA record -- and in a record 18 consecutive games dating to last season.

He set seven Big East records while leading the nation in receiving yards per game (132.9), total receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and total touchdowns.

Perry capped a spectacular season with a 204-yard, two-TD game in a 35-21 victory against Ohio State that sent Michigan to the Rose Bowl.