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Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

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http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=1346198

Sun Belt Conference Releases All-Conference Football Teams

NEW ORLEANS – A breakout season for Florida Atlantic’s football program was further solidified Wednesday as the Sun Belt Conference released its All-Conference Football teams.  Owl sophomore quarterback Rusty Smith was named the Sun Belt’s Player of the Year and legendary head coach Howard Schnellenberger was named the league’s Coach of the Year.

The awards come days after FAU accepted its first bowl bid.  The Owls are the fastest start-up program to earn a bowl berth and will play the Memphis Tigers, 7 p.m., Friday, December 21 in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

Smith, who passed for a Sun Belt season record 3,352 yards on the season, was also named first team all-conference quarterback.  Fellow Owls Jason Harmon (Jr., TE), Cortez Gent (So., WR), Frantz Joseph (Jr., LB), Cergile Sincere (Sr., LB) and Tavious Polo (Fr., DB) joined Smith on the first team.  John Rizzo (Jr., OL), Jarrid Smith (Sr., OL), Jervonte Jackson (Jr., DL) and Corey Small (Jr., DB) were named second team all-conference.  Eight of FAU’s ten All-Conference first or second team players are underclassmen.

Additional accolades were handed out to Troy’s Omar Haugabook (Offensive Player of the Year), Arkansas State’s Tyrell Johnson (Defensive Player of the Year), Troy’s Chris Bradwell (Newcomer of the Year) and North Texas’ Giovanni Vizza (Freshman of the Year).

Haugabook, the Sun Belt’s Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year last season, had an impressive 2007 campaign – passing for almost 3,000 yards and rushing for over 600 yards.  Haugabook had 30 total touchdowns on the season (18 passing, 11 rushing, and one receiving) and led the Sun Belt in total offense.

Johnson finished out his career at Arkansas State as a four time All-Sun Belt selection.  He was selecting as this season’s top defender in a year in which he broke the league’s all-time tackles record.

Vizza, meanwhile, put up gaudy numbers from the quarterback position in his freshman campaign.  He set the NCAA record for most passing touchdowns by a freshman with eight TD tosses against Navy and tied the record for most passing touchdowns in a half regardless of class with seven against Navy.

Player of Year

Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic, So., QB)


Offensive Player of Year

Omar Haugabook (Troy, Sr., QB)

Defensive Player of the Year

Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)

Newcomer of the Year

Chris Bradwell (Troy, Sr., DL)

Freshman of the Year

Giovanni Vizza (North Texas, Fr., QB)

Coach of the Year

Howard Schnellenberger, FAU


First Team All-Sun Belt Conference Offense

Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic, So, QB)

Tyrell Fenroy (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., RB)

Calvin Dawson (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., RB)

Cortez Gent (Florida Atlantic, So., WR)

Casey Fitzgerald (North Texas, Jr., WR)

Jason Harmon (Florida Atlantic, Jr., TE)

Matt Mandich (Arkansas State, Jr., OL)

Jesse Newman (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., OL)

Franklin Dunbar (Middle Tennessee, Jr., OL)

Kyle Cunningham (ULM, Sr., OL)

Dion Small (Troy, Jr., OL)

First Team All-Sun Belt Conference Defense

Rodney Hardeway (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., DL)

Tavares Jones (Middle Tennessee, Sr., DL)

Erik Walden (Middle Tennessee, Sr., DL)

Jeremiah Chapman (North Texas, Sr., DL)

Frantz Joseph (Florida Atlantic, Jr., LB)

Cergile Sincere (Florida Atlantic, Sr., LB)

Boris Lee (Troy, So., LB)

Khayyam Burns (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)

Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)

Tavious Polo (Florida Atlantic, Fr., DB)


Elbert Mack (Troy, Sr., DB)

First Team All-Sun Belt Conference Special Teams

Greg Whibbs (Troy, Sr., PK)

Scott Love (ULM, So., P)

Leodis McKelvin (Troy, Sr., KR)

Desmond Gee (Middle Tennessee, So., All Purpose)

Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference Offense

Omar Haugabook (Troy, Sr., QB)

Reggie Arnold (Arkansas State, So., RB)

Kenny Cattouse (Troy, Sr., RB)

Levi Dejohnette (Arkansas State, Sr., WR)

Gary Banks (Troy, Sr., WR)

Zeek Zacharie (ULM, Jr., TE)

John Rizzo (Florida Atlantic, Jr, OL)

Jarrid Smith (Florida Atlantic, Sr., OL)


Adam Hill (ULM, Sr., OL)

Chris Fisher (Louisiana-Lafayette, So., OL)

Kelvin Drake (North Texas, So., OL)

Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference Defense

Jervonte Jackson (Florida Atlantic, Jr., DL)

David Cooper (ULM, Sr., DL)

Kenny Mainor (Troy, Jr., DL)

Shawn Todd (Troy, Sr., DL)

Koby McKinnon (Arkansas State, Sr. LB)

Antwyne Zanders (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., LB)

Cardia Jackson (ULM, So., LB)

Corey Small (Florida Atlantic, Jr., DB)


Greg James (ULM, So., DB)

Bradley Robinson (Middle Tennessee, Sr., DB)

Leodis McKelvin (Troy, Sr., DB)

Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference Special Teams

Drew Edmiston (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., PK)

Brett Shrable (Arkansas State, Jr., P)

Lionell Singleton (Florida International, Sr., KR)

Michael Desormeaux (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., All Purpose)

Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference: Corey Leonard (Arkansas State, So., QB), Alex Carrington (Arkansas State, So., DE), Kris Bartels (Florida Atlantic, Sr., DB), Charles Pierre (Florida Atlantic, Jr., RB), Scott Bryant (Florida International, So., LB), Ashlyn Parker (Florida International, So., DB), Korey Raymond (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., DL), Grant Fleming (Louisiana-Lafayette, Fr., LB), Frank Goodin (ULM, Fr. RB), Aaron Morgan (ULM, So., DL), DeMarco McNair (Middle Tennessee, Sr., RB), Alex Suber (Middle Tennessee, Jr., DB), Brandon Jackson (North Texas, Sr., WR), Craig Robertson (North Texas, Fr., LB), Chris Jamison (Troy, Jr., OL), Sherrod Martin (Troy, Jr., DB)
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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

WOOT!

Grats guys and to all the owls. Im now posting this list to the memphis board to strike fear into the hearts of the tigers.

;D

I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick @$$ and I'm out of bubble gum.

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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

How does Rusty win overall Player of the Year without also winning Offensive Player of the Year?

President of the No Homers Club. Keepin' it real since 2001.
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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

CanadianOwl said

How does Rusty win overall Player of the Year without also winning Offensive Player of the Year?

Maybe they felt bad for Troy  ;)
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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

HOOT there it is!!!!

Great accomplishments for everyone involved.


I don't understand how Rusty gets player of the year and not offensive player of the year and how Omar gets offensive player of the year, without being 1st team all conference (Rusty got that one).

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

Wouldn't rusty also be in line for Newcomer of the Year?

Oh well.  This shouldn't surprise us.

Like things, love people.
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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

Fledgling said

Wouldn't rusty also be in line for Newcomer of the Year?

Oh well.  This shouldn't surprise us.

He had some starts last year so he wouldn't be in line for newcomer of the year. Polo on the other hand probably got some serious consideration for freshman of the year honors.

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

I'm sure Troy's Newcomer of the year who is a senior played as well.  Omar won it for newcomer of the year last year…

Like things, love people.
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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

Fledgling said

I'm sure Troy's Newcomer of the year who is a senior played as well.  Omar won it for newcomer of the year last year…

He was a JC tranfer and it was his first year at 1-A & Troy
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Re: Rusty and Howard win Sun Belt awards!

I don't understand why Polo didn't get Freshman of the Year. He is the only freshman that made 1st team. Giovanni Vizza didn't even make honorable mention.

FAU - THE REAL SLEEPING GIANT
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