Jan. 9, 2003

Florida Atlantic University's Gridiron Club hosted its second annual football awards banquet at the Deerfield Beach Hilton, Thursday night, welcoming back the students to Spring term and honoring those who excelled both athletically and academically during the 2002 campaign.

FAU finished its second season with a record of 2-9. With the program's sites set on becoming the best NCAA I-AA program prior to its Division I-A move, the Owls faced three Division I-A opponents, including USF which finished 9-2 on the season and just missed a bowl invitation, and five of eight teams that FAU faced in I-AA play ended the season ranked in the top-25. The 2002 Owls faced 11 young men that earned All-American status.

Quarterback Jared Allen, receiver Brittney Tellis, punter Andy Rosas and kicker Mark Myers ended their seasons ranked among the nation's best at their respective positions.

Sixty players earned varsity letters, including 36 who received a letter during the program's inaugural season.

The following are the 2003 award winners:
Gridiron Club Award (Senior MVP): Jordan Roberts (22 tackles, 10 for a loss of 33 yards)
Non-Scholarship MVP: OL George Guffey, and RB, Daveon Barron (led the team in rushing with a 47.4 yards per game average. Scored four TDs)
Most-Improved Player: Teddy Strachan (31 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss of 17)
Student-Athlete Award: Chris McKinley...3.7 g.p.a. (37 tackles, 2 for a loss of six and one fumble recovery)
Special Teams MVP: Matt Prudenti (8 catches for an 11.1 yards per game average, 11 kick returns for 251 yards and was the holder)
Defensive MVP: Yrvens Guerrier (15 tackles, for a loss of 14 yards, two were sacks)
Offensive MVP: Jared Allen (passing 193-98-6, 7 passing TDs, 2 rushing TDs)
Team MVP: Chris Laskowski (Led the team in tackles with 84, 11 were for a loss of 36, one pass broken-up and one forced.

The following received a letter
(* denotes number):
Dwayne Akerblom*
Jared Allen**
Daveon Barron*
Kenneth Campos**
Arthur Cave**
Mark Chase*
Ben Coker**
Dantson Dareus**
Shomari Earls*
Kevin Fischer**
Lawrence Gordon*
William Gray**
Yrvens Guerrier**
George Guffey*
Eric Harper*
Tyrone Higgins**
Willie Hughley*
Robert Hunnicutt*
Anthony Jackson**
Dimitri Jacques*
Garrett Jahn**
Mauratae Johnson**
Tremaine Johnson*
Kevin Ketchum**
Brett Konchak*
Chris Laskowski**
Samuel McCoy*
William McDonald**
Chris McKinley**
Chris Munoz**
Mark Myers**
Taurian Osborne**
Thomas Parker**
Lee Pasick**
Todd Poitier**
Matt Prudenti**
David Richards**
Ramon Rickards**
Jordan Roberts**
Cameron Rodgers**
Andy Rosas**
Craig Roundtree**
Chris Salivar*
Aaron Sanchez*
Chris Shepherd**
Johnnie Sloan**
Teddy Strachan**
Quentin Swain*
Larry Taylor*
Brittney Tellis**
Jerrell Terry*
Joe Walker**
Nat Whitehurst*
Scott Whitener**