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Football Honors Individuals, Seniors Players
Jan. 27, 2008
BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University's football team celebrated its historic 2007 season by honoring 12 seniors and bestowed individual honors Sunday afternoon at the team's annual awards banquet. Quarterback Rusty Smith garnered top honors as the team's MVP. His team MVP plaque adds to a long list of season-long accomplishments that include being named the USA Today's Offensive Player of the Week, a two-time Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week selection, the Shula Bowl MVP, first team all Sun Belt Conference pick, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and the New Orleans Bowl MVP. On the season, Smith was 281-for-479 for 3,688 yards. He averaged 283.7 yards per game and threw for 32 touchdowns. His quarterback efficiency was 141.63. Smith set FAU team records for single-game pass attempts (54), season pass attempts (479), completions in a game (35), completions in a season (281), passing yards in a game (463), passing yards in a season (3,688), average passing yards per game (283.7), and touchdowns in a game (5 twice). Smith also made FAU history as the first quarterback to guide the team to its first bowl game and first bowl victory.
Fifth-year senior Jarrid Smith was an instrumental part of the team's offensive line, known as the "O" line's big brother. Smith provided the leadership that saw the line allow the protection needed for Rusty Smith, along with teammates Sean Clayton and Jeff VanCamp, On the season, the Owls allowed just 16 sacks in 13 games. Smith was also the first FAU player to graduate prior to his final season and return to obtain a second degree. Smith earned the team's Offensive MVP honor.
Fellow fifth-year senior Cergile Sincere walked away with the team's Defensive MVP award. Sincere tallied 117 tackles in 2007 which would have been a new program record if his total wasn't surpassed by fellow linebacker Frantz Joseph, who registered 131 tackles. Sincere, a leader both by word and action, also had nine tackles for a loss of 26 yards. In January, Sincere became the third player to represent FAU at the Hula Bowl. Special Teams MVP was awarded to DiIvory Edgecomb. Edgecomb, a junior, set a single-season mark for total returns (48) and for single-season return yards with 1,115 which broke the previous record of 739 set by Anthony Jackson in 2001. He nearly tripled the next highest returner. Edgecomb also was credited with putting the team into excellent field position, allowing FAU a come-from-behind victory over the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, which kept the season alive. Edgecomb was often the tone setter with game opening returns that surprised opponents, much like his 42-yard return to open the 2007 New Orleans Bowl. Edgecomb ended his junior campaign ranked No. 60 nationally in return yardage. Zachary Wichner, better known to the team as "Wich" doctor, earned the FAU football's Student-Athlete of the Year Award. The honor is given each year to the squad member with the highest cumulative G.P.A., with weight on major and community service. Wichner has a 3.37 cumulative G.P.A. and will graduate this spring with a major in biological science/pre-med. He was accepted to Nova University Medical School the same week as the New Orleans Bowl game. Most Improved Player was awarded to sophomore wide receiver Cortez Gent. Gent made great strides in spring practice and had a breakout game versus the University of Minnesota, registering his first 100-yard game -- the first of five on the year. The sophomore tallied 1,082 yards on the season becoming the second FAU player to eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau. Gent also equaled FAU's all-time single season high in touchdown receptions with nine. Michael Hancock used his redshirt-junior year and the opportunities afforded to prove himself on the field through valuable playing time. His efforts did not go unnoticed on the defensive line, enroute to being named the team's Non-Scholarship MVP. Hancock was credited with 19 total tackles, three for a loss of 11 yards including one sack for a loss of seven. He was instrumental in the team's defensive line success, especially after the loss of two starters in the fourth game of the season. The first honor named after a former player is the Ramon Rickards "Bone" Award. Rickards (1981-2006) was a member of the first recruiting class and graduated with his fellow foundation builders in May 2005. The team's "hardest hitter" award was named in his honor at the 2006 Football Banquet. Frantz Joseph was the first recipient in 2006 and he repeated as the "Bone" Award winner in 2007. Joseph tallied 131 tackles in 2007 to set a new single-season team record. He had 12.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage totaling 26 yards and also was credited with two interceptions. The junior forced one fumble and recovered three proving he was always near the ball. A season highlight video began the event, followed by the All-Sun Belt recognition ceremonies and the announcement of individual awards. Players also were recognized as yearly letter winners and for academic success. The seniors also were honored for their leadership in guiding the program toward its publicly stated goals, all of which were met and surpassed. Team goals have been established with the knowledge that the team will open the 2008 season on August 30 at the University of Texas and will begin defending the Sun Belt Conference Championship on September 27 at the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
Accomplishments
List Members
All-Conference
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