Breaking News -- Vizza Sun Belt Freshman Of The Year

[mgsteve]

Mean Green Blog

The Sun Belt Conference just released its postseason honors team and UNT quarterback Giovanni Vizza has been named the league's Freshman of the Year.

Vizza led the nation among true freshmen in passing yards with 2,388 and passing touchdowns with 16.

Wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald and defensive end Jeremiah Chapman were first-team all-league selections, offensive lineman Kelvin Drake was a second-team pick while wide receiver Brandon Jackson and linebacker Craig Robertson were named to the honorable mention team.

[Mean Green 93-98]

Congrats, Giovanni!

Also to Casey, Jeremiah, Kelvin, Brandon, and Craig!

Edited December 5, 2007 by Mean Green 93-98

[H-towngreen]

Congrats to Vizza! Drake will be first team for the next two years, mark it down. Robertson is a stud and made a huge impact this year, leading the team in int's. And do I really need to say anything about Fitz?

[UNT Mean Green]

awesome! Way to go Giovanni, Casey, Jeremiah, Kelvin, Brandon, and Craig!

Good news is that we have Giovanni, Casey, Kelvin, and Craig coming back! And yes, I'd say Eddrick Gilmore and AJ Penson are starters for certain on the defensive side of the ball.

Edited December 5, 2007 by UNT Mean Green

[KRAM1]

Way to go, guys! Great news for UNT and great to see the Mean Green getting some well deserved recognition! SUPER!

[untbowler]

Greats news for the team, hopefully the future will get brighter.

[GreenBat]

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 Sun Belt All-Conference teams are selected by each league head coach and a selected media panel.

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)

[MeanGreenEagle]

nice

[UNTflyer]

Congrats to all of our players honored by the Belt.

And a BIG kudos to Vizza.

[bigntex]

Giovanni, everyone at the highschool is pumped for you and Sam. Congratulations on representing your school and your community at Alamo Heights. If we only had Gio back one more season, we would be back in the finals against Copperas Cove.

All the best to you and Dib. Your work ethic in the weight room this spring is going to surprise those folks up in Denton.

[Cr1028]

Wow, no Truman Spencer or Aaron Weathers?

[NT03]

Sun Belt Conference Releases All-Conference Football Teams

Player of Year

Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic, So., QB)

Coach of the Year

Howard Schnellenberger, FAU

1st Team All-Sun Belt Conference Offense

Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic, So, QB)

Cortez Gent (Florida Atlantic, So., WR)

Jason Harmon (Florida Atlantic, Jr., TE)

1st Team All-Sun Belt Conference Defense

Frantz Joseph (Florida Atlantic, Jr., LB)

Tavious Polo (Florida Atlantic, Fr., DB)

Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference Defense

Jervonte Jackson (Florida Atlantic, Jr., DL)

Corey Small (Florida Atlantic, Jr., DB)

Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference: Charles Pierre (Florida Atlantic, Jr., RB)

Didn't realize how much talent FAU has coming back next year , going to be another tough year in 08

[Charlie NT 73]

FAU will have several all SBC players back next year, so look for FAU to be

a real top SBC team for the next few years. The big gun is QB Rusty Smith.

This guy has a NFL arm, 6-5, 220.

With the success FAU had this year, Snelly will be able to recruit higher

quality of players not just in Miami, but the whole state of Florida.

[Mean Green 93-98]

Wow, no Truman Spencer or Aaron Weathers?

Good call.