FWAA > News > 2003 FWAA Freshman All-America Team

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (FWAA) – A pair of LSU teammates who led the Tigers to the BCS national championship top the third annual Scripps/FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

Tailback Justin Vincent, who was the most valuable player in LSU's 21-14 win over Oklahoma in the 2004 Nokia Sugar Bowl, and safety LaRon Landry, who picked off a pass in the Tigers' 34-13 romp over Georgia in the SEC title game, are two of the six SEC selections on this year's squad. Florida provided three of those players from the SEC in quarterback Chris Leak, defensive lineman Ray McDonald and linebacker Channing Crowder.

Another pair of teammates on the Scripps/FWAA team, Southern California's Reggie Bush and Darnell Bing, vaulted their team to a 12-1 record, the Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl championship as well as the school's fifth Grantland Rice national championship trophy. The multi-talented Bush made was chosen as the kick return specialist, while Bing's consistency at safety helped anchor the Trojans' stellar defense.

The 27-member Scripps/FWAA team was selected by an 11-man committee representing each of the NCAA's Division I-A football conferences.

More than 70 players were nominated and evaluated by the committee. The vote took place following the respective conference championship games and before the bowl games. Thirteen of the 27 players selected are true freshmen, including eight on defense.

Tulsa's Steve Kragthorpe was named the first-year coach of the year after leading the Hurricane to an 8-5 record and its first bowl appearance in 12 years. Kragthorpe, who took over a team that finished 1-11 in 2002, is also a finalist for the FWAA's Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year.

The representatives who selected the 2003 team as follows: Bob Thomas, Florida Times-Union (ACC); Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Big Ten); Doug Smock, Charleston Gazette (MAC); Mark Anderson, Las Vegas Review-Journal (MWC); Mike Griffith, Knoxville News Sentinel (SEC), Ted Miller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Pac-10); Paul Letlow, The Monroe News-Star (Sun Belt) Adam Thompson, Denver Post (Big 12); Marek Warszawski, Fresno Bee (WAC); Ron Higgins, The Commercial Appeal (Conference USA); and Michael Vega, Boston Globe (Big East).

2003 SCRIPPS/FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
QB	• Chris Leak, Florida	6-1	205	Charlotte, N.C.
RB	• Laurence Maroney, Minnesota	5-11	200	St. Louis, Mo.
RB	Robert Merrill, TCU	5-10	190	San Antonio, Texas
RB	• Justin Vincent, LSU	5-11	208	Lake Charles, La.
WR	Steve Breaston, Michigan	6-1	176	North Braddock, Pa.
WR	Steve Odom, Toledo	5-10	165	Columbus, Ohio
C	Kyle Young, Fresno State	6-5	320	Fallbrook, Calif.
OL	Justin Blalock, Texas	6-4	330	Plano, Texas
OL	Leroy Harris, N.C. State	6-3	285	Raleigh, N.C.
OL	Samson Satele, Hawaii	6-3	289	Kaneohe, Hawaii
OL	Robert Turner, New Mexico	6-3	320	Austin, Texas
DEFENSE
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
DL	• Jason Berryman, Iowa State	6-2	230	Houston, Texas
DL	Ray McDonald, Florida	6-3	252	Belle Glade, Fla.
DL	Brian Smith, Missouri	6-3	220	Denton, Texas
DL	• Mario Williams, N.C. State	6-7	254	Richlands, N.C.
LB	• Ahmad Brooks, Virginia	6-4	249	Woodbridge, Va.
LB	• Nick Bunting, Tulsa	6-1	205	Tulsa, Okla.
LB	• Channing Crowder, Florida	6-2	236	Atlanta, Ga.
DB	• Darnell Bing, Southern California	6-2	220	Lakewood, Calif.
DB	Brandon Browner, Oregon State	6-4	194	Sylmar, Calif.
DB	• LaRon Landry, LSU	6-1	180	Ama, La.
DB	• Eric Weddle, Utah	5-11	185	Alta Loma, Calif.
SPECIALISTS
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
K	James Wilhoit, Tennessee	5-10	190	Hendersonville, Tenn.
P	Brandon Fields, Michigan State	6-5	219	Toledo, Ohio
KR	• Reggie Bush, Southern California	6-0	190	Spring Valley, Calif.
PR	• Ryne Robinson, Miami (Ohio)	5-10	169	Toledo, Ohio
AP	Willie Idlette, Wake Forest	5-11	169	Chattanooga, Tenn.
HEAD COACH
	Steve Kragthorpe, Tulsa
• Denotes true freshman; AP: All-purpose player