BIG EAST Picks Selvie & Five Bulls
December 05, 2007 | Football
Complete List of BIG EAST Postseason Awards
TAMPA, Fla. ? Six University of South Florida football players were awarded all-conference honors on Wednesday morning and as has been the case most of the 2007 season, sophomore defensive end George Selvie stole the show.
Selvie was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 14.5 sacks and 31.5 tackles for loss in 12 regular season games. He is just a one-half TFL short of tying the NCAA single season record of 32.
He is the first Bull to receive the defensive honor and just the third USF player to earn a league POY. Last season, Matt Grothe picked up the coaches vote as Freshman of the Year and Ean Randoplh was named the Special Team Player of the Year.
“I never expected any of this,” said Selvie. “I came into the year and I just wanted to help our team. We've had a good season and accomplished some unbelievable things. I'm glad I have contributed my part. An award like this says more about our entire defensive unit. I can't have any success without the other 10 players on defensive, as well as my defensive coaches.”
Selvie was also a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection on the defensive side of the ball. Senior LB Ben Moffitt and senior CB Mike Jenkins also earned first team honors. It is the first ever BIG EAST honor for Moffit and the second for Jenkins, who was named to the second team in 2005.
Moffitt is second on the team with 100 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He has been the leader of the defense and a regular selection at captain by head coach Jim Leavitt.
Jenkins has made his name with his lockdown cover abilities over the last four seasons. He has a career high four interceptions this season, plus 12 pass breakups and a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD.
Joining their fellow defensive players were senior CB Trae Williams and junior LB Tyrone McKenzie, who both picked up second team honors. Williams was a first team selection by the BIG EAST last season.
Williams has six interceptions this season and 13 over the last two years, which is the highest total among all NCAA FBS players. He has returned three straight interceptions for touchdowns.
McKenzie leads the Bulls with 111 tackles this year and is one of the top tackle producers in all of college football. He has 240 tackles over the last two seasons, including 129 he racked at Iowa State as a sophomore.
The lone offensive player recognized by the coaches was offensive lineman Ryan Schmidt, who was named to the second team. The Bulls offense has produced program records for total yardage (5,059) and points (430) this season and has finished with a flurry behind its underrated offensive line. Schmidt and company have helped pave the way for USF, which has posted 40-plus points in the last three games and 30 or more in four straight.
“All of these players are deserving and I am very proud of each of them,” said Leavitt. “They work hard every day and provide a great example for their teammates and young fans everywhere. They go about things the right way and now they are awarded by the coaches of the BIG EAST. That's quite an honor, one I'm sure they will never forget.”
It marks the second consecutive year USF has landed three players on the first team and increases the program's total to seven first team selections in three years as a BIG EAST member. Last year, Ean Randolph (KR), Trae Williams (CB) and Stephen Nicolas (LB) were on the first team.
