Georgia Southern senior quarterback Jayson Foster was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in a vote of the Southern Conference Sports Media Association. Foster helped the Eagles post a 7-4 record in 2007. The native of Canton, Ga. is ranked second in the nation in rushing (167.6 yards per game) and third in scoring (13.5 points per game).
Appalachian State defensive back Corey Lynch was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. The senior recorded 83 tackles in 2007 and helped lead the Mountaineers to a 9-2 record and a berth in the FCS Playoffs. The Cape Coral, Fla. native tied for the conference lead with four interceptions and finished sixth in the SoCon in passes defended with 10.
Elon quarterback Scott Riddle was a unanimous choice of the media for Freshman of the Year. The native of Ramseur, N.C. leads the nation in passing yards (347.0 yards per game) and pass completions (31.5 completions per game). He is third nationally in total offense with 339.8 yards per game.
Elon’s Pete Lembo, who led surprising the surprising Phoenix to a 7-4 mark in 2007, was named Coach of the Year.
Southern Conference regular season co-champion and two-time defending national champion Appalachian State placed 11 players on the all-conference team with four players on offense, six on defense and one specialist. Furman landed eight players on the all-conference squad including three on offense and five on defense. Southern Conference co-champion Wofford and The Citadel had seven players recognized. Wofford had five players on offense and two on defense recognized while The Citadel placed three on offense, three on defense and one specialist on the squad. Elon and Georgia Southern had six players each honored. The Phoenix had three players on offense, one on defense and two specialists earn all-conference honors. Georgia Southern had three offensive players, two defensive and one specialist named to the team. Western Carolina had four players, one on offense, two on defense and one specialist, make the team while Chattanooga landed one defensive player honored.
Southern Conference Sports Media Association
All-Southern Conference Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Jayson Foster, GSU
Defensive Player of the Year: Corey Lynch, ASU
Freshman of the Year: Scott Riddle, Elon*
Coach of the Year: Pete Lembo, Elon
Offense - First Team
QB- Jayson Foster, GSU
RB- Kevin Richardson, ASU
RB- Kevious Johnson, WOF
OL- Scott Suttle, ASU
OL- Kerry Brown, ASU
OL- Russell Orr, GSU
OL- Joel Bell, FUR
OL- Chris McDowell, CIT
TE- Larry Hedden, FUR
WR- Terrell Hudgins, Elon
WR- Eddie Cohen, WCU
PK- Julian Rauch, ASU
RS- Michael Mayers, Elon
Defense - First Team
DL- Wallace Artis, FUR
DL- Gary Tharrington, ASU
DL- Trevar Broughton, CIT
DL- Larry Beard, GSU
LB- Pierre Banks, ASU
LB- Seth Goldwire, WOF
LB- Quinton Phillips, WCU
DB- Corey Lynch, ASU
DB- Chris Camacho, UTC
DB- Chris Covington, GSU
DB- Josh Lawson, CIT
P- Brandon Lane, Elon
Offense - Second Team
QB- Scott Riddle, Elon
RB- Jerome Felton, FUR
RB- Tory Cooper, CIT
OL- Ben Quick, WOF
OL- Corey McKenna, WOF
OL- Derek Wooten, WOF
OL- Marcelo Estrada, GSU
OL- John Holt, ASU
TE- Fenn Allen, WOF
WR- Michael Mayers, Elon
WR- Andre Roberts, CIT
PK- Jesse Hartley, GSU
RS- Mike Malone, WCU
Defense - Second Team
DL- Justin Brown, FUR
DL- Anthony Williams, ASU
DL- Jeff Bradley, WCU
DL- Tony Robertson, ASU
LB- Corey Weaver, Elon
LB- Andrew Rowell, CIT
LB- Andrew Jones, FUR
DB- Thomas Twitty, FUR
DB- Dan Tavani, WOF
DB- Andrew Thacker, FUR
DB- Jerome Touchstone, ASU
P- Mark Kaspar, CIT
*- Unanimous selection