NEW ORLEANS North Texas defensive lineman Brandon Kennedy was named the 2002 Sun Belt Conference Football Player of the Year as announced today by the conference office. Kennedy, a junior defensive tackle from Terrell, Texas, was also named the leagues Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous first team all-conference selection. Arkansas State running back Danny Smith was named Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate Jonathan Burke picked up Newcomer of the Year honors. New Mexico State quarterback Paul Dombrowski was named the leagues Freshman of the Year. For the second year in a row, North Texas Darrell Dickey was named Coach of the Year by the all-conference voters after leading his team to its second conference championship and second appearance in the New Orleans Bowl. The Mean Green won the conference championship with a 6-0 record in league play and bring a 7-5 overall record into the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 17.

Brandon Kennedy has anchored a North Texas defense that is currently ranked ninth in the nation in total defense. Kennedy leads the league in tackles for loss with 24 and is second in quarterback sacks with nine. He is joined by five teammates on the all-conference defensive first team defensive lineman Darrel Daniels, linebackers Taylor Casey and Cody Spencer, and defensive backs Don McGee and Craig Jones. Three other North Texas defensive players made the leagues defensive second team defensive linemen Chris McIver and Adrian Awasom, and defensive back Jonas Buckles.

Danny Smith, a senior from Cleveland, Miss., established a new Sun Belt Conference single season rushing record with 1,390 yards and 14 touchdowns on 254 carries for the Indians. Making the holes in the front line for Smith were all-conference first team offensive lineman Garry Johnson and second team pick John Crossley. All four running backs named to the all-conference teams rushed for over 1,000 yards this season - on first team, Smith with 1,390 and North Texas Kevin Galbreath with 1,168; and on second team, Middle Tennessees Dwone Hicks with 1,011 and Louisiana-Monroes Bryant Jacobs with 1,043.

Jonathan Burke, a junior college transfer from Butte College, led the league with five interceptions in his first season with the Indians.

Paul Dombrowski, a redshirt freshman from Hesperia, Calif., spent most of the season as the starting quarterback for the Aggies. Dombrowski moved into the starting position when sophomore Buck Pierce was sidelined with an injury early in the season, then split playing time with Pierce as his injury improved. Dombrowski finished fifth in the league in total offense with 2,195 yards and sixth in rushing with 868 yards.

-complete teams-

2002 Sun Belt Conference Football All-Conference Teams

*=unanimous pick

First Team

Offense

Offensive Line: *Shalimar Jackson, Sr., New Mexico State; Garry Johnson, Sr., Arkansas State; Brandon Westbrook, Jr., Middle Tennessee; J.R. Randle, Sr., North Texas; Nick Zuniga, Jr., North Texas Tight End: *Jeff Muenchow, Sr., North Texas Wide Receivers: Fred Stamps, Jr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Mack Vincent, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe Quarterback: Brian Lindgren, Jr., Idaho Running Backs: *Danny Smith, Sr., Arkansas State; *Kevin Galbreath, Sr., North Texas

Defense

Defensive Line: *Brandon Kennedy, Jr., North Texas; John Bradley, Sr., Arkansas State; Corey Williams, Sr., Arkansas State; Darrell Daniels, Sr., North Texas Linebackers: Jordan Kramer, Sr., Idaho; Taylor Casey, Jr., North Texas; Cody Spencer, Jr., North Texas Defensive Backs: *Charles Tillman, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; *Siddeeq Shabazz, Sr., New Mexico State; Craig Jones, Jr., North Texas; Don McGee, Sr., North Texas

Special Teams

Kicker: *Dario Aguiniga, Jr., New Mexico State Punter: Robert Billings, Jr., Middle Tennessee Return Specialist: James Hickenbotham, Sr., Arkansas State All-Purpose: ReShard Lee, So., Middle Tennessee

 

Second Team

Offense

Offensive Line: John Crossley, Sr., Arkansas State; Jonathon Raush, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Glen Elarbee, Sr., Middle Tennessee; B.J. Van Briesen, Sr., New Mexico State; Matt Turney, Sr., North Texas Tight End: Josh Joerg, Jr., Louisiana-Lafayette Wide Receivers: Josh Jelmberg, Sr., Idaho; Tyrone Calico, Sr., Middle Tennessee Quarterback: Paul Dombrowski, Fr., New Mexico State Running Backs: Dwone Hicks, Sr., Middle Tennessee; Bryant Jacobs, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe

Defense

Defensive Line: Walter Sampson, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; John Thompson, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe; Adrian Awasom, So., North Texas; Chris McIver, Sr., North Texas Linebackers: Les Echols, Jr., Arkansas State; Carlos Hughes, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe; Rich Glover, So., New Mexico State Defensive Backs: Chuck Allen, Sr., Arkansas State; Jonathan Burke, Jr., Arkansas State; Chris Harris, So., Louisiana-Monroe; Jonas Buckles, So., North Texas

Special Teams

Kicker: Brian Kelly, Jr., Middle Tennessee Punter: Brad Kadlubar, So., North Texas Return Specialist: Cedric Thompson, Jr., Idaho All-Purpose: JaMel Branch, So., North Texas

 

Player of the Year: Brandon Kennedy, DT, Jr., North Texas

Offensive Player of the Year: Danny Smith, RB, Sr., Arkansas State

Defensive Player of the Year: Brandon Kennedy, DT, Jr., North Texas

Newcomer of the Year: Jonathan Burke, DB, Jr., Arkansas State

Freshman of the Year: Paul Dombrowski, QB, Fr., New Mexico State

Coach of the Year: Darrell Dickey, North Texas