Dec. 16, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Postseason accolades continue to roll in for Vanderbilt standout Warren Norman.
The first-year Commodore tailback/return specialist was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year by the Sporting News, the highly regarded sports publication and website announced Wednesday.
Norman, a product of Chamblee High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., has swept the SEC’s top freshman honors. The Sporting News recognition comes on the heels of Norman earning Freshman of the Year honors last week from SEC coaches and Associated Press beat writers.
Norman was joined on the Sporting News’ SEC All-Freshman Team by fellow Commodore Ryan Fowler, who matched a Vanderbilt record with 16 field goals.
The Sporting News also named Norman to its Freshman All-America squad on Wednesday. He was named as a kickoff returner on the team after tying a league mark with three kickoff returns for touchdowns.
Norman was named to Sporting News’ SEC All-Freshman team as the kickoff returner and tailback. He was splendid in both roles this season, rushing for 783 yards and amassing 1,050 yards on returns. He also became the SEC’s all-time freshman leader with 1,951 all-purpose yards, breaking a 29-year-old record established by former Georgia legend Herschel Walker.
Fowler started the season slowly, hitting just five of his nine field goal attempts. After a pair of consecutive misses against Ole Miss in a midseason game, Fowler found his accuracy, hitting 11 of his last 12 field goal tries. He was also 20 of 20 in extra point conversions.
