Dec. 7, 2009
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ATLANTA, Ga. – Vanderbilt’s record-setting offensive weapon Warren Norman has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year by a panel of Associated Press sportwriters on Monday.
Norman, a true freshman from Chamblee High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., became the second Commodore to earn SEC Freshman of the Year honors, joining the late Kwane Doster, who received the recognition following a splendid season in 2002.
The sportswriters also named Vanderbilt cornerback Myron Lewis, a senior from Pompano Beach, Fla., to the All-SEC second team defense. Sophomore linebacker Chris Marve, the Commodores’ top tackler this season, earned honorable mention All-SEC consideration.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson was pleased to hear the news of Norman’s selection for the conference’s top freshman award.
“Writers around our conference saw the same player that I had to privilege to watch and coach,” Johnson said. “Warren put together a tremendous year for us, both as a running back and kickoff returner. He was as productive as any player in the nation’s best conference. I’m truly looking forward to watching Warren improve in the years to come.
“I’m also pleased that the writers recognized Myron’s season and his stellar career at Vanderbilt. He has been an outstanding player for our defense for four years. I also thought both of our linebackers, Chris and Patrick (Benoist), were tremendously productive this season and very much deserving of all-conference consideration,” Johnson added.
The versatile Norman set several SEC and Vanderbilt marks in his first season in a Commodore uniform. He amassed 1,941 all-purpose yards, breaking the league’s freshman all-purpose record set 29 years ago by Georgia legend Herschel Walker. Norman also topped the SEC with an average of 161.8 all-purpose yards, becoming the first freshman to lead the SEC in all-purpose yardage since Walker.
Norman also tied a league record by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns and broke the conference mark for most kickoff return yards in a season, compiling 1,050 yards on returns.
New Vanderbilt single-season marks set by Norman include all-purpose yardage, kickoff returns for touchdowns, and total kickoff return yardage. His 26.2-yard kickoff return average also ranks as the highest modern-day average by a Commodore with at least 10 returns.
Norman also posted 783 rushing yards, the second highest total ever by a Commodore freshman behind Doster’s 2002 total of 798 yards. He was the SEC’s eighth leading rusher.
Lewis contributed four interceptions, 12 passes defended and 41 total tackles in his final year as a Commodore. He ranked fourth in the SEC this season in both interceptions and defensed passes.
Lewis finished his career tied for second among active SEC players with 10 interceptions. He is tied for ninth all-time among Commodores in interceptions.
Marve was the SEC’s second leading tackler with 121 total tackles. He also ranked third in the league with 57 solo tackles and three forced fumbles.
