Dec. 9, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Vanderbilt all-purpose standout Warren Norman became the unanimous Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year when the league head coaches mirrored sportswriters Wednesday by naming the Commodore tailback/return specialist as the conference’s top first-year player.
The head coaches also named Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain and Alabama return specialist Javier Arenas as the SEC’s top offensive player, top defensive player and top special teams player, respectively.
In addition to Norman receiving the freshman award, the coaches selected Tebow as the SEC scholar-athlete of the year and LSU offensive lineman Ciron Black as the Jacobs Trophy recipient given to the league’s top blocker. Alabama’s Nick Saban was voted by his peers as the league’s top head coach.
Norman, from Chamblee High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., becomes the second Commodore to earn unanimous SEC Freshman of the Year honors, joining Kwane Doster (2002). A panel of Associated Press beat writers selected Norman for the freshman award on Monday.
Norman broke several SEC and Vanderbilt marks in his first Commodore season. He amassed 1,941 all-purpose yards, breaking a 29-year-old SEC freshman record set by legendary Georgia back Herschel Walker in addition to the all-time Vanderbilt record. Norman also topped the SEC with an average of 161.8 all-purpose yards, becoming the first freshman to lead the league in that stat category since Walker. Norman became just the second SEC player ever to return three kickoffs for touchdowns.
Norman also topped Vanderbilt with 783 rushing yards, the second highest total every by a Vanderbilt freshman, and produced a team-high seven touchdowns.
Tebow also was a unanimous All-SEC first team quarterback. He leads the SEC in completion percentage (65.2), is second in passing efficiency (155.6), lowest interception percentage (1.8) and rushing touchdowns (13) in the league. Tebow is the only player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season, with 32 passing and 23 rushing scores in 2007, and ranks first in the SEC’s record book for the most career rushing touchdowns.
Tebow earned the scholar athlete award on the strength of a 3.66 grade point average and two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year recognition. He also recently earned induction into the University of Florida’s Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious honors awarded to Florida students.
McClain was named the 2009 SEC Defensive Player of the Year after leading one of the nation’s top defensive units with 101 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also added 14 quarterback pressures, three pass breakups, two interceptions and forced one fumble. He anchors a defense that leads the nation in scoring defense and ranks second in total defense.
Arenas was a first-team All-SEC selection at two positions. He was selected at cornerback after recording 66 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups and three interceptions this season. He was also honored as a return specialist, where he accumulated more than 1,000 return yards and one touchdown this season. Arenas is also the SEC’s all-time leader with 1,733 career punt return yards, which leaves him 28 yards shy of Wes Welker’s NCAA career punt return record.
Black, who was named to the All-SEC first team, has started 52 straight games at left tackle, which tied the school record of consecutive starts set by Andrew Whitworth. With one more start in the Capital One Bowl, Black will become the school’s record holder in that category.
Saban has guided the Crimson Tide to a No. 1 BCS ranking and berth in the BCS National Championship Game after compiling a 13-0 record this season and securing the school’s 22nd SEC Championship. Alabama will face No. 2 Texas on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. In three years at Alabama, Saban has compiled a 32-8 (.800) overall record and has led the Tide to back-to-back SEC Western Division titles. The Crimson Tide has won 26 of its last 28 games, dating back to the 2007 season.
