By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
December 6, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In no big surprise, running back Quincy Wilson and linebacker Grant Wiley were named most valuable players of the 2003 Mountaineer football team, it was announced at Friday night’s Touchdown Club banquet at the Mylan Puskar center.
Wilson ran for 1,331 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns in 11 regular season games this year. The Weirton native ranks sixth on the WVU career rushing list and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back.
Wiley, a Trappe, Pa., native, led the team in tackles with 158 while also producing 14.5 tackles for losses, seven forced fumbles, four pass break ups, two interceptions and a sack. Wiley is the school record holder with 47.5 career tackles for losses. He is also two tackles shy of eclipsing Darryl Talley’s 21-year school-record total of 484 career tackles.
The senior has already been named to two All-American teams and is a finalist for the Nagurski Award given to the nation’s top defensive player.
West Virginia will be making its third bowl-game appearance under Wilson and Wiley this year when the Mountaineers face Maryland in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1, 2004.
The West Virginia football staff also announced other team awards:
Wiley, Wilson and senior defensive backs Lance Frazier and Brian King were named season team captains by WVU coach Rich Rodriguez. The coach picked game captains during the year.
Wilson and King were named Ira Rodgers Award winners for all-around excellence. King is the WVU career leader in career passes broken up with 49 and is third in that category among NCAA player this year.
The John Russell Award for the team’s most outstanding linebacker went to Wiley.
The Whitey Gwynne Award presented to the team’s unsung hero went to fullback Moe Fofana and Frazier.
The Gridiron Gladiator Award for on-field intensity was presented to junior offensive tackle Jeff Berk. He helped the Mountaineers rank among the nation’s top 15 rushing offenses this season.
The Scott Shirley Award for outstandings special teams play went to senior punter Todd James.
Four players were picked for the Ideal Mountaineer Award: quarterback Rasheed Marshall, wide receiver John Pennington, linebacker Adam Lehnortt and defensive lineman Ben Lynch.
The Coaches Contribution Award winners were defensive back James Woodruff and linebacker Scott Gyorko.
The Daniel Van Etten Award presented to the most outstanding scout team players went to offensive lineman Zac Napier, wide receiver Eddie Jackson, defensive lineman Andrae Wright, defensive back Larry Williams and linebacker Justin Knapp.
