With the regular season having ended for the UConn Huskies and all of the major college football teams, it’s that time of the year known as award season.
UConn running back Donald Brown
On Wednesday morning, the Big East Conference announced that UConn running back Donald Brown was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year.
He is the first member of the Huskies to win a major award from the Big East. Brown is also the first running back to win the award since Willis McGahee did it for the Miami Hurricanes back in 2002 while they were still part of the Big East.
Brown finished the season as the nation’s leading rusher with 1,822 yards and also added 17 touchdowns.
In addition to the award, Brown was also named to the All-Big East Offensive First Team along with offensive tackle Will Beatty. Darius Butler and Cody Brown were named to the All-Big East Defensive First Team. Donald Brown and Cody Brown were unianimous choices.
Linebacker Scott Lutrus and safety Robert Vaughn were named to the second team.
A full look at all of the awards and all conference teams after the jump.
2008 BIG EAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDS
BIG EAST CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut (Jr., Atlantic Highlands, N.J.)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh (Sr., Export, Pa.)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati (So., Palm Coast, Fla.)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Victor Anderson, RB, Louisville (Fr., Louisville, Ky.)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR
Brian Kelly, Cincinnati
| ALL-BIG EAST CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM | |||
| OFFENSE | |||
| Pos. | Player | School | Cl. |
| WR | Mardy Gilyard | Cincinnati | So. |
| WR | Kenny Britt | Rutgers | Jr. |
| OT | Will Beatty | Connecticut | Sr. |
| OT | Ryan Stanchek | West Virginia | Sr. |
| OG | George Bussey | Louisville | Sr. |
| OG | C.J. Davis | Pittsburgh | Sr. |
| C | Eric Wood | Louisville | Sr. |
| TE | Nate Byham | Pittsburgh | Jr. |
| QB | Pat White | West Virginia | Sr. |
| RB | Donald Brown * | Connecticut | Jr. |
| RB | LeSean McCoy * | Pittsburgh | So. |
| K | Conor Lee | Pittsburgh | Sr. |
| KR/PR | Mardy Gilyard | Cincinnati | So. |
|
DEFENSE |
|||
| DL | Connor Barwin | Cincinnati | Sr. |
| DL | Cody Brown * | Connecticut | Sr. |
| DL | George Selvie | USF | Jr. |
| DL | Arthur Jones | Syracuse | Jr. |
| LB | Scott McKillop * | Pittsburgh | Sr. |
| LB | Tyrone McKenzie * | USF | Sr. |
| LB | Mortty Ivy | West Virginia | Sr. |
| CB | Mike Mickens * | Cincinnati | Sr. |
| CB | Darius Butler | Connecticut | Sr. |
| S | Brandon Underwood | Cincinnati | Sr. |
| S | Courtney Greene | Rutgers | Sr. |
| P | Kevin Huber | Cincinnati | Sr. |
| * unanimous selection | |||
| ALL-BIG EAST CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM | |||
| OFFENSE | |||
| WR | Dominick Goodman | Cincinnati | Sr. |
| WR | Doug Beaumont | Louisville | So. |
| WR | Jock Sanders | West Virginia | So. |
| OT | Marc Dile | USF | Sr. |
| OT | Anthony Davis | Rutgers | So. |
| OT | Trevor Canfield | Cincinnati | Sr. |
| OG | Matt Huners | USF | Sr. |
| OG | Ryan Durand | Syracuse | Sr. |
| C | Mike Dent | West Virginia | Sr. |
| TE | Cedric Hill | USF | Sr. |
| QB | Tony Pike | Cincinnati | Jr. |
| RB | Victor Anderson | Louisville | Fr. |
| RB | Curtis Brinkley | Syracuse | Sr. |
| RB | Noel Devine | West Virginia | So. |
| K | Pat McAfee | West Virginia | Sr. |
| KR/PR | Trent Guy | Louisville | Jr. |
|
DEFENSE |
|||
| DL | Terrill Byrd | Cincinnati | Sr. |
| DL | Greg Romeus | Pittsburgh | So. |
| DL | Jamaal Westerman | Rutgers | Sr. |
| DL | Scooter Berry | West Virginia | So. |
| LB | Scott Lutrus | Connecticut | So. |
| LB | Jon Dempsey | Louisville | Jr. |
| LB | Ryan DImperio | Rutgers | Jr. |
| CB | Aaron Berry | Pittsburgh | Jr. |
| CB | Ellis Lankster | West Virginia | Sr. |
| S | Robert Vaughn | Connecticut | Jr. |
| S | Carlton Williams | USF | Sr. |
| P | Pat McAfee | West Virginia | Sr. |
