Dec. 4, 2006
LOGAN, Utah - Three Utah State football players earned postseason recognition by the Western Athletic Conference as linebacker Paul Igboeli was named the league's Freshman of the Year and offensive lineman Malik Cin and defensive lineman Ben Calderwood were both named second team all-conference.
Igboeli (pronounced Ig-bo-lee) was second on the team with 69 tackles. That figure led all WAC freshmen while also ranking 15th among all WAC players. After seeing limited playing time in the four non-conference games (he had four tackles total), the Grand Prairie, Texas product, averaged 8.1 tackles in eight league games.
"Paul did not see much playing time at the beginning of the season and then saw the majority of his time in the WAC," said USU head coach Brent Guy. It is a great honor for him and shows the young talent we have on the team.
He started all eight conference games and recorded double-digit tackle totals in three of the last five games, including 17 at Louisiana Tech, 10 at Boise State and 10 against New Mexico State.
Igboeli also registered three sacks on the season, including two where he forced fumbles that were returned for touchdowns by the Aggies.
"Paul was the type of guy in high school that made a lot of big plays," Guy said. "What surprised me was the number of big plays he made this season stepping up to the college level. He had two sacks where he had the awareness to knock the ball loose and it resulted in touchdowns for us.
"He was real consistent in running to the football and making tackles," Guy added. "Then when he causes fumbles that turn into touchdowns, that is pretty special for a freshman to do those types of things.
Cin (pronounced Muh-leek Gin) has proven to be one of the Aggies' most versatile and best linemen during his career. After missing the first three games due to an Achilles tendon injury, Cin started the final nine games of the season.
The senior from Weisbaden, Germany, started eight games at right tackle and one at right guard, while also playing some at center this past season. At the end of the year, his teammates voted him a permanent season captain.
"I am real happy that Malik could get an honor because I am so proud of how hard he fought to come back from his injuries," Guy said. "It takes a year to recover from an Achilles tendon injury and he made it back in nine months and was a huge contributor to our team."
Calderwood, a sophomore defensive end from Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah, started seven games before suffering a hand injury and missing two games. He returned from the injury to play the final two games of the year.
Despite missing two games, he led the USU defensive line in tackles with 44. He was second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss as well as second in sacks with two.
His best tackle game was a nine-stop effort against Fresno State. After that game, Calderwood was named WAC defensive player of the week.
"Calderwood has a bright future in college football," Guy said. "He played an outstanding game against Fresno State and earned WAC Player of the Week honors. We have him for two more years and he will get better and better each week."
Igboeli became the first Aggie to receive an individual conference honor, such as player of the year or freshman of the year, since Tony D'Amato was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.
2006 WAC Football Top Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year - Colt Brennan, Jr., QB, Hawai`iDefensive Player of the Year - Korey Hall, Sr., LB, Boise StateFreshman of the Year - Paul Igboeli, LB, UTAH STATECoach of the Year - June Jones, Hawai`i
2006 All-WAC First Team
Offense Pos Name School Ht. Wt. YearWR Legedu Naanee Boise State 6-2 228 Sr.WR *Davone Bess Hawai`i 5-10 187 So.WR Chris Williams New Mexico State 5-9 155 So.TE Derek Schouman Boise State 6-2 233 Sr.OL Ryan Clady Boise State 6-6 319 So.OL Chris Denman Fresno State 6-6 305 Sr.OL %Tala Esera Hawai`i 6-4 295 Sr.OL *#@Samson Satele Hawai`i 6-3 311 Sr.OL Jade Tadvick Idaho 6-5 314 Sr.QB Colt Brennan Hawai`i 6-3 190 Jr.RB Ian Johnson Boise State 5-11 194 So.RB Nate Ilaoa Hawai`i 5-9 248 Sr.
Defense Pos Name School Ht. Wt. YearDL %Andrew Browning Boise State 6-0 278 Sr.DL %Ikaika Alama-Francis Hawai`i 6-5 250 Sr.DL %Melila Purcell Hawai`i 6-5 266 Sr. DL J.J. Milan Nevada 6-5 270 Sr.LB *$Korey Hall Boise State 6-1 228 Sr.LB Dwayne Andrews Fresno State 6-0 240 Sr.LB David Vobora Idaho 6-1 214 Jr.LB Ezra Butler Nevada 6-2 248 Jr.DB Leonard Peters Hawai`i 6-1 199 Sr.DB Stanley Franks Idaho 5-11 167 Jr.DB *Joe Garcia Nevada 6-0 180 Sr.DB Dwight Lowery San Jose State 6-1 185 Jr.
Specialists Pos Name School Ht. Wt. YearPK Anthony Montgomery Boise State 6-1 211 Sr.P Waylon Prather San Jose State 6-3 220 Jr.ST Ross Dickerson Hawai`i 5-10 185 Sr.
2006 All-WAC Second Team
OffenseWR Jason Rivers, Jr., Hawai`iWR *Caleb Spencer, Sr., NevadaWR James Jones, Sr., San Jose StateTE %Anthony Pudewell, Sr., NevadaOL Jeff Cavender, Jr., Boise StateOL Dane Uperesa, Sr., Hawai`iOL Dominic Green, So., NevadaOL Matt Cantu, Sr., San Jose StateOL Malik Cin, SR., UTAH STATEQB #Jared Zabransky, Sr., Boise StateRB Dwayne Wright, Sr., Fresno StateRB %Yonus Davis, Jr., San Jose State
DefenseDL Tyler Clutts, Jr., Fresno StateDL Michael Lafaele, Jr., Hawai`iDL Matt Hines, Jr., NevadaDL Ben Calderwood, SO., UTAH STATELB Colt Brooks, Sr., Boise StateLB Adam Leonard, So., Hawai`i LB Tim McManigal, Sr., New Mexico StateLB Matt Castelo, Jr., San Jose StateDB %Marty Tadman, Jr., Boise State DB Josh Sherley, Sr., Freso StateDB Courtney Bryan, Sr., New Mexico StateDB Christopher Vedder, Sr, San Jose State
SpecialistsPK Jared Strubeck, So., San Jose StateP #Kyle Stringer, Sr., Boise StateST Patrick Jackson, So., Louisiana Tech
* 2005 First Team All-WAC Selection% 2005 Second Team All-WAC Selection$2004 First Team All-WAC Selection#2004 Second Team All-WAC Selection@2003 Second Team All-WAC Selection
