Brohm, Dumervil Earn BIG EAST Player of the Year Awards
December 07, 2005 | Football
Dec. 7, 2005
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Two University of Louisville players, sophomore quarterback Brian Brohm and senior defensive end Elvis Dumervil, have received BIG EAST postseason awards. Brohm was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, while Dumervil earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.
It's the sixth time in school history and the second straight season that the Cardinals had the league's Offensive Player of the Year. Stefan LeFors was the Conference USA honoree last season. Dumervil is the school's fourth defensive honoree and the first since Dewayne White in 2001.
The Cardinals also had seven first team All-BIG EAST honorees, including five on the offensive side of the football. It's the first time since 2001 that the Cardinals had seven first team performers.
Dumervil was the lone honoree on defense. Senior wide receiver Joshua Tinch and Brohm were the only two unanimous selections. Senior offensive tackle Travis Leffew and offensive guard Jason Spitz were also first team selections, while running back Michael Bush and placekicker Art Carmody were also first team selections.
Second team honorees were wide receiver Mario Urrutia, defensive tackle Montavious Stanley and linebacker Brandon Johnson.
Brohm helped lead Louisville to a 9-2 overall record and a 5-2 conference mark in the Cardinals' first season as a member of the BIG EAST. Louisville accepted an invitation to play in the Toyota Gator Bowl versus Virginia Tech on Jan. 2. Brohm completed 207-of-301 passes (68.8 percent) for 2,883 yards, 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions this season. He led the BIG EAST in passing efficiency (166.7), completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns. Brohm ranks second nationally in passing efficiency and 17th in total offense (284.7).
Dumervil also won the 2005 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the best defensive player in college football. He led the nation this season with 20 sacks (1.82 per game) and 10 forced fumbles (0.91). He was second in the country in tackles for loss with 22 (2.0). Dumervil registered nine sacks in his first two games of the season to break the two-game NCAA Division I-A record.
Tinch caught 64 passes for 800 yards and three touchdowns this season. He tied a BIG EAST record for receptions in a game with 13 against West Virginia and has caught a pass in 27 straight games.
Leffew has started 49 straight games and is a first team selection for the second straight seasoon, while Spitz has started 36 straight games and earned second team honors last season.
Bush, despite missing two games, leads the country in scoring, scored a school record 24 touchdowns, including 23 on the ground. He rushed for 1,049 yards, becoming the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1999. He recorded six 100-yard rushing games and has nine for his career.
Carmody also had an outstanding season, connecting on 13-of-15 field goals, including four in a game versus Pittsburgh. He's second on the team in scoring with 99 points.
Urrutia is third on the team in recpetions with 31, but is second on the team with 702 yards and ranks second in the nation in yards per catch at 22.6.
Johnson and Staney were the two second team reps on the defense. Johnson leads the team in tackles with 64, while Stanley is fourth with 48 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
2005 BIG EAST FOOTBALL AWARDS
BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brian Brohm, Louisville, QB, Sophomore, 6-4, 224, Louisville, Ky./Trinity
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Elvis Dumervil, Louisville, DE, Senior, 6-0, 256, Miami, Fla./Miami-Jackson
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Willie Foster, Rutgers, WR, Junior, 5-10, 170, Miami, Fla./Miami Central
BIG EAST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Steve Slaton, West Virginia, RB, Freshman, 5-10, 195, Levittown, Pa./Conwell-Egan
BIG EAST COACH OF THE YEAR
Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia, 38-22 (.633) - 5th Season at WVU
2005 ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos - Player - School
WR - ** Joshua Tinch - Louisville
WR - Greg Lee - Pittsburgh
OT - Garin Justice - West Virginia
OG - John Glass - Rutgers
C - Dan Mozes - West Virginia
OG - Jason Spitz - Louisville
OT - Travis Leffew - Louisville
TE - Clark Harris - Rutgers
QB - ** Brian Brohm - Louisville
RB - Michael Bush - Louisville
RB - Andre Hall - USF
PK - Art Carmody - Louisville
KR/PR - Willie Foster - Rutgers
DEFENSE
DL - Elvis Dumervil - Louisville
DL - Ryan Neill - Rutgers
DL - Ryan LaCasse - Syracuse
DL - Ernest Hunter - West Virginia
LB - James Hargrave - Connecticut
LB - H.B. Blades - Pittsburgh
LB - Kevin McLee - West Virginia
CB - Bernard "Josh" Lay - Pittsburgh
CB - Darrelle Revis - Pittsburgh
S - Anthony Smith - Syracuse
S - Jahmile Addae - West Virginia
S - Mike Lorello - West Virginia
P - Brendan Carney - Syracuse
