CCU

Football Earns Eight All-Big South Honors

       

Football Earns Eight All-Big South Honors

CONWAY, S.C. –Coastal Carolina University's football program had seven honorees on the 2003 All-Big South Conference teams, announced today, Dec. 8, by the league office. Coastal concluded its inaugural season of college football with a 6-5 overall record.

Sophomore linebacker Maurice Simpkins (Leesburg, S.C-Batesburg-Leesville) and freshman punt returner Greg Williamson (Dillon, S.C.-Dillon) were named to the first team, while freshman running back Aundres Perkins (Effingham, S.C.-West Florence), offensive linemen sophomore Antwon Trice (Jacksonville, Fla.-Sandalwood) and junior Nick Johnson (Loganville, Ga.-Loganville), junior defensive lineman Rayshun Crosby (Gastonia, N.C.-Forestview (Reedley (CA) CC)) freshman defensive lineman Adrain Grady (Leland, N.C.-North Brunswick) and Williamson, as a defensive back, earned second team honors.

Simpkins, also named to the Big South's All-Academic team, led the Chanticleers and ranked fourth in the Big South Conference with 103 tackles on the year, becoming the first CCU player to ever record 100 tackles. He was a three-time Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week, including following Coastal's opening game win over Newberry, Sept. 6, when Simpkins posted 11 tackles, inlcluding five for loss. He also had a team season-high 15 tackles in the homecoming game against VMI, Nov. 1.

Williamson led the Big South Conference in punt return average at 20.6 yards per return, finishing one return shy of being eligible for national rankings, where he would have led the nation in return average. Williamson earned BSC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in a 52-27 win over Davidson, Nov. 8, where he recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown and had an 87-yard punt return touchdown. He was also named Second Team All-Big South at defensive back, where he had 35 total tackles, six for loss, a pair of interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Perkins finished third in the Big South and 35th in the nation in rushing with 863 yards and a 95.9 per game average in nine games this season. He also led the conference and ranked 11th in the country in scoring at 9.33 points per game, as he had 14 rushing touchdowns on the year. His best game of the season came at North Greenville, Sept. 25, where he had 34 carries for a school-record 202 yards and three touchdowns, earning Big South Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Trice and Johnson started all 11 games each and anchored an offensive line that led a Coastal rushing attack that ranked 19th in the country at 213.3 yards per game. Behind their blocking, the Chanticleers were the only I-AA school to have two different backs rush for 200 yards in a game this year, with Patrick Hall adding 201 yards at Davidson to Perkins' effort at North Greenville.

Crosby anchored the defensive line for the Chants, leading a young defense that ranked 34th in the nation in total defense. The transfer from Reedley (CA) Community College tallied 38 total tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and five sacks on the season. He also chipped in one forced fumble and a pair of fumble recoveries to the effort.

Grady finished third for the Chants in tackles, posting 46 tackles, including 29 solos, 11 tackles for loss and a team-high eight sacks. He also added two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble this season. His best game of the season came in the finale at Charleston Southern, Nov. 22, where he recorded five tackles, all solo, and two sacks, along with forcing one and recovering another fumble in the win over the Buccaneers.