Ragin’ Cajuns running back Tyrell Fenroy was named the state’s 2008 Offensive Player of the Year on the annual Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana College Football Team announced this weekend.

Players from four different schools – Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Southeastern Louisiana and Grambling State – took the special awards announced as part of the team.

Fenroy earned the offensive player of the year honors as he became only the seventh player in NCAA history with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons, while Antonio Baker of Louisiana Tech was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Wide receiver Simmie Yarborough of Southeastern Louisiana was named the Freshman of the Year, with sophomore quarterback Greg Dillon of Grambling State in his first year on the field, earning Newcomer of the Year honors.

Fenroy shattered the school and Sun Belt records for career rushing yards and touchdowns. He earned Sun Belt POY honors and was one of 10 semifinalists for the prestigious Doak Walker Award. He rushed for 1,375 yards, a 6.1 yards per carry average, with 19 touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 254 yards. Fenroy, who was 11th in the nation in rushing and eighth overall in scoring, became the state of Louisiana all-time leader in career rushing.

In winning defensive player honors, Baker earned first team All-WAC honors for Louisiana Tech and the Amite product posted 111 tackles and three interceptions during the year. He was in double digits for tackles in eight of the 12 regular season games and finished second in the WAC and 21st in the nation in total tackles.

His year was highlighted by 14 tackles versus Army and had 10 tackles, a blocked punt and an interception in the win over Fresno State.

Yarborough, from Brookhaven, Miss., was also named the Southland Conference’s Freshman of the Year as he became the first Southeastern player to win that honor. He finished the year with 51 receptions for 490 yards and six touchdowns. His first career reception as a Lion was a 14-yard scoring pass at Alcorn State in the season opener. He caught nine passes and scored once at nationally-ranked Central Arkansas and had eight catches and two scores at Stephen F. Austin.

Newcomer winner Dillon didn’t hit the field for the SWAC champion Tigers until this season and he responded with 1,242 passing yards, rushing for another 676. He tossed 15 touchdown passes and ran for three more. The sophomore from Bogalusa, La., was also named the SWAC Newcomer of the Year and second-team All-SWAC selection.

Joining Fenroy on the first team offense in 2008 were offensive linemen Ciron Black and Herman Johnson of LSU, Chris Fisher of Louisiana, Troy Kropog of Tulane and Eman Naghvi of McNeese State. Fenroy’s running back partner on the first team was Charles Scott of LSU who rushed for 18 touchdowns this season.

The voters easily chose Louisiana's Michael Desormeaux as the first team quarterback. The senior from New Iberia became the eighth QB in NCAA history with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

At the wide receiver position were LSU’s Brandon LaFell and Southern University’s Juamorris Stewart with ULM’s senior Zeek Zacharie at the tight end.

The first team defensive linemen combining for 27 sacks were Rahim Alem of LSU, Vincent Lands of Southern, Melvin Matthews of Grambling and D’Anthony Smith of Louisiana Tech. The three linebackers are Cardia Jackson of ULM, Keefe Hall of Grambling and Allen Nelson of McNeese. Joining Baker in the defensive backfield are Tommy Connors of Southeastern, Wesley Eckles of Northwestern State and LaDarius Webb of Nicholls.

Chosen for the first team specialty positions are punter Ross Thevenot of Tulane, Colt David of LSU and Phillip Livas of Louisiana Tech.

Nominees for the team came from sports information directors from the football playing four-year schools in the state and then voting was done by a panel of LSWA members. Nominating information was based on the play of the team through the end of the regular season.

RaginCajuns.com