McCOY AND ROMEUS NAMED FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS
11/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 28, 2007
PITTSBURGH--Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy and defensive end Greg Romeus have been recognized as two of the nation's outstanding freshman college football players.
McCoy and Romeus were named 2007 Freshman All-Americans by Rivals.com and Scout.com. McCoy was a first-team selection by both Rivals and Scout, while Romeus was a second-team honoree.
The nation's top freshman rusher, McCoy (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt/Milford Academy [N.Y.]) has 1,180 yards on 238 carries (5.0 avg.) in his first collegiate season. He ranks second in the Big East and 23rd nationally with an average of 107.3 rushing yards per game.
With one game remaining, McCoy has already set Pitt freshman records for points (90) and rushing touchdowns (14), surpassing Tony Dorsett's 34-year-old marks (78 points, 13 rushing TDs in 1973). McCoy is the Panthers' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2000 and the first Pitt frosh to reach the milestone since 1988. He needs only 82 yards to break the Big East freshman rushing record held by Rutgers' Terrell Willis (1,261 in 1993).
Romeus (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) has been a highly productive performer for Pitt's nationally ranked defense (11th in NCAA in total defense, 308.09 yds./game). The redshirt frosh has a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss and ranks second with four quarterback sacks. Romeus has 37 tackles overall.
Incredibly, the 2007 season marks only the third year of organized football for Romeus. He first played the game as a high school senior at Florida's Coral Glades. As a redshirt last year, Romeus was selected Pitt's Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year.
Pitt plays its final game of the season this Saturday, Dec. 1, at longtime rival West Virginia. The 100th edition of the "Backyard Brawl" will be an ESPN national broadcast at 7:45 p.m.