Three ECU Defenders Named to C-USA All-Freshman Team
December 04, 2002 | Football
Redshirt freshmen Chris Moore and Guy Whimper and true freshman Reicko Jones were the Pirates honored by the squad, which is selected by the league's head football coaches and media members in each conference city.
Moore, an inside linebacker from Havelock, N.C., gained the selection despite missing most of four straight games in midseason due to a knee injury. Prior to the injury, Moore was leading the nation's freshmen in tackles. He returned to the playing field two weeks ago and is currently the team's fifth-leading tackler with 69 stops, including 10 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks. Moore has earned C-USA Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors once this season and made his collegiate debut with 19 tackles in the season opener at Duke.
Whimper, also from Havelock, has seen significant playing time in 10 games as a reserve defensive tackle. He has totaled 17 tackles this season, including three for losses and one sack. His top game came against Army when he recorded four tackles, including three solo stops.
Jones, a cornerback and native of Riviera Beach, Fla., has made immediate contributions in his first year at the collegiate level as he has started nine games this season. He has made 38 tackles, six pass breakups, and one forced fumble in his rookie campaign. His best game came at UAB when he was credited with six solo tackles.
This marks the first time since 1997 -- ECU's first season as a football-playing member of C-USA -- that the Pirates have placed three players on the C-USA All-Freshman Team. Prior to today's announcement, only 10 Pirates had ever won the honor.
2002 C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM OFFENSE Quarterback - Darrell Hackney, UAB Running Back- Lonta Hobbs, TCU Running Back- DeAngelo Williams, Memphis Offensive Lineman- Travis Leffew, Louisville Offensive Lineman- Chris McGee, Tulane Offensive Lineman- Roy Swan, Houston Offensive Lineman- Matt Traina, Tulane Offensive Lineman- Joel Yakovac, Cincinnati Tight End- John Doucette, Memphis Wide Receiver- Joshua Tinch, Louisville Wide Receiver- Damarcus Davis, Tulane DEFENSE Defensive Lineman- Matthew Bentley, Houston Defensive Lineman- Kade Lane, Houston Defensive Lineman- Ranorris Ray, TCU Defensive Lineman- Guy Whimper, East Carolina Linebacker- Anthony Cannon, Tulane Linebacker- Chris Moore, East Carolina Linebacker- Julius Wainwright, UAB Defensive Back- O.C. Collins, Memphis Defensive Back- John Eubanks, Southern Miss Defensive Back- Reicko Jones, East Carolina Defensive Back- Sean Lucas, Tulane SPECIAL TEAMS Placekicker- Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis Punter- Chet Ervin, Cincinnati Kick Returner- Broderick Clark, Louisville
