Dec. 3, 2003
COLORADO SPRINGS - San Diego State football players have walked away with two of the most prestigious awards presented by the Mountain West Conference.
Aztec junior linebacker Kirk Morrison has been named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year and SDSU running back Lynell Hamilton has been honored as the league's freshman of the year in a vote of league coaches and media. Morrison is a first-team pick for the second straight season and Hamilton becomes just the second freshman in the history of the Mountain West Conference to be named first-team all-league. SDSU's only other first-team selection was offensive lineman Brendan Darby.
Morrison, Hamilton and Darby were three of seven Aztecs honored as first or second-team all-conference football players. Other honorees include second-team offensive lineman Mike Kracalik and second-team defenders Brandon Rager (defensive end), Matt McCoy (linebacker) and Jeff Shoate (corner). Six SDSU players earned honorable mention recognition, including cornerback Jacob Elimimian, kicker J.C. Mejia, defensive tackle Brook Miller, punter Seth Santoro, safety Marviel Underwood and receiver Jeff Webb.
Morrison, from Oakland's Bishop O'Dowd High School, is the ringleader for San Diego State's defense. "The Dark Side" is ranked eighth nationally in total defense and is the nation's most improved defensive unit from last season. Morrison ended the season with 115 tackles to rank fourth in the league in that category. He led the Mountain West with 15 tackles for loss and also topped the Mountain West with four fumbles caused. Morrison is eighth all-time at San Diego State with 281 career tackles. Next season, he will try to become SDSU's first three-time all-league player since defensive end Kabeer Gbaja Biamila, now of the Green Bay Packers, earned first-team honors in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
Hamilton, from Edison High School in Stockton, turned in the best rookie season by an Aztec running back since Marshall Faulk. He played in less than 10 full games due to a broken ankle, but still rushed for 1,087 yards and averaged 108 rushing yards per game. He is 17th nationally in rushing yards per game heading into bowl season. He is second nationally among freshmen in rushing and second in the Mountain West in rushing and third in all-purpose yards. Hamilton was recently named freshman All-American by Rivals.com.
SDSU's seven first and second-team selections ranked fourth in the league behind New Mexico (12), Utah (8) and Colorado State (8). CSU's Bradlee Van Pelt was named offensive player of the year and Urban Meyer of Utah was the coach of the year.