Nov. 23, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the second straight year, running back Jason Wright (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar), was tabbed the Wildcats' 2003 Most Valuable Player at Sunday's Northwestern Gridiron Network Football Banquet. The event was held in front of a capacity crowd at Evanston's Omni-Orrington Hotel.
Wright, who concluded the regular season with a career-best 251-yard rushing, four-touchdown effort vs. Illinois, led Northwestern in several statistical categories, including: rushing (1,151 yards), scoring (120 points), all-purpose yards (1,535 yards), touchdowns (20) and rushing touchdowns (19). Nationally, he ranks first in rushing touchdowns, second in overall touchdowns and 34th in rushing average.
Wright, who was slowed by an ankle injury late in the season, became just the third player in NU history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He is now fifth all-time on the Wildcats' all-time rushing list (2,388 yards) and fourth in all-time scoring (204 points).
Freshmen Trevor Rees (Pearland, Texas/Pearland) and Bryan Heinz (Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch) were the respective recipients of the NGN Newcomer of the Year awards. Rees won the Offensive Newcomer of the Year award after becoming the Wildcats' starting center with the start of the Big Ten season vs. Ohio State on Sept. 27. He played a key role in Northwestern's rushing successes as the Wildcats ranked 20th nationally with a per game average of 200.2 yards per game.
A redshirt freshman, Heinz was named the Defensive Newcomer of the Year after totaling 56 tackles, including a career-best 15 in Saturday's win over Illinois. He also added two interceptions and two breakups vs. the Illini. His two interceptions gave him four for the season, with all four coming in Big Ten action. He shared the interception lead (conference games only) with Wisconsin safety Jim Leonhard.
Other awards that were handed out included: the Rashidi Wheeler Award (given to a player that best represents the spirit and enthusiasm of Wheeler): junior safety Dominique Price (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual), the George W. Ballantine Award (given for enthusiasm and leadership): sophomore tackle Zach Strief (Milford, Ohio/Milford); the Thomas Airth Spirit Award: junior running back Noah Herron (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan); the Carnig Minasian Citizenship Award: junior defensive tackle Luis Castillo (Garfield, N.J./Garfield); the Wildcat Warrior Awards (for work ethic, toughness and attitude of a warrior): sophomore linebacker Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./Saint Patrick), and sophomore defensive end Loren Howard (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro), and the Marcel Price Award (given to a player who best exemplifies the enthusiasm and dedication to the Wildcat program and is symbolic of Price's desire): junior cornerback Marvin Ward (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt).
Senior receiver Kunle Patrick (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) was honored with a special Achievement Award, recognizing his school-record 46-game consecutive reception streak. Patrick, who caught a pass in every career game with the exception of his first collegiate contest, is one game shy of tying the NCAA Division I-A mark of 47, held by USC's Kareem Kelly.
Co-captains Louis Ayeni (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury), Pat Durr (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles), Torri Stuckey (Robbins, Ill./D.D. Eisenhower) and Jason Wright were also recognized and honored.
Northwestern won four of its final six games to finish 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten (seventh-place tie with Wisconsin). NU became the first modern-era football team in school history to rebound from a 2-4 start to finish the season .500.
The Wildcats became bowl eligible with their win over Illinois, but they must have two Big Ten teams earn BCS bowl berths in order to secure a postseason game. Bowl selections will be finalized on Sunday, Dec. 7.