Jan. 9, 2008

       PITTSBURGH--Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy has received yet another honor for his fabulous freshman season.

          McCoy has been named the Rookie of the Year by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). In addition to his rookie honor, McCoy was named to the 25-player ECAC Division I-A All-Star Team.

          The native of Harrisburg, Pa., was the country's top freshman rusher with an average of 110.67 yards per game. McCoy set a Big East freshman record with 1,328 yards on 276 carries (4.81 avg.), surpassing Terrell Willis' (Rutgers) mark of 1,261 set in 1993.

          Joining McCoy on the ECAC All-Star Team were junior middle linebacker Scott McKillop and senior offensive tackle Jeff Otah.      

          McKillop (Export, Pa./Kiski Area) paced the entire country in tackles, averaging 12.58 per game, and ranked second in solos (8.17 avg.). The "mike" linebacker emerged as the centerpiece of one of Pitt's finest defensive units in recent memory. The Panthers finished fifth nationally in total defense, yielding just 297.67 yards per game.

          McKillop was named to numerous postseason All-America squads and selected first team All-Big East. He enters 2008 as a strong candidate for the nation's top defensive honors, including the Butkus Award, which goes to college football's top linebacker.

          Otah (New Castle, Del./William Penn/Valley Forge Military Academy [Pa.]), who will play in the prestigious Senior Bowl later this month, helped pave the way for Pitt's first 1,000-yard rusher in seven years and was a first team All-Big East pick.

          Since transferring from Valley Forge in 2006, he started every single game the last two seasons (24 consecutive starts) and was named the team's offensive captain as a senior. Despite being only in his fifth year of organized football, Otah established himself as a national-caliber offensive tackle with strong pro prospects. He was recently selected to Pro Football Weekly's All-America Team.

          McCoy has received a lengthy list of postseason honors. A product of Bishop McDevitt High and Milford Academy (N.Y.), he was named to five different Freshman All-America teams, including The Sporting News, Football Writers, Rivals, Scout and CollegeFootballNews.com. He additionally was selected first team All-Big East and the Big East Rookie of the Year by the league's coaches.

          McCoy enjoyed the most prolific season by a Pitt freshman running back since the legendary Tony Dorsett. McCoy set Pitt freshman records for points (90) and rushing touchdowns (14), surpassing Dorsett's 34-year-old marks (78 points, 13 rushing TDs in 1973).

       The ECAC is a multi-divisional athletic conference with 322 members ranging across 16 states.

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