Utah State placed four players on the 1995 All-Big West Conference first-team football squad named Tuesday with one on the second team and another five on honorable mention, but coach John L. Smith wasn't particularly happy.
"I'm awfully proud of Alexander, Wilson, Gill and Knorr," said Smith. "Those four guys produced on the field and deserved first-team honors.""Honestly, I'm disappointed that David Gill wasn't named Big West Defensive Player of the Year," said Smith. "Look at his numbers (school-record 168 tackles). You can't convince me that he wasn't the top defensive player in this league," the coach said.
"I also thought (defensive end) Danilo Robinson (96 tackles, 101/2 sacks, 36 quarterback hurries) was a shoo-in first-team selection," said Smith.
Named to the first team are Aggie senior wide receiver Kevin Alexander (92-1,400, both USU records), senior running back Abu Wilson (275-1,528, 15 touchdowns, eight 100-yard games, all USU records), junior placekicker Micah Knorr (12-10 FG, 25-28 PATs, 61 points) and Gill, a junior.
Robinson, a junior, was named to the second-team defense.
Aggies on honorable mention include senior linebacker Kenyatta Green, senior rover Markell McCain, junior cornerback Mike Hudson, junior free safety Spencer Waggoner and punter Nathan Morreale.
USU lost its first five games but finished with a 4-7 record, 4-2 and tied for second in the Big West.
Nevada receiver Alex Van Dyke, who set an NCAA record with 1,854 receiving yards this season, was a unanimous choice in the coaches' voting as the Big West Offensive Player of the Year. Louisiana Tech cornerback Willie Smith was named the defensive player of the year, and John Bobo of Arkansas State was voted coach of the year.
Van Dyke, a senior, rewrote the NCAA receiving record of 1,779 yards set in 1965 by Howard Twilley of Tulsa. Van Dyke also caught 129 passes, tops in the nation this season, and scored 16 touchdowns as Nevada (9-2, 6-0) won the Big West title and berth in the Dec. 14 Las Vegas Bowl against Mid-American Conference champion Toledo (10-0-1, 7-0-1). Smith, a junior, had eight interceptions in 10 games. Bobo, in his third season, guided the Indians to a 6-5 record, the most wins by the school since 1987.
He was selected the conference's defensive player of the week three times, including being picked for his performance in a 28-25 win over Arkansas State on Sept. 23.
Van Dyke and Smith also headed the All-Big West team as voted by the conference's 10 coaches.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All-Big West football
First team
Wide receivers
Alex Van Dyke Nev. Sr.
Chad Mackey L.Tech Jr.
Kevin AlexanderUSU Sr.
Tight end
Brian Roche SJose Sr.
Offensive linemen
Mike Rockwood Nev. Sr.
Keno Hills SWLa. Sr.
Bob Cooper Nev. Sr.
Sam Heinen SWLa. Sr.
Heath Haedge NMSU Sr.
Quarterback
Mike Maxwell Nev. Sr.
Running backs
Charles Talley N.Ill. Jr.
Joe Abdullah Pac. Sr.
Abu Wilson USU Sr.
Defensive linemen
Sam Manuel NMSU Sr.
Hollis Thomas N.Ill. Sr.
Dave Miller Nev. Sr.
Jeff Mitchell SWLa. Sr.
Linebackers
Pat Brennen SWLa. Jr.
David Gill USU Jr.
Deshone Myles Nev. So.
Elliot Burke Pac. Sr.
Defensive backs
Willie Smith L.Tech Jr.
Britt Jackson SWLa. Jr.
James Johnson Nev. Jr.
Damon Mason SWLa. Jr.
Placekicker
Micah Knorr USU Jr.
Punter
Kyle RichardsonArk.St.Sr.
Return specialist
Corey Walker Ark.St.Jr.