BATON ROUGE — The LSU Tigers and the McNeese State Cowboys, after having the two best seasons in the state of Louisiana in 2006, took four of the five top honors announced on the 2006 Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana College Football Team.
The team members are nominated by the sports information directors at the state football-playing schools and then voted on by members of the LSWA.
LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell was unanimously named the state Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate and defensive back LaRon Landry was chosen the best Defensive Player of the Year.
McNeese quarterback Derrick Fourroux was named the state’s top Freshman of the Year, while then Coach Matt Viator of McNeese was awarded the state’s Coach of the Year award.
Southeastern Louisiana’s Jay Lucas was named the Newcomer of the Year for a first-year non-freshman player in the state.
Russell had a stellar year for the Tigers, leading them to 10 wins and a BCS berth in the Jan. 3 Allstate Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame. The first-team All-SEC signal caller completed 211-of-308 passes for 2,797 yards and 26 touchdowns, the second highest TD total in school history. Russell was ranked No. 3 in the nation in passing efficiency (168.1 rating) as he completed his junior season with a 24-4 record as a starter.
On the defensive side, Landry was a first team All-American and finished as one of the most decorated defenders in LSU history. He led the LSU defense with 68 tackles as the leader of a dense that allowed only 12 points and 238 yards per game. This is his second straight year to earn All-American and All-SEC honors.
Fourroux puts his Freshman of the Year award next to the SLC Freshman of the Year honor. The Erath native started all12 games for the Cowboys, completing 118 of 217 passes for 1,490 yards and 10 TDs. He also rushed for 377 yards, scoring five touchdowns.
Viator took over as the head coach in the fifth game of the season with the Cowboys at 1-3 and recorded a 6-2 record. He led McNeese State to the Southland Conference title and into the Division I Championship. His team was ranked No. 22 in the last regular season poll and he was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year.
Lucas, the state’s newcomer, earned second team All-SLC honors, rushing for 684 yards and six touchdowns, while leading his team in rushing. He was second in receiving yards with 237 yards and another touchdown. He had two 100+ yard rushing games.
Joining Russell on the first team offense are Jacob Bender of Nicholls State, Ciron Black and Brian Johnson of LSU, Brandon Cox of Louisiana-Lafayette and Brent Pousson of McNeese State on the line; Calvin Dawson of Louisiana-Monroe and Tyrell Fenroy of Louisiana-Lafayette at running back; LSU’s Dwayne Bowe and Early Doucet at wide receiver; and, Anthony James of Louisiana Tech at tight end.
With Landry on the defense are Tory Collins of Northwestern State, Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson of LSU and Bryan Smith of McNeese State on the line; Quin Harris of Louisiana Tech, Ali Highsmith of LSU and Allen Nelson of McNeese State at linebacker; and, Jamelle Juneau of McNeese State, Kevin Payne of Louisiana-Monroe and Russ Washington of Northwestern State.
The first-team kicker is Blake Bercegeay of McNeese State, while the punter is Breck Ackley of Southern with Cowboy Steven Whitehead chosen as the return specialist.
LSU had nine players on the first team, McNeese six, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Northwestern State and Louisiana-Monroe two each and Nicholls State and Southern 1 each.
2006 Louisiana College Football Team
(As Chosen by the LSWA)
First Team
Offense
PosNameSchoolHt.Wt.Class.HometownNotes
OLJacob BenderNicholls St.6-6305Sr.Mayo, Md.First Team All-SLC
OLCiron BlackLSU6-5314Fr.Tyler, TexasThird Team Freshman A-A
OLBrandon CoxUL-Lafayette6-7322Sr.Irving, TexasFirst Team All-Sun Belt
OLBrian JohnsonLSU6-4307Sr.Tallahassee, Fla.Second Team All-SEC
OLBrent PoussonMcNeese St.6-5297GradIota, La.First Team All-SLC
RBCalvin DawsonUL-Monroe5-10207Jr.Bossier City, La.First Team All-Sun Belt
RBTyrell FenroyUL-Lafayette5-10180So.LaPlace, La.First Team All-Sun Belt
WRDwayne BoweLSU6-3217Sr.Miami, Fla.Unanimous; Third Team A-A
WREarly DoucetLSU6-0206Jr.St. Martinville, La.6th Most TDs in SEC (10)
TEAnthony JamesLa. Tech6-6250Sr.Baton Rouge, La.Most LT TE catches since ’97 (25)
QBJaMarcus RussellLSU6-6252Jr.Mobile, Ala.Unanimous; First-Team All-SEC
Defense
PosNameSchoolHt.Wt.Class.HometownNotes
DLTory CollinsNorthwestern St.6-3280Sr.New Orleans, La.AFCA A-A
DLGlenn DorseyLSU6-2299Jr.Gonzales, La.Unanimous; First Team A-A
DLTyson JacksonLSU6-5292So.Edgard, La.Second Team All-SEC
DLBryan SmithMcNeese St.6-3217Jr.Newton, TexasFirst Team A-A; SLC Def. PofY
LBQuin HarrisLa. Tech6-3221So.Visalia, Calif.95 tackles, 4 FRs
LBAli HighsmithLSU6-1226Jr.Miami, Fla.Second Team All-SEC
LBAllen NelsonMcNeese St.6-1205So.Beaumont, Texas119 tackles; FR for a TD
DBJamelle JuneauMcNeese St.6-2202Jr.Bunkie, La.First Team All-SLC
DBLaRon LandryLSU6-2202Sr.Ama, La.First-Team All-American
DBKevin PayneUL-Monroe6-1212Sr.Junction City, Ark.First Team All-Sun Belt
DBRuss WashingtonNorthwestern St.5-9190Sr.Lamarque, TexasFirst Team All-SLC
Specialists
KBlake BercegeayMcNeese St.6-2178So.Gonzales, La.First Team All-SLC
PBreck AckleySouthern5-10165Sr.Lake Charles, La.First Team A-A
RSSteven WhiteheadMcNeese St.5-8171Jr.Slidell, La.SLC PofY; First Team A-A
Offensive Player of the Year: JaMarcus Russell, LSU
Voting: Russell (16)
Defensive Player of the Year: LaRon Landry, LSU
Voting: Landry (13), Bryan Smith (2), Kevin Payne (1)
Newcomer of the Year: Jay Lucas, Southeastern Louisiana
Voting: Lucas (16)
Freshman of the Year: Derrick Fourroux, McNeese State
Voting: Fourroux (8), Jeremy Williams (3), Cardia Jackson (1), Dennis Morris (1), Gary Riggs (1), Bryan Lee (1), Ben McLaughlin (1)
Coach of the Year: Matt Viator, McNeese State
Voting: Viator (11), Les Miles (5)
Second Team
Offense — OL: Demetrius Bell, Northwestern St.; Andre Bennett, Grambling; Kyle Cunningham, UL-Monroe; Donald Madlock, Tulane; Donald Usry, Southeastern La.; RB: Matt Forte, Tulane; Patrick Jackson, Louisiana Tech. WR: Clyde Edwards, Grambling State; Steven Whitehead, McNeese State; TE: Brian Washington, Southern; QB: Lester Ricard, Tulane.
Defense — DL: Rodney Hardeway, UL-Lafayette; Kirby Joseph, McNeese St; Chase Pittman, LSU; Ed Queen, Northwestern State. LB: Darry Beckwith, LSU; Trey Bennett, McNeese State; Joe Goosby, Tulane. DB: Michael Adams, UL-Lafayette; Jessie Daniels, LSU; Jarmaul George, Southern; Israel Route, Tulane; Josh Thompson, UL-Monroe.
Specialists — K: Drew Edmiston, UL-Lafayette; P: Chris Beckman, Tulane; RS: Patrick Jackson, La. Tech.
Honorable Mention
Offense — WR: Damarcus Davis, Tulane; RB: Jacob Hester, LSU; Jay Lucas, Southeastern Louisiana; DL: Vincent Lands, Southern; Chris Pugh, Louisiana Tech; LB: David Hicks, Grambling State.