Football Awards Presented

Jan. 17, 2004

LUBBOCK, Texas - Wes Welker (Oklahoma City, Okla.) walked away with Team Most Valuable Player honors, while Ryan Aycock (Lubbock, Texas) and B.J. Symons (Houston, Texas) were named Defensive and Offensive MVPs, respectively, at the annual Football Awards Banquet Saturday night at the Frazier Alumni Center on the Tech campus.

Welker, a senior wide receiver and punt returner, ranked second nationally with 97 receptions this season and became the first player in school history to record two 1,000-yard receiving seasons with 1,099 yards. He also added to his resume NCAA records in Career Punt Return Yards (1,761) and Career Punt Returns for Touchdowns (8).

One of the most single-season prolific passers in NCAA history, Symons tied three NCAA records and set 11 others, including the Single-Season Passing Yardage record of 5,833 yards. Among other NCAA records set are Most Points Responsible For in a Season (348) and Most Total Offense Yards in a Season (5,976). He also passed for a school- and Big 12-record 52 touchdowns and fell one touchdown pass short of tying the NCAA single-season TD passes record.

Aycock, a senior strong safety, finished the season with a team-leading six interceptions, which ranked among the nation's top 20. He also led the team in tackles and finished his career in eighth place on the Texas Tech tackles list.

Center Toby Cecil (Richardson, Texas) picked up the Offensive Line MVP Award after closing out is career as Tech's all-time leader in games played and started (50). Cecil ranked second this season among the nation's offensive linemen with 50-consecutive career starts. Defensive end Adell Duckett (Mineral Wells, Texas) was tabbed the Defensive Line MVP. Duckett led the Big 12 Conference in sacks (14) and tackles for loss (23) this season.

Other offense awards went to running back Taurean Henderson (Gatesville, Texas) and wide receiver Mickey Peters (Weatherford, Texas), who claimed MVP honors at their respective positons. Henderson totaled 103.6 all-purpose yards per game and led the team in scoring with 96 points on 16 touchdowns. Peters set the Tech career touchdown receptions record with 22 and tied the single-season record of 12 in 2003.

In addition to Duckett, linebacker Mike Smith (Lubbock, Texas) was named the Linebacker MVP, while Aycock earned MVP honors at defensive back. Smith finished the season with 42 tackles, including 10 for loss, and three sacks.

Other honors awards on the evening included the Newcomer Award, presented to Brock Stratton (San Antonio, Texas). Stratton finished second on the team in tackles and was named to two freshman All-America teams. Senior defensive end Gathan McGinnis (Waco, Texas) was given the Most Improved Award, after starting six games in his first season on scholarship. Senior offensive tackle Casey Keck (San Antonio, Texas) and senior receiver Dupree Scovell (Dallas, Texas) picked up the Most Conditioned awards, while Welker claimed the Special Teams Award.

Senior wide receiver Carlos Francis (Fort Worth, Texas) was named the team's Most Courageous Player, and also was honored along with Smith, Cecil and Aycock as the 2003 Team Captains.

Receiver Brian Bishop (Coppell, Texas) and defensive back Brandon Lathan (Klein, Texas) were named the Offensive and Defensive Scout Team MVPs. Senior receiver Taylor Jobe (Austin, Texas) received the Academic Award.

TEAM AWARDSAcademic - Taylor JobeCaptains - Ryan Aycock, Toby Cecil, Carlos Francis, Mike SmithMost Courageous - Carlos FrancisOffensive Scout Team MVP - Brian BishopDefensive Scout Team MVP - Brandon LathanSpecial Teams MVP - Wes WelkerMost Conditioned - Casey Keck, Dupree ScovellMost Improved - Gathan McGinnisNewcomer - Brock StrattonDefensive Back MVP - Ryan AycockWide Receiver MVP - Mickey PetersLinebacker MVP - Mike SmithRunning Backs MVP - Taurean HendersonDefensive Line MVP - Adell DuckettOffensive Line MVP - Toby CecilDefensive MVP - Ryan AycockOffensive MVP - B.J. SymonsTeam MVP - Wes Welker

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