Nov. 25, 2008

Charlotte, N.C. - In just its first year in the big South Conference the Stony Brook football team made quite an impression. Seven players were honored by the conference today when the league announced that they had won all-conference honors. Stony Brook also took home one of the major awards of the year, with freshman running back Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) receiving the Freshman of the Year award in addition to first team all-conference honors. Joining Gowins on the All-Big South first team were senior offensive lineman Steve Council (Plainfield, N.J.) and senior defensive lineman James Harris (Piscataway, N.J.). Second team recognition went to junior running back Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.), senior offensive lineman Lawrence Lovell (Brooklyn, N.Y.), junior linebacker Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.) and junior defensive back Chris Richards (Quartz Hills, Calif.). Junior offensive lineman Jeff Santos (Irvine, Calif.) was also recognized by the conference, getting named to the academic all-conference squad.

Gowins set new Stony Brook records for yards and yards per carry in a season, finishing second in the Big South with his 1,310 yards and 119.1 yards per game average. His total yards is also the top mark among all freshman at the NCAA FCS level in 2008, with his 278 yards against Iona setting a new Big South single-game record. Helping to clear the way for Gowins was Council from his left guard position, a position where he has started every game for the Seawolves for the past three seasons. Harris also started every game for Stony Brook this season and led the team in sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (10.0) to finish among the league's top-10 in each category.

Joining Gowins in the backfield and giving Stony Brook a pair of 1,000-yard rushers was Cuttino. In the season finale against VMI he went over both the 1,000-yard mark for the season as well as breaking the SBU career rushing mark. He finished the season with 1,195 yards, a career-high, giving Stony Brook the only backfield in the nation at the FCS level with two, 1,000-yard rushers. Anchoring the left side of the line along with Council, Lovell helped pave the way for an SBU rushing attack that is currently ranked ninth in the nation. Like his teammate, he too, has started every game for the last three years for the Seawolves.

On the defensive side of the ball, Santucci led Stony Brook in tackles this season with 79, finishing among the top-10 in the Big South in that category. Reaching 10 or more tackles in a game four times, he also led the Seawolves with five passes broken up in 2008. In his first season with the team, Richards proved to be one of the top cornerbacks in the Big South and led Stony Brook with three interceptions.

Another key component of the Stony Brook offensive front, Santos played in every game in 2008 at right tackle. A business major, he carries a 3.59 GPA.