November 26, 2003

12 PALADINS NAMED TO MEDIA
ALL-SOUTHERN CONFERENCE SQUAD

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Southern Conference Sports Media Association today announced that 12 Furman Paladins have been named to its 2003 all-league team.

Five Paladins earned all-conference first teams honors, including center Corey Stewart, placekicker Danny Marshall, nose guard Michael Burant, linebacker Mike Killian, and free safety Cam Newton.

Furman garnered seven second team selections, including tight end Willis Sudderth, wide receiver Brian Bratton, offensive tackle Ben Bainbridge, offensive guard Clayton Dyson, and tailback Hindley Brigham on offense. Defensively, the Paladins¹ second team all-conference picks included linebacker Cedrick Ritter and cornerback T.J. Wilson.

Marshall converted a league high 16-of-20 field goals, paced the conference in kick scoring with 79 points, and finished his career as the SoCon¹s all-time kick scoring leader with 312 points. Killian, meanwhile, topped the conference with 134 tackles. Burant led Furman¹s defensive line with 49 tackles, including seven tackles-for-loss, and Newton paced the Paladin secondary with 61 tackles and three interceptions. Stewart, in his first season as the Paladins' starting center, helped Furman rank second in the league in total offense (384.5 ypg) and pave the way for Brigham, who ranked third among league rushers with 1,042 yards.

Furman led the league in total defense by a sizable margin (272.5 ypg), and also ranked first in the conference in scoring defense (14.1 ppg), pass defense (132.8 ypg), and pass efficiency defense (97.51 rating).

Furman finished 6-5 overall this year and 4-4 in league play, including a 63-21 win over Chattanooga in the season finale.