Savage, Vallone Named FWAA Freshman All-Americans

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (January 7, 2010) – Rutgers has landed two players on the prestigious Football Writers Association of America 2009 Freshman All-America Team. True freshman quarterback Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Scott Vallone (Central Islip, N.Y.) were named to the team, which is sponsored by Aon Insurance.

Rutgers is one of just two schools to have two players named to the team, along with Oregon. Of the 28 players honored, the team was exactly split between true freshmen and redshirt freshmen.

Savage and Vallone are the first Scarlet Knights named to the FWAA Freshman All-America Team since Anthony Davis in 2007. Courtney Greene was also selected as a FWAA Freshman All-America in 2005.

Savage joins an impressive list of quarterbacks who have been named the quarterback of the FWAA Freshman All-America squad. Some of the past FWAA Freshman All-America quarterbacks include Sam Bradford in 2007, Colt McCoy in 2006, Chad Henne in 2004 and Ben Roethlisberger in 2001.

Savage finished the season with 2,211 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes. He finished sixth in Rutgers single-season history with 2,211 passing yards.

Savage threw for the most yards by a true freshman in BIG EAST single-season history in 2009. He finished the season second nationally among all true freshman quarterbacks in passing yards and touchdowns. 

Vallone was a major force on Rutgers’ defensive line in his first year as a starter. The New York native started all 13 games and finished 2009 with 41 tackles, including nine behind the line of scrimmage.

Vallone was a key cog in a Rutgers defense that is first nationally in fumbles recovered and tackles for loss and ranks second in turnover margin.

Rutgers led the BIG EAST in total defense, scoring defense, turnover margin and sacks

The 2009 Aon Insurance FWAA Freshman All-America Team is selected by an 11-person panel of nationally-prominent writers led by Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News Sentinel. Both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen were considered for the team.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,100 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

2009 AON INSURANCE FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
QB	• Tom Savage, Rutgers	6-5	230	Springfield, Pa.
RB	• Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh	5-8	195	Albany, N.Y.
RB	Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech	5-10	206	Manassas, Va.
RB	LaMichael James, Oregon	5-9	180	Texarkana, Texas
WR	• Eric Page, Toledo	5-10	165	Toledo, Ohio
WR	• Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina	6-3	217	St. Matthews, S.C.
TE	• Orson Charles, Georgia	6-3,	230	Tampa, Fla.
OL	• David DeCastro, Stanford	6-5	310	Bellevue, Wash.
OL	Aaron Douglas, Tennessee	6-6	282	Maryville, Tenn.
OL	Braden Hansen, Brigham Young	6-6	300	Sandy, Utah
OL	Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas	6-6	285	McPherson, Kan.
OL	Barrett Jones, Alabama	6-5	280	Memphis, Tenn.
DEFENSE
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
DE	Nick Perry, USC	6-3	250	Detroit, Mich.
DE	Aldon Smith, Missouri	6-5	255	Raytown, Mo.
DT	Scott Vallone, Rutgers	6-3	270	Central Islip, N.Y.
DT	Jerel Worthy, Michigan State	6-3	270	Huber Heights, Ohio
LB	• Chris Borland, Wisconsin	5-11	235	Kettering, Ohio
LB	• Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State	6-3	245	Corona, Calif.
LB	• Luke Kuechly, Boston College	6-3	225	Cincinnati, Ohio
LB	Brian Wagner, Akron	6-2	220	Springfield, Ohio
CB	• Josh Robinson, UCF	5-10	189	Sunrise, Fla.
CB	Bryan Willis, Troy	5-9	180	Columbus, Ga.
S	John Boyett, Oregon	5-10	190	Napa, Calif.
S	• Shamiel Gary, Wyoming	6-1	210	Tulsa, Okla.
SPECIALISTS
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
P	Tress Way, Oklahoma	6-1	215	Tulsa, Okla.
K	• Nick Ferrara, Maryland	6-0	200	Hicksville, N.Y.
PR	• Greg Reid, Florida State	5-9	175	Valdosta, Ga.
KR	• Warren Norman, Vanderbilt	5-9	180	Stone Mountain, Ga.


• Denotes true freshman

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Savage, Vallone Named FWAA Freshman All-Americans

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Savage, Vallone Named FWAA Freshman All-Americans

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