Fresno State Athletics
Five Bulldogs Named to All-WAC Football Team
12/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 6, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - As the Bulldogs prepare for the upcoming Silicon Valley Football Classic, fifteen Fresno State football players were honored by the Western Athletic Conference. The 2002 All-WAC team, selected by the league's head coaches, was announced today.
Five Bulldogs made the first team, including two who are repeat performers. Senior defensive end Nick Burley and senior kicker Asen Asparuhov were named first-team All-WAC for the second straight season. Also named to the first team were senior nose tackle Jason Stewart, senior safety Cameron Worrell and senior offensive tackle Joe Schey.
"This is a great accomplishment by a great group of young men," said head coach Pat Hill. "I really thought Nick might win defensive player of the year. He had that kind of dominating performance all season. I'm really happy for Jason Stewart and Joe Schey. Those guys put five years of blood, sweat and tears into this program. Cameron Worrell is a great testimony for all of those walk-ons. He overcame a lot to become an All-WAC player."
Burley led the WAC with 11 1/2 sacks and had 16 tackles for losses. He ranks third in Fresno State history with 25 1/2 career sacks.
Asparuhov made the team after becoming the first Bulldog to score 100 points in consecutive seasons. He converted 20 of 26 field goal attempts and all 40 of his PAT attempts.
Worrell, a former walk-on from Chowcilla, Calif., was the Bulldogs' leader in tackles (101) and interceptions (4).
Stewart made 73 tackles this season, third-most on the team. He added 13 tackles for losses four sacks and a team-high 14 quarterback hurries.
Freshman quarterback Paul Pinegar was named the WAC Freshman of the Year. Pinegar, set Fresno State freshmen records for passing yards (2,741) and touchdowns (20). He is the first Fresno State player to ever earn the award.
Five more Bulldogs earned second-team All-WAC honors, including 2001 first-team All-WAC punter Jason Simpson. Despite leading the WAC in punting average, Simpson, a senior, did not make the first team in 2002. Senior center Rodney Michael, junior receiver Marque Davis and junior running back Rodney Davis all made the All-WAC second-team on offense. Junior linebacker Bryce McGill was Fresno State's lone All-WAC second-team defensive selection.
Several Bulldogs received honorable mention, including sophomore tight end Duncan Reid, sophomore tackle Logan Mankins, junior guard Fitu Tu'ua, senior linebacker Sam Williams and freshman safety James Sanders.
