Santucci Named Defensive Player of the Year, Priore Coach of the Year
Stony Brook, N.Y. - After claiming a share of the Big South Championship on Saturday with a victory over Liberty, the Stony Brook University football team picked up a pair of the major Big South awards when the conference announced its 2009 all-conference teams. Senior Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.) was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Head Coach Chuck Priore was selected as the Coach of the Year. Joining Santucci on the All-Big South first team were senior running back Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.), junior center Paul Fenaroli (Monroe, Conn.), junior safety Arin West (Toms River, N.J.) and sophomore running back Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.). Second team recognition went to senior defensive lineman Christopher Perri (Alameda, Calif.) and senior defensive back Chris Richards (Quartz Hills, Calif.). Senior offensive lineman Jeff Santos (Irvine, Calif.) was also recognized by the conference, getting named to the academic all-conference squad.
Santucci capped off his outstanding career with the Seawolves by leading the team in tackles for a second straight season. A preseason All-Big South selection and a second team all-conference pick in 2008, he tied for second in the Big South in tackles with a career-high 93 and tied for first in tackles for loss as well with 14 for a total of 57 yards in losses. Second among linebackers in the league in tackles, he tied the SBU school record for career solo tackles in the final game against Liberty with 145.
Stony Brook, N.Y. - After claiming a share of the Big South Championship on Saturday with a victory over Liberty, the Stony Brook University football team picked up a pair of the major Big South awards when the conference announced its 2009 all-conference teams. Senior Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.) was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Head Coach Chuck Priore was selected as the Coach of the Year. Joining Santucci on the All-Big South first team were senior running back Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.), junior center Paul Fenaroli (Monroe, Conn.), junior safety Arin West (Toms River, N.J.) and sophomore running back Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.). Second team recognition went to senior defensive lineman Christopher Perri (Alameda, Calif.) and senior defensive back Chris Richards (Quartz Hills, Calif.). Senior offensive lineman Jeff Santos (Irvine, Calif.) was also recognized by the conference, getting named to the academic all-conference squad.
Santucci capped off his outstanding career with the Seawolves by leading the team in tackles for a second straight season. A preseason All-Big South selection and a second team all-conference pick in 2008, he tied for second in the Big South in tackles with a career-high 93 and tied for first in tackles for loss as well with 14 for a total of 57 yards in losses. Second among linebackers in the league in tackles, he tied the SBU school record for career solo tackles in the final game against Liberty with 145.
In his fourth season as head coach, Priore guided Stony Brook to a 5-1 Big South record and a share of the 2009 conference championship with Liberty. The Seawolves won four of their last five, including the 36-33 thriller over the 16th ranked Flames that was the first win for Stony Brook over a ranked Division I FCS program.
Like they did in the preseason, Stony Brook's two running backs took both running back positions on the all-conference first team. Cuttino finished as Stony Brook's all-time leading rusher with 3,607 yards, becoming the first SBU back over the 3,000-yard mark. He led SBU in all-purpose yards, finishing third in the Big South in rushing (800 yards) while leading the league in rushing attempts and posting career highs in receptions and receiving yards. Despite being slowed by injury for most of the season, Gowins led Stony Brook in rushing for a second straight year with 890 and led the Big South in yards per game and yards per carry. He went over the 2,000-yard mark for his career this season and is already fourth all-time at Stony Brook with 2,200 yards. Fenaroli was named to the all-conference squad for the first time in his career. He has started 25 consecutive games at center, the second longest starting streak on the team, and anchored a line that allowed just 1.36 sacks per game to rank among the top 24 in the nation.
West set career highs in every category for Stony Brook and was a two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Week selection. He finished second on the team and sixth in the league in tackles (80) and was second among defensive backs in the league in stops. West was tied for second in the league in passes defended with nine and shared the team lead with three interceptions while leading the team and conference with three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
A first team selection in 2008, Richards led Stony Brook in passes broken up from his cornerback position. A preseason All-Big South selection, he tied for third in the league with eight passes defended and blocked a kick for a second straight season. Perri started every game along the defensive front for the Seawolves, leading SBU's defensive linemen in tackles for loss and passes broken up. He finished among the top-10 linemen in the Big South in tackles during league contests.
Another key component of the Stony Brook offensive front, Santos played in every game for a second consecutive season at right tackle. A business major, it is the second consecutive year that he has been selected to the all-academic team.
