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Alex Wade Named Duke Football MVP At Annual Banquet
Dec. 8, 2002
Junior fullback Alex Wade was named the recipient of the Carmen Falcone Most Valuable Player Award at Duke University's annual football banquet held on Sunday evening in Durham, N.C.
Wade finished the season with 979 rushing yards to post the fifth highest single-season total in school history. The Newtown, Pa., native led the ACC in 100-yard rushing games with six - a total which matched Duke's single-season record. A Second Team All-ACC selection who caught 20 passes for 159 yards, Wade also earned the program's Most Outstanding Offensive Back.
Other award winners included Giuseppe Aguanno (Mike Suglia Award), Ryan Fowler (Captain Award, Outstanding Linebacker & Co-Trinity Teammate Award), Brian Greene (Co-Outstanding Special Teams Player), Shawn Johnson (Co-Outstanding Defensive Lineman), Khary Sharpe (Outstanding Receiver), Jamyon Small (Captain Award & Ace Parker Award), Terrell Smith (Co-Trinity Teammate Award), Kenneth Stanford (Outstanding Defensive Back), Drew Strojny (Captain Award & Co-Outstanding Offensive Lineman), DeAndre White (Co-Outstanding Special Teams Player), Rusty Wilson (Co-Outstanding Offensive Lineman & Iron Devil Award) and Matt Zielinski (Co-Outstanding Defensive Lineman).
Aguanno, a sophomore linebacker from Staten Island, N.Y., was earned the Mike Suglia Award. The Mike Suglia Award is presented to an outstanding second-year member of the program who best exemplifies the total student-athlete. For the season, Aguanno totaled 52 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks.
Fowler, a junior linebacker from Redington Shores, Fla., was named the recipient of the Outstanding Linebacker honor while sharing the Trinity Teammate Award. Fowler became the first Duke player to lead the Blue Devils in tackles in his first three seasons, finishing the 2002 campaign with 145 total stops to rank fifth in the ACC.
Greene, a redshirt freshman cornerback from Kennesaw, Ga., earned Co-Outstanding Special Teams Player accolades. An ACC All-Freshman Team pick by The Sporting News, Greene started seven games in the Blue Devil secondary in 2002 and finished the year with 44 tackles, three tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one interception.
Johnson, a junior defensive end from Fairport, N.Y., was named a co-recipient of the Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award after garnering First Team All-ACC honors in 2002. Johnson paced the conference in both tackles for loss (19.5) and quarterback sacks (12.0) while totaling 73 tackles and 12 quarterback hurries on the season.
Sharpe, a sophomore wide receiver from Voorhees, N.J., picked up the Outstanding Receiver honor after leading Duke with 30 receptions for 458 yards and six touchdowns.
Small, a senior linebacker from Pontiac, Mich., received the Ace Parker Award which is given annually to the member of the Duke program who displays unparalleled commitment to the team and overcomes adversity to contribute. Small battled through injuries throughout his career to post three seasons of 50 or more tackles, including 56 in 2002.
Smith, a junior safety from Wingate, N.C., was honored as a co-recipient of the Trinity Teammate Award. He finished second on the team in tackles with 106 while leading the ACC with four fumble recoveries.
Stanford, a sophomore defensive back from Detroit, Mich., earned Outstanding Defensive Back recognition after compiling 52 tackles and a team-leading 11 pass breakups. In addition, he tied for the team lead with three interceptions while ranking fifth in the ACC in total passes defended (14).
Strojny, a junior offensive tackle from Wrentham, Mass., was awarded Co-Outstanding Offensive Lineman honors for the second straight year. He has started 31 straight games along the Blue Devil line.
White, a freshman linebacker from Suffolk, Va., was a co-recipient of the Outstanding Special Teams Player Award. He finished the year with 33 total tackles and added a blocked punt that led to a touchdown against North Carolina.
Wilson, a junior offensive guard from Britton, Mich., shared the Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award with Strojny while garnering the Iron Devil Award (presented to the individual who plays the most snaps).
Zielinski, a junior defensive tackle from East Amherst, N.Y., was named the Co-Outstanding Defensive Lineman for the second straight season after recording 49 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
