Redman Named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year
July 20, 2000 | Football
November 24, 1999
CHICAGO - Conference USA announced its 1999 Players of the Year today, as selected by the nine C-USA head football coaches and media members in each conference city. The league concludes its fourth regular season on December 4 when Army plays Navy in Philadelphia.
Louisville senior quarterback Chris Redman and Southern Miss defensive end Adalius Thomas followed their respective preseason honors by claiming the Offensive and defensive Player of the Year awards, respectively. UAB's Rodregis Brooks was named Special Teams Player of the Year.
Owner of virtually every U of L and Conference USA passing record, Redman completed 317 of 489 passes (65 percent) for a league-high 3,647 yards and a school-record 29 touchdowns in leading the Cardinals to a 7-4 season and back-to-back bowl berths for the first time in school history. Redman completes his college career as the NCAA Division I-A all-time leader in passes attempted (1,679) and completed (1,031), while currently standing No. 2 all-time in passing yardage (12,541). Also on Wednesday, it was announced that Redman had won the 1999 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the nation's top senior quarterback by the Frank Camp Chapter of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. Redman was the choice of the conference coaches to be C-USA's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Southern Miss senior defensive end Adalius Thomas was chosen as the league's Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season after leading Conference USA in sacks with nine, giving him a school-record 34.5 for his career. Thomas recorded 66 tackles (43 solo), including 16 tackles for loss. The three-time first team All-Conference selection earned National Defensive Player of the Week recognition for his efforts in USM's win over Cincinnati on October 23. Thomas was tabbed C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year this past July by the league's head coaches.
UAB junior Rodregis Brooks was honored as Conference USA's Special Teams Player of the Year . Brooks led the nation for much of the season (currently ranking third) in punt returns with a Conference USA-record average of 17.1 yards. Brooks returned 20 punts for 350 yards, including six returns of better than 20 yards and two punts that were returned for more than 50, both of which set up touchdowns.
Quarterback Travis Anglin of Memphis and wide receiver LaDaris Vann of Cincinnati were named the league's co-Freshmen of the Year. Anglin started the final four games of the season, leading the Tigers to a 3-1 record. He completed 54 percent (68-of-125) of his passes for 856 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for 123 yards and three scores. Vann set Cincinnati freshman records for receptions (37) and yards (547). The true freshman posted three games with better than 100 yards receiving and scored four touchdowns.
