Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 28, 1995 TAG: 9511280061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In the latest and biggest honor accorded Brown, The Football News announced Monday night it had selected the Hokies' star end as its 1995 national defensive player of the year.
Last week, the 6-foot-2, 246-pound Lynchburg native was named first-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America and chosen Big East Conference defensive player of the year by The Football News.
Brown also is one of five finalists for the national defensive player of the year award as chosen by the Football Writers Association of America.
Brown recorded 25 tackles for loss and led the Big East with 14 sacks in helping the Hokies (9-2) attain a nine-game winning streak and reach 13th in the Associated Press national poll.
Other finalists are defensive back Chris Canty of Kansas State, linebacker Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern, linebacker Kevin Hardy of Illinois and linebacker Zach Thomas of Texas Tech.
The winner of the award will be announced Dec.18.
In other sports in the region:
Five Washington and Lee football players were named to the GTE Academic All-District III college division football team.
Offensive linemen Ryan Jander and Robert Turner, defensive back Grif Russell, place-kicker Drew Thomas and running back Aaron Wilkinson were named to the team that covers NCAA II and III colleges and NAIA schools in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
The players will be on the national ballot for GTE Academic All-America honors.
Ryan Parnell of Forest, 14, won his age group at the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick regional competition at RFK Stadium on Sunday. Parnell defeated sectional winners from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Other local participants were 8-year-old Ricky Ellsted of Lexington, 9-year-old Greg Sartin of Pulaski and 10-year-old Kevin Coale of Lexington. Natural Bridge Station's Jonathan Wilson was in the 11-year-old division, Lexington's Paul Bryan competed in the 13-year-old group and Bent Mountain's Brad Nichols was in the 15-year-old group.
Parnell's score will be compared to winners' scores from the other 29 teams. The top four nationally in each age group will compete in the national finals at one of the AFC playoff games on Jan. 6 or Jan. 7.
A rules meeting will be held at Franklin County Speedway on Saturday at 4 p.m. The meeting will be held for drivers who want to hear about rules changes for the 1996 season. The meeting will be in the speedway's VIP lounge.
VMI football coach Bill Stewart will appear at the Jefferson Club on Thursday at noon for a lunch meeting of the Roanoke Chapter of the VMI Keydet Club. Stewart will review the past season's games and will show a highlight film from The Citadel game. For reservations, call Andy Williams at 540-982-0017.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL AUTO RACING
by CNB