ALFONSO HOGGARD NAMED PSAC-WEST “ROOKIE OF THE YEAR”

ODOM, EMMANUEL AND O’BRIEN NAMED TO PSAC-WEST SQUAD

            Clarion University freshman wide receiver/return specialist Alfonso Hoggard (Fr. Philadelphia – Caravel Acdemy) was named 2007 PSAC-West “Rookie of the Year” today, and teammates Pierre Odom – (Sr. Trenton, N.J. – Hamilton West), Eddie Emmanuel (Jr. Hempstead, N.Y.) and Mike O’Brien (Sr. Minersville) were second team selections on this year’s squad.

            “I am very happy for those four individuals who earned PSAC-West honors,” said Clarion head football coach Jay Foster. “All four worked very hard this year and performed well on the field, and were leaders on this team. They are very deserving of their awards.”

            Hoggard, a true freshman, is a 5’4”, 160-pound all-purpose player from Philadelphia. As a wide receiver Hoggard grabbed 48 passes for 505 yards and 3 td’s. His top games included 9 catches for 81 yards and 1 td against IUP, 9 receptions for 66 yards against Lock Haven and 7 grabs for 84 yards against Shippensburg. As a runner he totted the pigskin 13 times for 79 yards and 1 td, and as a kickoff return specialist he had 34 kickoff returns for 693 yards, including a 46-yard return against West Chester. He finished 8^th in the entire PSAC in catches per game (4.36) and 8^th in all-purpose yards with 116.1.

            Hoggard is a Business major at Clarion amd is the son of Alfonso Hoggard Jr., and Jacqueline Speaks.

            “Alfonso had a great freshman season,” said Foster. “He’s an exciting player every time he touches the ball. And he’s tough. He takes a hit and comes right back. He’s earned his honor.”

            Odom, a 5’10”, 180-pound senior wide receiver, has been one of the top receivers in the PASC during his career. In 2007 he ranked 5^th in catches (52), and 6^th in receiving yards (678), plus grabbed 5 td passes. Top games included 10 catches for 93 yards against Tiffin, 7 grabs for 119 yards and 1 td versus IUP and 7 receptions for 115 yards and 1 td against Bloomsburg.

            Odom had a tremendous career at Clarion. Also a 2006 All PSAC-West choice, he had 46 catches for 798 yards and 3 td’s last season, along with 33 catches for 418 yards and 3 td’s in 2004 and 29 receptions for 366 yards and 1 td as a freshman in 2003. He finished his career as Clarion’s third leading pass catcher (160) and third leading receiver (2,257 yards) with 12 receiving td’s. His top individual game came in 2006 when he clutched 6 aerials for 246 yards and 1 td versus West Chester.

            Odom is the son of Jennifer Odom and is a Management major at Clarion.

            “Look at the Clarion record book and that’s all you need to know about what Pierre Odom has done for Clarion,” said Foster. “I have the utmost respect for him. He really worked very hard to be his best and embraced everything we asked him to do. I am very happy for him.”

            Emmanuel, a 5’10”, 200-pound, junior tailback, had a quality season for the second straight year. In 2007 he rushed 183 times for 722 yards and 7 td’s. He also caught 9 passes for 76 yards. Emmanuel had three 100-yard games in 2007 including 19 rushes for 107 yards vs Kutztown, 21 carries for 104 yards against Bloomsburg and 15 rushes for 103 yards and 1 td versus Fairmont State. In 2006 he was a first team PSAC-West choice and rushed for 967 yards on 204 carries with 3 td’s. In his career he has 387 carries for 1,689 yards and 10 td’s. He currently ranks 9^th on the all-time rushing list at Clarion.

            Emmanuel is the son of Huquette Port-Lewis and is a Liberal Studies major at Clarion.

            “Eddie is a football player through and through,” remarked Foster. “I’ll go to war with Eddie Emmanuel any day. He always comes to play and he’s always working to get better. I thought he really improved as a receiver and a blocker this year and that will be very important as we continue to improve in 2008.”

            O’Brien, a 6’5”, 290-pound senior, right offensive tackle, had his best season in 2007 in a very good career for the Golden Eagles. O’Brien started all 11 games at right tackle, was a tri-captain with Odom and Kyle Cathcart, and excelled as a run and pass blocker all season long. O’Brien started at tackle on the offensive line for the last thee years, never missing a game. (32 games). As a freshman, he played defensive line in 2004 and posted 9 tackles, 2 tfl’s and 1 sack.

            O’Brien is the son of James and Josephine O’Brien and is a Finance major at Clarion.

            “I’m so happy that Mike O’Brien was selected as an All-PSAC player,” said Foster, “he really deserves it. Mike is such an unselfish player and such a great leader on and off the field. This was only the third year in his entire career that he played offensive line and he improved every season. His dedication and commitment to quality will really be missed.”

            CLARION NOTES: The Golden Eagles finished 0-11 on the season, but had many close games and led in several games including against IUP, Edinboro, Fairmont State and Lock Haven … Clarion played 30 freshmen during the season and overall had approximately 60 true freshman recruits entering the 2007 season … Foster has completed two seasons as head coach … He was hired Feb.8,  2006 after 17 years as defensive coordinator at Slippery Rock and 18 overall years there.