PHOENIX, Ariz. (FWAA) – Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett highlights the 2002 Scripps/FWAA Freshman All-America Team.
Clarett is one of 10 unanimous selections on the second annual, 26-member freshman All-America team released today.
Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham was named the Scripps/FWAA First-Year Coach of the Year after leading the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 mark during the regular season. Willingham's 10 wins are the most by a first-year head coach in Notre Dame history. Willingham is also a finalist for the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
Head coaches serving their first year at a Division I-A school were eligible to receive the coaching award.
A panel of 12 FWAA writers representing each of the major conferences and independents nominated and selected the team and head coach at the conclusion of the regular season.
| 2002 SCRIPPS/FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM | |
| OFFENSE | |
| Pos. | Player, School |
| QB | Brad Smith, Missouri |
| RB | Maurice Clarett, Ohio State |
| RB | T.A. McLendon, N.C. State |
| WR | Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh |
| WR | Mike Williams, USC |
| TE | Heath Miller, Virginia |
| OL | D'Brickahaw Ferguson, Virginia |
| OL | Richie Incognito, Nebraska |
| OL | Winston Justice, USC |
| OL | Andrew Whitworth, LSU |
| C | Mike Degory, Florida |
| DEFENSE | |
| Pos. | Player, School |
| DL | Loren Howard, Northwestern |
| DL | Haloti Ngata, Oregon |
| DL | Rodrique Wright, Texas |
| LB | Darryl Blackstock, Virginia |
| LB | Spencer Havner, UCLA |
| LB | John Kerr, Indiana |
| LB | Freddie Roach, Alabama |
| CB | Steve Gregory, Syracuse |
| CB | Justin Miller, Clemson |
| S | J.J. Billingsley, Colorado |
| S | James Sanders, Fresno State |
| SPECIALISTS | |
| Pos. | Player, School |
| P | Greg Johnson, Vanderbilt |
| K | David Abdul, Pittsburgh |
| PR | Jeremy Bloom, Colorado |
| KR | Broderick Clark, Louisville |
| HEAD COACH | |
| Tyrone Willingham, Notre Dame | |