Dec. 3, 2005

DETROIT - The Wayne State University football team held its 2005 banquet Sunday afternoon at The Atheneum Hotel in downtown Detroit. Head coach Paul Winters concluded his second season by announcing several individual honors.

The Warriors recorded their first home winning season since 1993 this past fall.

Junior cornerback Derrion Fuqua (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford/Grand Rapids C.C.) won the 2005 Defensive Most Valuable Player award. He was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team after starting all 10 games. Fuqua intercepted a Northwood pass in his WSU debut setting up the Warriors' first touchdown. He recorded a season-high 11 tackles at Saginaw Valley. Fuqua had an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up in WSU's upset over Michigan Tech. He led all WSU defensive backs with 38 solo tackles and led the team with three interceptions, while tying for the team lead in pass break-ups with six. He finished eighth in the GLIAC in passes defended per game (0.9).

Junior wide receiver Nick Body (Ortonville, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) was named the Offensive MVP. He was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team. Body concluded the regular season ranked eighth nationally in catches per game (6.7) and 45th in the country in receiving yards per game (80.9). Body made five catches against Northwood, all for first downs. He tied a then career-high with 11 catches (for 99 yards) at Saginaw Valley with five receptions going for first downs. He recorded his seventh career 100-yard game at Northern Michigan with six catches for 111 yards. Body set a WSU single-game record with 14 receptions vs. Indianapolis. He had a season-high 155 receiving yards (and all-purpose yards) vs. the Greyhounds. Four of his nine receptions at Grand Valley went for first downs. Body made four catches for 88 yards and a TD against Michigan Tech to earn WSU Offensive Player of the Week honors. He had a 20-yard rush, a 53-yard TD pass (to Bobby Boyer) and seven receptions for 66 yards against Findlay. He ranked second in the GLIAC in catches and fourth in receiving yards per game.

Redshirt sophomore Kenny Schmidt (Waterford, Mich./Mott) was named Special Teams MVP after playing in all 10 games. WSU's long snapper for the second straight season, all four of his tackles came on the punt coverage team. He was selected WSU's Special Teams Player of the Week for the Findlay game.

Redshirt junior safety Ryan Oshnock (Lakeview, Mich.) was presented the Randy Guzowski Award, which goes to the individual who has demonstrated team leadership and shown exemplary school and community citizenship. Randy Guzowski won three letters as a WSU football player and spent 15 years on the WSU Police Force. This is the second straight year Oshnock has won the Guzowski Award.

Sophomore linebacker Alan Guy (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) was honored with the Ron Solack Memorial "35" Award. He was named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team after playing in all 10 games, starting the final eight. He made nine tackles at Northern Michigan including one for loss. Guy was selected GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week and honorable mention national defensive player of the week by D2football.com after recording 12 tackles (10-2) including five for loss (-17 yards) versus Indianapolis. He also had two sacks and two quarterback hurries against UI. Guy returned an interception 11 yards at Grand Valley and made nine tackles vs. Michigan Tech including a sack, forced a fumble and had a pass break-up. He had seven tackles at Ashland including 1.5 for loss to earn WSU's co-Defensive Player of the Week honors. Guy made a season-high 13 tackles at Hillsdale including a forced fumble. He finished second on the team in tackles (68) while ranking first in assisted tackles (30) and forced fumbles (2). His 8.5 tackles for loss was second on the squad as was his 38 solo tackles, while his three sacks ranked third on the team.

The WSU Offensive Rookie of the Year award went to freshman guard Chris Ostosh (Belmont, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian). He started all 10 games at right guard as a true freshman and played nearly every down during the season helping Chris Middlebrooks become a 1,000-yard rusher.

Freshman defensive backs Dante Dunn (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) and Jonathan Klyce (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) share Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Dunn saw playing time at cornerback in all 10 games. He made two tackles in collegiate debut vs. Northwood and had three tackles and a pass break-up at Saginaw Valley. He contributed a tackle for loss at Northern Michigan. Dunn made four tackles vs. Findlay and also blocked a field goal. He recorded a season-best three solo tackles at Ashland and blocked a Gannon punt that WSU recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. He had at least one tackle in every game and played on the kickoff coverage, punt return and punt coverage teams. He finished second on the team with seven (4-3) special teams tackles. Dunn was selected WSU Special Teams Player of the Week for the Northern Michigan game and co-Special Teams Player of the Week for the Hillsdale contest.

Klyce played in all 10 games making his collegiate debut at cornerback versus Northwood. He made first career tackle on the punt coverage team vs. the Timberwolves. Klyce stripped a Michigan Tech punt returner causing a safety and had a pass break-up versus Gannon. He made a season-high three solo and total tackles at Hillsdale. Klyce was selected WSU's Special Teams Player of the Week for the Michigan Tech game, WSU's co-Special Teams Player of the Week for the Gannon contest. He led the team with eight special teams tackles, while playing on the kickoff coverage and punt return teams.

Two awards were created this year by the coaching staff. The Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes the football student-athlete with strong academic credentials, while the Iron Warrior is for the football student-athlete who did outstanding work in the weight room.

Junior linebacker Dan Barnes (Grand Ledge, Mich.) was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. He played in the first six games before suffering a season-ending injury. Barnes led the squad with seven assisted tackles and tied for team-high honors with 11 total tackles vs. Northwood. He made nine tackles at Northern Michigan including a season-high five solo stops and had two tackles for loss versus the Greyhounds. Barnes recorded an interception (8 yard return) and tackle for loss against Michigan Tech, while also tackling a Huskie punt returner in the end zone for a safety. He tied-for-fifth on the squad in pass break-ups (2) and tackles for loss (4.5).

Redshirt sophomore tight end John Rehberg (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) received the team's Iron Warrior award for outstanding work in the weight room. He played in the final six games after missing the first four games due to an injury. He made his season debut at Grand Valley and had one catch for five yards. His first start of the season came in WSU's upset victory over Michigan Tech. Rehberg had two receptions for 11 yards at Ashland and made a tackle on the punt coverage team at Hillsdale. He was selected WSU's Offensive Player of the Week for the Findlay game.