CSU's Lee Tabbed Freshman of the Year; nine Bucs honored

Jonna Lee received double honors as Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference at linebacker.

CHARLOTTE, NC – Charleston Southern linebacker Jonna Lee was selected as the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year for the 2003 football season, the league announced on Monday. Lee was one of nine CSU players recognized on the league’s all-conference and all-academic teams.

Lee, a 6-1, 220-pound inside linebacker from Hephzibah, Georgia led the Buccaneers with 105 total tackles this season, becoming only the second player in school history to record 100 tackles in a single season. Lee also recorded 11 tackles for loss and was named the Big South Freshman of the Week on three different occasions during the 2003 season.

Lee, also a first-team all-conference selection at linebacker, was joined on the first-team by senior wide receiver Aaron Dunklin, senior offensive tackle Clarence Wright, and senior tight end Danny McCoy. Dunklin, from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, led the Big South with 80 receptions and 1,063 yards, both CSU single season records. Dunklin also became the school’s career leader in receptions (125) and finished his career second all-time on the receiving yards list. His 1,248 all-purpose yards was also a single season school record. Dunklin also was recently voted the CSU Most Valuable Player by his teammates.

Wright, a native of Moncks Corner, South Carolina who prepped at Berkeley High School, was a four-year starter at CSU at left tackle, recording 68 knockdown blocks and grading out at 85 percent while playing 800 offensive snaps this season. McCoy, a native of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, graded 85 percent for the season at tight end, recording 26 knockdown blocks.

Junior linebacker Bowe Butler of Big Springs, Texas, heads a group of three players on the second-team. Butler was second among the CSU squad with 86 total tackles in 2003 and is a repeat selection as a second-team all-conference selection.

Defensive backs Tim Smith and Kijana Thomas were named to the second-team as well. Smith, a senior from Jonesville, South Carolina, was third on CSU’s team with 79 total tackles, including three forced fumbles, an interception and four pass breakups. Thomas, a junior from El Dorado, Kansas, posted 42 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions in 2003. Thomas was also a second-team selection as a return specialist after averaging 23 yards per kickoff return on a school-record 50 kickoff returns.

Senior offensive guard Zach Snyder of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was selected to the Big South All-Academic team. Snyder, who moved from the defensive line to the offensive line as a senior, carries a 3.5 grade-point-average.