Jan. 6, 2009

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Freshman running back Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) added a major national award to his post-season honors with the announcement by the College Sporting News of his selection as the publication's national Freshman of the Year at the FCS level. He is the first Stony Brook football player to earn a national Freshman of the Year award.

Gowins, who was the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year and a first team all-conference pick, set new Stony Brook records for yards and yards per carry in a season, finishing second in the Big South with his 1,310 yards and 119.1 yards per game average. His total yards led all freshmen at the NCAA FCS level in 2008 while his yards per game average was 10th nationally among all players. Five times during the season he ran for over 100 yards, with his 278 yard effort against Iona setting a new Big South single-game record. Gowins was named the Big South Offensive Player of the week twice and was also selected as the league's Freshman of the Week four times in 2008.