RB Terrance Freeney becomes the first Panther to win the league’s Newcomer of the Year honor, while QB Justin Haddix is the first Hilltopper to earn the league’s five-year-old Freshman of the Year honor.

The duo heads a list of 23 student-athletes named to the 2003 Gateway All-Newcomer Team. Gateway coaches, sports information directors and a media panel selected the team. The top 11 vote-getters (plus ties) on offense and defense were named to the team.

Freeney was also first-team all-Gateway. He led UNI with a school-record 1,135 yards and 14 TDs on 262 carries with a long of 71. In his first year there, Freeney ranked third in the league in rushing, fifth in all-purpose running and third in scoring. He is one of 16 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the nation’s top I-AA offensive player.

Haddix ranks ninth in the WKU season record books with 1,499 passing yards and 1,746 yards of total offense, and is seventh with a 134.62 pass efficiency rating. The freshman signal-caller accounted for 16 touchdowns (nine pass, seven rush) against just four interceptions while also running for 247 yards.

OFFENSE
RB Terrance Freeney, UNI, So.
QB Justin Haddix, Western Kentucky, Fr.
C Elmer McDaniel, Southern Illinois, Jr.
RB Lerron Moore, Western Kentucky, So.
WR James Norris, Western Illinois, Jr.
OL Anthony Oakley, Western Kentucky, Sr.
TB Cody Pratt, SMS, Jr.
WR/KR Steven Rush, SMS, Jr.
QB Jake Schiff, Indiana State, Fr.
WR/KR Michael Sparks, SMS, Jr.
PK Nick Terracina, Youngstown State, Jr.

DEFENSE
LB Phil Archer, Western Illinois, Sr.
P Joe Bishop, Youngstown State, Fr.
DT Linton Brown, Southern Illinois, So.
CB Dre Dokes, UNI, Fr.
DB Torre Endsley, SMS, Jr.
DE James Fields, Southern Illinois, Jr.
S Frank Johnson, Southern Illinois, So.
S Jamarquis Jordan, Southern Illinois, So.
DB Antwan Oliver, Illinois State, Fr.
DL Charlie Phillips, Western Kentucky, So.
LB Kevin Sears, SMS, Fr.
LB Brandon Smith, Western Kentucky, So.