Dec. 1, 2007

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Senior quarterback Renaldo Gray was presented the 2007 Vince Perone (MVP) at Furman's annual football awards banquet Saturday night on campus.

Gray, from Greenwood, S.C., and former Greenwood High School standout, passed for 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 497 yards and five scores in helping Furman compile a 6-5 record this fall. His strong play helped the Paladins win four of their final five games, including a 52-49 triumph over 15th-ranked Elon and 24-22 road victory over 11th-ranked Georgia Southern. In his final collegiate game, he accounted for 292 yards in total offense and three touchdown responsibilities in keying Furman to a 52-21 win over Western Carolina.

Gray's selection as Furman MVP marked the second consecutive Greenwood High School product to garner the honor. Former Paladin free safety Jeremy Blocker, a product of Hodges, S.C., was named 2006 team MVP.

The complete list of 2007 season award winners:

Best Receiver (Patrick Sprague)

Best Offensive Back (Renaldo Gray)

Best Offensive Lineman (Joel Bell)

Best Defensive Back (Andrew Thacker)

Best Defensive Lineman (Wallace Artis)

Best Linebacker (Andrew Jones)

Special Teams MVP (Mike Brown)

Hustle Award (Gaines Burnett)

Captains' Awards (Renaldo Gray, Scott Shuford, Gary Nelson, Austin Holmes)

Christian Athlete Award (Scott Shuford)

Vince Perone (MVP) Award (Renaldo Gray)

Freshman Award (Mike Brown)

Purple Heart Award (Gary Nelson)

Academic Award (Joe Watson)

Robert B. King Award (Bobby Yawn)

Purple Pounder Award/Scout Team Player-of-the-Year (Sederrick Cunningham)