RUSTON - The honors keep coming for Louisiana Tech junior running back Ryan Moats who was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association State Offensive Player of the Year in a vote of a panel of LSWA members statewide.

LSU defensive end Marcus Spears was named Defensive Player of the Year, Grambling State quarterback Brandon Landers was the Freshman of the Year and Tulane signal caller Lester Ricard was the Newcomer of the Year.

Northwestern State head coach Scott Stoker was the 2004 Louisiana Coach of the Year.

Joining Moats on the All-LSWA first team were Bulldog left guard Aaron Lips and linebacker Byron Santiago. Earning second team All-Louisiana honors for Tech were offensive linemen Lester Brown and Adrian Gonzalez and defensive linemen Jemelle Cage and Chris Van Hoy.

Moats rushed for 1,774 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Bulldogs and had another 15 receptions for 116 yards and one score. He was a Doak Walker Award Semifinalist and the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Moats finished seventh in the nation in rushing yards per game at 147.8 and topped the previous Tech single season rushing record by over 300 yards.

Lips anchored a Bulldog offensive line that paved the way for Moats record-breaking campaign. The Tickfaw, La., native helped Louisiana Tech rush for 2,403 yards, the third most in Bulldog history along with 25 rushing touchdowns which was the second most in Tech history.

Santiago led the Bulldogs defensively in 2004, registering 82 total tackles, including 30 solo stops and 52 assisted tackles. The Violet, La., native also recorded 7.5 tackles for loss for minus 26 yards, one sack, one interception, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Both Lips and Santiago were also first team All-WAC members.