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Earl Bennett, the star wide receiver from Vanderbilt, was named College Football Player of the Year and Phillip Fulmer of Tennessee was selected College Football Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.

Bennett and Fulmer were selected by a vote of TSWA members.

Bennett, a junior, became the Southeastern Conference’s all-time leading receiver with 236 career receptions. He finished the season with 75 receptions for 830 yards and five touchdowns despite facing double team and special coverage packages by opposing teams. He was named First Team All-SEC by both the coaches and the Associated Press.

Bennett has decided to forgo his senior and enter the NFL draft in April.

Fulmer guided the Vols to a 10-4 record and the SEC Championship Game for the fifth time in 11 years. The Eastern Division champions found the road to the title game a challenging journey as three of their last four conference wins either were achieved in overtime (South Carolina and Kentucky) or boiled down to a final field goal try deciding the outcome (Vanderbilt).

The Vols lost to LSU 21-14 in the SEC title game. UT defeated Wisconsin 21-17 in the Outback Bowl.

Bennett and Fulmer will be honored during the annual TSWA convention in July.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.