1993 Football Team
Inducted: 2002
The 1993 football team set a school record for most wins in a season with nine, finishing the season with a 9-1 record with the only loss coming to Minnesota-Duluth 29-28 in the final game of the season at the Metrodome Classic. The Wildcats had a high-powered offense, ranking first in NCAA Division II in total offense (581.5 yards per game), second in passing offense (379.9 ypg) and scoring offense (44.8 ppg). Defensively, the 'Cats ranked 16th in total defense, allowing just 256.0 yards per game. Individually, quarterback Brett Salisbury ranked second in passing efficiency (166.3) and third in total offense (373.2 ypg). Receivers Byron Chamberlain and Damon Thomas ranked third and fourth respectively in receptions per game at 8.7 and 8.1 per game. Thomas was fifth and Chamberlain sixth in receiving yards per game at 116.2 and 112.8. Jerry Garrett led the nation in punt returns, averaging 19.2 per return. Lamont Rainey was the top rusher with 1,031 yards. Salisbury set numerous passing records in his only season at WSC, including 3,729 yards passing. Defensively, the Wildcats were led in tackles by Jon Adkisson with 104. Adkisson is tied for fifth in career tackler at WSC with 350. Former NFL player Brad Ottis was next with 84 tackles, including 14 quarterback sacks. Wilson Hookfin led the team in interceptions with five. Ottis, a defensive lineman, was named to two Division II All-American teams. He was selected by the NCAA and by members of CoSIDA. Four players off the 1993 team went on to play professional football. Brett Salisbury was the starting quarterback for the Helsinki East City Giants in Helsinki, Finland. Damon Thomas was an NFL free agent pick-up by the Buffalo Bills. Brad Ottis was a second-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals for a few years. Byron Chamberlain was a seventh round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in 1995 and later became a Pro Bowl tight end with the Minnesota Vikings in 2001. The 1993 WSC football team was inducted into the WSC Athletics Hall of Fame on October 5, 2002