March 15, 2005

London, England- On Tuesday morning Carling announced that former University of Illinois at Chicago soccer player and current Watford defender Jay DeMerit (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) was named the 2005 Carling New Talent Award winner.

DeMerit won the award by an overwhelming margin, gaining 57% of the vote for the award in a field of six players from across the landscape of English soccer.

The centre-half has made a tremendous impact on the Hornets, making 17 appearances and scoring two goals from his defender spot while helping Watford make a remarkable run in the Carling Cup, leading the team to the semifinals with wins over English Premiership teams Portsmouth and Southampton.

The 25-year-old DeMerit will receive his award at the beginning of next season.