Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Football Team Announces 2011 Award Winners
12/11/2011 7:08:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Players honored at 49th annual football banquet
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team was honored Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, at the 49th annual football banquet held in the Grand Ballroom of the EMU Student Center.
The recipients of the 2011 individual awards were announced by members of the EMU football coaching staff.
Senior offensive lineman Andrew Sorgatz (Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North) was named the recipient of the James M. “Bingo” Brown Award as the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player, while senior defensive lineman Brad Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) took home the John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award. Senior quarterback Austin Karcher (Saline, Mich.-Fellowship Christian (Ga.)-Defiance) captured the Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award while Sorgatz and Brandon Slater (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup) shared the Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Scholar-Athlete Award.
Junior Alex Bellfy (Brooklyn, Mich.-Lumen Christi) was the recipient of the Eagle Talons Award; junior Bryan Pali (Kihei, Hawai'i-Kamehameha-Orange Coast Community College) and Mike Zupancic (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.-Trabuco Hills) shared the squad's Special Team MVP Award; Tyreese Russell (Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran) was named the recipient of the E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award and Justin Cudworth (Monte Nido, Calif.-Agoura-College of the Canyons) and Marlon Pollard (Pomona, Calif.-Cajon-UCLA) were the winners of the E-Gridiron Group's Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award.
Rounding out the accolades, senior offensive lineman Bridger Buche (Portland, Mich.-Portland) was picked for the E-Gridiron Group's Leadership Award.
The Eagles, who finished the season with a 6-6 overall mark and a 4-4 record in Mid-American Conference play, snapped a 15-year streak of losing seasons. Head Coach Ron English's team finished nationally in the top 50 statistically in five categories to go along with eight top five rankings in the MAC standings. English was named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Offensively, Eastern Michigan rushed for 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns on 575 carries for the 16th-best ground attack in the nation. The total was the second most in program history trailing only the 1987 team that captured the 1987 Mid-American Conference title by running the ball 610 times for a total of 2,701 yards. It marked just the second time in school history that the Eagles had rushed for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Defensively, EMU ranked 35th nationally and third in the MAC in total defense. The Eagles gave up just 350.33 yards per game, an improvement of 103.8 yards per contest. Additionally, the team averaged nearly six tackles for loss per game, the squad's highest total since 2001 when they had 82.
Sorgatz stared all 12 games this season at center, helping the Eagles to the 16th-best ground attack in the nation. A major factor on the line, he assisted protecting the quarterback, allowing 19 sacks which was the fifth fewest in the MAC and 45th nationally.
Ohrman started all 12 games for the Eagles and 34 in his career. The Second Team All-MAC selection had 52 tackles (19 solo, 33 assists) to go along with 5.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. He finished with a team-best 8.5 tackles for a loss of 52 yards, ranking fourth in the MAC in sacks and 87th nationally. Named 2011 Mid-Season All-MAC by Phil Steele, Ohrman had 2.5 sacks for 20 yards against Alabama State (Sept. 10) and recorded his first career interception against Penn State (Sept. 24). He was also named the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 12, after tallying eight tackles (2 solo, 6 assists) in the Eagles' 30-17 victory over Buffalo (Nov. 12).
Karcher, who has a 3.98 GPA as a physical education major, was the holder for the team on field goals and extra-points, while serving as a backup quarterback. EMU was 27-of-30 in extra points and 14-of-21 in field goals.
Slater started all 12 games for the Eagles, finishing the season with 37 tackles (17 solo, 20 assists). He also had 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and a blocked field goal at Kent State (Nov. 20). The Southfield, Mich. native recorded tackles for loss in three games (Alabama State, Toledo, Western Michigan) and notched three quarterback hurries against Ball State (Nov. 5) and two against Akron (Oct. 1).
Bellfy was given the award for the player that bought into the program and is a hard worker but not necessarily the best player. The Brooklyn, Mich. native played all 12 games for the Eagles in the secondary, recording Had 10 tackles (2 solo, 8 assists) to go along with a tackles-for-loss.
The EGG Offensive Newcomer, Russell, played in 11 games for the Green and White. He ranked sixth on the team in catches with six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. The Chicago, Ill. native caught a pair of touchdown passes against Western Michigan University (Oct. 22) and finished with a season-best 42 yard reception at Northern Illinois (Nov. 25).
A Third-Team All-MAC selection, Cudworth was the only EMU linebacker to start all 12 contests this season, leading the team with 83 tackles (32 solo, 5 assists) to go along with 7.5 tackles-for-loss, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks. He finished tied for the team lead in tackles-for-loss and ranked 18th in the MAC in tackles and 19th in tackles-for-loss. Cudworth's 83 tackles rank eighth most among MAC linebackers. Named 2011 Mid-Season All-MAC by Phil Steele, he had four-or-more tackles in every game, including a season-high 13 (3.5 for loss) against Howard (Sept. 4).
Also, a Third-Team All-MAC selection, Pollard started 11 of the 12 games for the Eagles. He finished the season with 54 tackles (37 solo, 17 assists) to go along with 2.0 tackles-for-loss, seven pass breakups and one interception. A 2011 Preseason All-MAC selection by Phil Steele, the Pomona, Calif. native ranked 12th in the MAC in passes defended. He also ranked sixth in the MAC in punt returns and 45th nationally at 5.33 yards per return.
Buche started 10 games this season on the EMU offensive line, helping the Eagles to the 16th-best ground attack in the nation. A major factor on the line, he assisted protecting the quarterback, allowing 19 sacks which was the fifth fewest in the MAC and 45th nationally. Additionally, EMU was one of just two schools in the MAC to boast three players that averaged more than 50 yards per game on the ground.
Pali played all 12 games for the Eagles in the secondary and on special teams. The Kihei, Hawai'i native recorded 47 tackles (14 solo, 33 assists) to go along with a tackle-for-loss. He added two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a quarterback-hurry.
Zupancic played all 12 games for the Eagles as the squad's long snapper. The Trabuco Canyon, Calif. native helped the Eagles convert 27-of-30 extra points and 14-of-21 field goals. He also snapped for Ray Guy Award Candidate Jay Karutz (North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia-Holy Cross College), who boasted a per punt average of 38.8 yards.
Eastern Michigan University 2011 Football Awards
Team Most Valuable Player Award
The Team
James M. “Bingo” Brown Most Valuable Offensive Player Award
Andrew Sorgatz (OL • 6-5 • 280 • Jr. • Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North)
John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award
Brad Ohrman (DL • 6-4 • 275 • Sr. • Adrian, Mich.-Adrian)
Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award
Austin Karcher (QB • 6-1 • 183 • Sr. • Saline, Mich.-Fellowship Christian (Ga.)-Defiance)
Harold E. Sponberg Lineman Scholar-Athlete Award
Andrew Sorgatz (OL • 6-5 • 280 • Jr. • Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North)
Brandon Slater (DL • 6-2 • 280 • Sr. • Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup)
Eagle Talons Award
Alex Bellfy (DB • 6-0 • 200 • Jr. • Brooklyn, Mich.-Lumen Christi)
E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Tyreese Russell (TE • 6-3 • 216 • Fr. • Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran)
E-Gridiron Group Defensive Newcomers of the Year
Justin Cudworth (LB • 5-11 • 227 • Jr. • Monte Nido, Calif.-Agoura-College of the Canyons)
Marlon Pollard (DB • 6-0 • 170 • So. • Pomona, Calif.-Cajon-UCLA)
E-Gridiron Group Leadership Award
Bridger Buche (OL • 6-3 • 305 • Sr. • Portland, Mich.-Portland)
Special Teams MVP
Bryan Pali (DB • 6-0 • 210 • Jr. • Kihei, Hawai'i-Kamehameha-Orange Coast Community College)
Mike Zupancic (LS • 6-5 • 240 • Jr. • Trabuco Canyon, Calif.-Trabuco Hills)
The recipients of the 2011 individual awards were announced by members of the EMU football coaching staff.
Senior offensive lineman Andrew Sorgatz (Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North) was named the recipient of the James M. “Bingo” Brown Award as the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player, while senior defensive lineman Brad Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) took home the John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award. Senior quarterback Austin Karcher (Saline, Mich.-Fellowship Christian (Ga.)-Defiance) captured the Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award while Sorgatz and Brandon Slater (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup) shared the Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Scholar-Athlete Award.
Junior Alex Bellfy (Brooklyn, Mich.-Lumen Christi) was the recipient of the Eagle Talons Award; junior Bryan Pali (Kihei, Hawai'i-Kamehameha-Orange Coast Community College) and Mike Zupancic (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.-Trabuco Hills) shared the squad's Special Team MVP Award; Tyreese Russell (Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran) was named the recipient of the E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award and Justin Cudworth (Monte Nido, Calif.-Agoura-College of the Canyons) and Marlon Pollard (Pomona, Calif.-Cajon-UCLA) were the winners of the E-Gridiron Group's Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award.
Rounding out the accolades, senior offensive lineman Bridger Buche (Portland, Mich.-Portland) was picked for the E-Gridiron Group's Leadership Award.
The Eagles, who finished the season with a 6-6 overall mark and a 4-4 record in Mid-American Conference play, snapped a 15-year streak of losing seasons. Head Coach Ron English's team finished nationally in the top 50 statistically in five categories to go along with eight top five rankings in the MAC standings. English was named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Offensively, Eastern Michigan rushed for 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns on 575 carries for the 16th-best ground attack in the nation. The total was the second most in program history trailing only the 1987 team that captured the 1987 Mid-American Conference title by running the ball 610 times for a total of 2,701 yards. It marked just the second time in school history that the Eagles had rushed for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Defensively, EMU ranked 35th nationally and third in the MAC in total defense. The Eagles gave up just 350.33 yards per game, an improvement of 103.8 yards per contest. Additionally, the team averaged nearly six tackles for loss per game, the squad's highest total since 2001 when they had 82.
Sorgatz stared all 12 games this season at center, helping the Eagles to the 16th-best ground attack in the nation. A major factor on the line, he assisted protecting the quarterback, allowing 19 sacks which was the fifth fewest in the MAC and 45th nationally.
Ohrman started all 12 games for the Eagles and 34 in his career. The Second Team All-MAC selection had 52 tackles (19 solo, 33 assists) to go along with 5.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. He finished with a team-best 8.5 tackles for a loss of 52 yards, ranking fourth in the MAC in sacks and 87th nationally. Named 2011 Mid-Season All-MAC by Phil Steele, Ohrman had 2.5 sacks for 20 yards against Alabama State (Sept. 10) and recorded his first career interception against Penn State (Sept. 24). He was also named the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 12, after tallying eight tackles (2 solo, 6 assists) in the Eagles' 30-17 victory over Buffalo (Nov. 12).
Karcher, who has a 3.98 GPA as a physical education major, was the holder for the team on field goals and extra-points, while serving as a backup quarterback. EMU was 27-of-30 in extra points and 14-of-21 in field goals.
Slater started all 12 games for the Eagles, finishing the season with 37 tackles (17 solo, 20 assists). He also had 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and a blocked field goal at Kent State (Nov. 20). The Southfield, Mich. native recorded tackles for loss in three games (Alabama State, Toledo, Western Michigan) and notched three quarterback hurries against Ball State (Nov. 5) and two against Akron (Oct. 1).
Bellfy was given the award for the player that bought into the program and is a hard worker but not necessarily the best player. The Brooklyn, Mich. native played all 12 games for the Eagles in the secondary, recording Had 10 tackles (2 solo, 8 assists) to go along with a tackles-for-loss.
The EGG Offensive Newcomer, Russell, played in 11 games for the Green and White. He ranked sixth on the team in catches with six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. The Chicago, Ill. native caught a pair of touchdown passes against Western Michigan University (Oct. 22) and finished with a season-best 42 yard reception at Northern Illinois (Nov. 25).
A Third-Team All-MAC selection, Cudworth was the only EMU linebacker to start all 12 contests this season, leading the team with 83 tackles (32 solo, 5 assists) to go along with 7.5 tackles-for-loss, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks. He finished tied for the team lead in tackles-for-loss and ranked 18th in the MAC in tackles and 19th in tackles-for-loss. Cudworth's 83 tackles rank eighth most among MAC linebackers. Named 2011 Mid-Season All-MAC by Phil Steele, he had four-or-more tackles in every game, including a season-high 13 (3.5 for loss) against Howard (Sept. 4).
Also, a Third-Team All-MAC selection, Pollard started 11 of the 12 games for the Eagles. He finished the season with 54 tackles (37 solo, 17 assists) to go along with 2.0 tackles-for-loss, seven pass breakups and one interception. A 2011 Preseason All-MAC selection by Phil Steele, the Pomona, Calif. native ranked 12th in the MAC in passes defended. He also ranked sixth in the MAC in punt returns and 45th nationally at 5.33 yards per return.
Buche started 10 games this season on the EMU offensive line, helping the Eagles to the 16th-best ground attack in the nation. A major factor on the line, he assisted protecting the quarterback, allowing 19 sacks which was the fifth fewest in the MAC and 45th nationally. Additionally, EMU was one of just two schools in the MAC to boast three players that averaged more than 50 yards per game on the ground.
Pali played all 12 games for the Eagles in the secondary and on special teams. The Kihei, Hawai'i native recorded 47 tackles (14 solo, 33 assists) to go along with a tackle-for-loss. He added two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a quarterback-hurry.
Zupancic played all 12 games for the Eagles as the squad's long snapper. The Trabuco Canyon, Calif. native helped the Eagles convert 27-of-30 extra points and 14-of-21 field goals. He also snapped for Ray Guy Award Candidate Jay Karutz (North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia-Holy Cross College), who boasted a per punt average of 38.8 yards.
Eastern Michigan University 2011 Football Awards
Team Most Valuable Player Award
The Team
James M. “Bingo” Brown Most Valuable Offensive Player Award
Andrew Sorgatz (OL • 6-5 • 280 • Jr. • Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North)
John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award
Brad Ohrman (DL • 6-4 • 275 • Sr. • Adrian, Mich.-Adrian)
Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award
Austin Karcher (QB • 6-1 • 183 • Sr. • Saline, Mich.-Fellowship Christian (Ga.)-Defiance)
Harold E. Sponberg Lineman Scholar-Athlete Award
Andrew Sorgatz (OL • 6-5 • 280 • Jr. • Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North)
Brandon Slater (DL • 6-2 • 280 • Sr. • Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup)
Eagle Talons Award
Alex Bellfy (DB • 6-0 • 200 • Jr. • Brooklyn, Mich.-Lumen Christi)
E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Tyreese Russell (TE • 6-3 • 216 • Fr. • Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran)
E-Gridiron Group Defensive Newcomers of the Year
Justin Cudworth (LB • 5-11 • 227 • Jr. • Monte Nido, Calif.-Agoura-College of the Canyons)
Marlon Pollard (DB • 6-0 • 170 • So. • Pomona, Calif.-Cajon-UCLA)
E-Gridiron Group Leadership Award
Bridger Buche (OL • 6-3 • 305 • Sr. • Portland, Mich.-Portland)
Special Teams MVP
Bryan Pali (DB • 6-0 • 210 • Jr. • Kihei, Hawai'i-Kamehameha-Orange Coast Community College)
Mike Zupancic (LS • 6-5 • 240 • Jr. • Trabuco Canyon, Calif.-Trabuco Hills)
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