Football Announces 2007 Award Winners

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University football team put the finishing touch on the 2007 season Saturday at the 45th Annual EMU Football Banquet on campus at the EMU Student Center.

Head Coach Jeff Genyk and his staff announced the recipients of the individual awards for 2007. The main awards were presented to: senior tailback Pierre Walker (Detroit, Mich.-Central) as the Team’s Most Valuable Player; redshirt sophomore quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) as the James M. “Bingo” Brown Award presented to the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player; senior defensive end Eric Young (Shiocton, Wisc.-Shiocton-North Iowa C.C.) as the recipient of the John E. Borowiec Defensive Most Valuable Player award; senior tight end Ken Bohnet (Grand Ledge, Mich.-Grand Ledge) as the Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award; senior defensive tackle Jason Jones (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup) as the winner of the Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Scholastic Award; senior long snapper Jerry Topolinski (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc) and senior linebacker Darran Matthews (Redford, Mich.-Thurston) as the co-recipients of the Talons Award; redshirt freshman Ryan Downard (Lima, Ohio-Shawnee) as the recipient of the E-Gridiron Group Defensive Newcomer of the Year and redshirt freshman Eric Davis (Southgate, Mich.-Anderson) as the E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year; senior offensive guard Khalid Walton (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield) as the E-Gridiron Group Leadership award; redshirt sophomore Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) as the recipient of the Special Forces Most Valuable Player Award; and junior Jermaine Jenkins (Saginaw, Mich.-Saginaw) as the recipient of the Silent Warrior Special Teams award.

Pierre Walker turned in an outstanding senior season, leading the Eagles in rushing with a career-best 839 yards and also setting a personal single-season record with 10 touchdowns scored on the ground. He turned in three 100-yard rushing efforts in his final four games, including his career single-game best of 149 yards with three touchdowns in the win over Mid-American Conference

champion Central Michigan in the 2007 season finale (Nov. 16). He was named third-team all-MAC in 2007.

Andy Schmitt finished the 2007 season with 164 completions on 255 attempts for 1,613 yards and 14 touchdown passes. He also rushed 67 times for 279 yards and six touchdowns.

Eric Young enjoyed an outstanding senior season in 2007 with 37 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss of 40 yards, four sacks for 31 yards, 13 quarterback hurries and two passes broken up. His block of a field goal at the end of the game helped the Eagles preserve a road win at Northern Illinois (Sept. 15). Young also earned second-team Academic All-District IV honors this past season.

Ken Bohnet put the finishing touches on a solid EMU football career by playing in all 12 games in 2007 and starting eight times. He was a valuable addition on the offense and recorded 22 receptions for 158 yards and three touchdowns.

Jason Jones turned in one of the top defensive efforts in EMU history in 2007. He was named first-team All-MAC after leading the lead and ranking tied for seventh in the NCAA in tackles-for-loss with 19.5 for 67 yards. He also recorded 70 tackles and had 3.5 sacks for 25 yards.

Jerry Topolinski was one of the top long-snappers in the nation for four straight seasons. He started every game during those four years.

Darran Matthews started all 12 games at a linebacker spot in 2007 and was second on the squad in tackles with 107. He turned in 5.5 tackles-for-loss of 26 yards and added 2.5 sacks for 22 yards while recording one interception.

Ryan Downard burst onto the scene in 2007 as a redshirt freshman safety and responded with a team-leading six interceptions, which tied for 10th in the nation and was the second best by a freshman defensive back in the NCAA ranks.

Eric Davis earned the starting offensive center spot in game seven and started the final six games of the 2007 season.

Khalid Walton was a starter at offensive right guard in all 12 games of 2007 and teamed with Davis to give the Eagles a potent rushing attack in the final four games of the season with more than 200 yards in each of those contests.

Jermaine Jenkins was one of the standout special teams players for the Eagles and had one fumble recovery on the season.

Eastern Michigan University 2007 Football Awards

Team Most Valuable Player Award

Pierre Walker (TB • 5-5-8, 201, Sr. • Detroit Mich.-Central)

James M. “Bingo” Brown Most Valuable Offensive Player Award

Andy Schmitt (QB • 6-4, 230, So. • St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns)

John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award

Eric Young (DE • 6-1 1/2, 251, Sr. • Shiocton, Wisc.-Shiocton-North Iowa C.C.)

Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award

Ken Bohnet (TE • 6-4 1/2, 256, Sr. • Grand Ledge, Mich.-Grand Ledge)

Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Scholar-Athlete Award

Jason Jones (DT • 6-5, 270, Sr. • Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup)

Eagle Talons Award

Jerry Topolinski (LS • 6-1 1/2, 245, Sr. • Grand Blanc, Mich.-Flint Powers)

Darran Matthews (LB • 6-0, 234, Sr. • Redford, Mich.-Thurston)

Special Forces Most Valuable Player

Zach Johnson (P-PK • 6-0, 185, So. • Springboro, Ohio-Springboro)

E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year

Eric Davis (OC • 6-2, 274, Fr. • Southgate, Mich.-Anderson)

E-Gridiron Group Defensive Newcomer of the Year

Ryan Downard (FS • 6-1, 201, Fr. • Lima, Ohio-Shawnee)

Eastern Gridiron Group Leadership Award

Khalid Walton (OG • 6-3 1/2, 306, Sr. • Southfield, Mich.-Southfield)

Silent Warrior (Special Teams)

Jermaine Jenkins (DB • 6-2, 200, Jr. • Saginaw, Mich.-Saginaw)

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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