Football Team Announces 2014 Award Winners

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team was honored Sunday, Jan. 4, at the 52nd Annual football banquet held at the EMU Student Center. The recipients of the 2014 individual awards were announced by members of the EMU football coaching staff.

Junior defensive lineman Pat O'Connor (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita) was selected for the Most Valuable Player Award. Senior offenive lineman Lincoln Hansen (Omaha, Neb.-Millard North) was named the recipient of the James M. "Bingo" Brown Award as the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player, while O'Connor took home the John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award for the second consecutive year.

Junior kicker Dylan Mulder (Saline, Mich.-Saline) captured the Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award while Hansen reclaimed the Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Scholar-Athlete Award.

Sophomore long snapper Chris O'Risky (Poseyville, Ind.-North Posey) was selected the Special Teams Most Valuable Player, while redshirt-sophomore Anthony Zappone (Westlake, Ohio-Westlake) was the Helmet Sticker Winner. The Theme Award went to senior offensive lineman Robert McFadden (Flint, Mich.-Carman-Ainsworth).

Redshirt-freshman quarterback Reginald Bell (Los Angeles, Calif.-Susan Miller Dorsey) was named the recipient of the E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award and freshman defensive back Jason Beck (Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical) was the winner of the E-Gridiron Group's Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award.

The Scout Team Players of the Year went to wide receiver Lemar Harris (Raleigh, N.C.-Millbrook), linebacker Tyler Onda (Jackson, Mich.-Northwest) and running back Blake Banham (St. Paul, Minn-Cretin-Derham Hall). Redshirt-sophomore running back Juwan Lewis (Muskegon, Mich.-Muskegon) and senior defensive back Kevin Johnson (McKeesport, Pa.-McKeesport) claimed the Hammer Awards, while redshirt-junior offensive lineman Garrett Parker (Tinley Park, Ill.-Andrew) was honored with the Team Award.

Rounding out the accolades handed out by Head Coach Chris Creighton and staff were the Committed to Excellence Award and the Torch Bearer Leader Award which both went to Hansen.

The 2014 season marked the end of the careers of 18 Eagles: Tyler Allen (Lansing, Mich.-Eastern), Campbell Allison (Kagawong, Ontario-Ogdensburg Free Academy), Rob Bolden (Orchard Lake, Mich.-Orchard Lake St. Mary's-Penn State-LSU), Ryan Brumfield (Chester Springs, Pa.-Owen J. Robert), Pudge Cotton (Maywood, Ill.-Walther Lutheran), Willie Creear (Seattle, Wash-Lindbergh-Butte JC), Owen Dubiel (East Jackson, Mich.-East Jackson), Jordan Erbes (Kettering, Ohio-Fairmont), David Gibson (Cleveland, Ohio-Solon), Hansen, Bronson Hill (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Catholic Central), Johnson, Oliver Kathalay (Mississauga, Ontario-Avondale (Ga.)),Travis Linser (Glendale, Ariz.-Phoenix Northwest Christian-Phoenix C.C.), McFadden, Parker, Tyreese Russell (Melrose Park, Ill.-Walter Lutheran), and Gary White Jr. (Raleigh, N.C.-Southeast Raleigh-Grossmont).

The Eagles finished the regular season ranked nationally in the top-60 in nine statistical categories to go along with six top-five rankings in the MAC standings. Nationally, EMU finished the year tied with Georgia Tech, Northwestern and Oklahoma State for most blocked kicks with six. The six rejections were the most since the 2009 season when the Green and White also blocked six kicks.

The defense improved from a season prior, as the squad recorded more tackles-for-loss (63), pass breakups (36), fumbles forced (9), fumbles recovered (6), and kicks blocked (6) than it did in all of 2013. Meanwhile, EMU's offense racked up 1,654 yards on the ground and 1,821 yards though the air.

Individually, Allen saw his name etched into both EMU and MAC record books, becoming the leader in career kick returns with 131, surpassing former Eagle Trumaine Riley for the top spot on both charts. Allen ends his career as not only the career kick return leader, but also the EMU career kick return yardage leader with 2,664 yards, which also ranks second all-time in the conference.

Bell also burst on the national scene, as he was one of just eight quarterbacks nationally to lead his team in both passing and rushing yardage. Bell finished the year with the 19th-most total yards of offense in EMU single-season history, while posting the second-most yardage by one individual in program history when he piled up 510 yards of total offense at Ball State, Nov. 22.

Eastern Michigan University 2014 Football Awards

James M. "Bingo" Brown Most Valuable Offensive Player Award
Lincoln Hansen (OL • 6-6 • 299 • Sr.-Sr. • Omaha, Neb.-Millard North)

John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award
Pat O'Connor (DL • 6-4 • 274 • Jr.-Jr. • Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita)

Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award
Dylan Mulder (PK • 6-0 • 186 • Jr.-Jr. • Saline, Mich.-Saline)

Harold E. Sponberg Lineman Scholar-Athlete Award
Lincoln Hansen (OL • 6-6 • 299 • Sr-Sr. • Omaha, Neb.-Millard North)

E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year
   Reginald Bell (QB • 6-3 • 184 • So.-Fr. • Los Angeles, Calif. -Susan Miller Dorsey)

E-Gridiron Group Defensive Newcomers of the Year
   Jason Beck (DB • 6-1 • 195 • Fr.-Fr. • Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical)

Scout Team Player of the Year
OFFENSE: Lemar Harris (WR • 6-2 • 185 • Fr.-Fr. • Raleigh, N.C.-Millbrook)
DEFENSE: Tyler Onda (LB • 6-0 • 225 • Fr.-Fr. • Jackson, Mich.-Northwest)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Blake Banham (RB • 5-10 • 190 • Fr.-Fr. • St. Paul, Minn-Cretin-Derham Hall)

Special Teams MVP Award
Chris O'Risky (LS • 6-0 • 214 • So.-So. • Poseyville, Ind.-North Posey)

Team MVP
Pat O'Connor (DL • 6-4 • 274 • Jr.-Jr. • Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita)

Helmet Stickers Winner
Anthony Zappone (LB • 6-0 • 241 • Jr.-Jr.. • Wyandotte, Mich.-Roosevelt)

Hammer Award
OFFENSE: Juwan Lewis (RB • 5-10 • 214 • Jr.-So. • Muskegon, Mich.-Muskegon)
DEFENSE: Kevin Johnson (DB • 5-11 • 207 • Sr. • McKeesport, Pa.-McKeesport)

Theme Award
   Robert McFadden (OL • 6-7 • 309 • Sr.-Sr. • Flint, Mich.-Carman-Ainsworth)

Committed to Excellence Award
Lincoln Hansen (OL • 6-6 • 299 • Sr-Sr. • Omaha, Neb.-Millard North)

Team Award
Garrett Parker (OL • 6-5 • 300 • Sr.-Jr. • Tinley Park, Ill.-Andrew)

Torch Bearer Leader Award
Lincoln Hansen (OL • 6-6 • 299 • Sr-Sr. • Omaha, Neb.-Millard North)

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Players Mentioned

Tyler Allen

Campbell Allison

Rob Bolden

Ryan Brumfield

Pudge Cotton

Willie Creear

Owen Dubiel

Jordan Erbes

David Gibson

Lincoln Hansen

Bronson Hill

Kevin Johnson

Oliver Kathalay

Travis Linser

Robert McFadden

Garrett Parker

Tyreese Russell

Gary White Jr.

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