Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Football Announces 2025 Award Winners
12/8/2025 12:48:00 PM | Football
The 2025 individual award nominees were honored at the 63rd annual football banquet
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team hosted its 63rd annual football banquet Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest. The banquet served as the celebration of the team's 2025 individual award winners, which were announced by members of the EMU football coaching staff.
Running back Dontae McMillan (Seattle, Wash./Chief Sealth/Weber State) was named the team's Most Valuable Player as well as the James M. "Bingo" Brown Award recipient, given to the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player. McMillan had a career year for the Eagles as the running back powered to 1,389 total yards and seven touchdowns as he rushed 177 times for 1,015 yards and four scores while adding 33 catches for 375 yards and three scores, the first three of his career. The first running back to earn All-MAC honors since Samson Evans earned second-team accolades in 2022, McMillan joined Evans on the 1,000-yard rushing list as his 1,015 yards ranked 14th in a single season and made him the 12th different EMU player to break the 1,000-yard barrier. McMillan turned in five games of 100+ yards rushing, including 126 against Louisiana, 118 at Buffalo, 104 against Northern Illinois, 100 against Bowling Green, and 111 in his final game with Western Michigan. In the game with the Broncos, he added 126 yards receiving for the first 100-yard game of his career while becoming the first player in EMU history with 100+ rushing and 100+ receiving in the same game. Overall, McMillan, who started all 12 games, ranked among the top 40 in four national statistical categories, including 16th in all-purpose yards per game (115.8), 28th in rushing yards, 33rd in yards per carry (5.73), and 36th in rushing yards per game (84.5).
Defensive back Bryce Llewellyn (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral/Charleston Southern) was named the John E. Borowiec Award recipient, given to the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player. The first EMU defensive back to garner all-conference honors since Noski LaFleur was named to the first team in 2020, Llewellyn was the defense's top tackler as he posted 103 total stops, including 42 solo tackles and 61 assisted tackles, while adding two interceptions and 5.0 tackles-for-loss. Llewellyn, whose 8.5 tackles per game ranked 36th nationally and sixth in the MAC, posted career-high tackles in three games, including 11 against Louisiana before grabbing 12 at Central Michigan and 13 against Ohio. He added a career-high eight solo stops against Miami later in the season. The first defender with 100+ tackles in a season since Chase Kline recorded 143 in 2023, Llewellyn was fourth on the team with 5.0 TFLs while leading the team with at least 0.5 TFLs in six games, including a career-best 1.5 against NIU. He also led the way with two interceptions, one each against Louisiana and NIU.
Earning the team's Theme Award was wide receiver Nick Devereaux (Troy, Mich./Brother Rice/Davenport). The most significant breakthrough of the season came from Devereaux, who entered his senior season with one catch for seven yards in his EMU career. In 2025, he led the team with 510 yards and seven touchdowns while ranking second with 34 receptions. A starter in 10-of-12 games, Devereaux kept a streak going that has now seen at least one wide receiver earn all-conference honors for 10 consecutive seasons, and he did so by ranking 30th nationally in touchdown receptions with his seven, ranking as the most since 2022 when Tanner Knue pulled in nine. With at least one reception in all 12 games played, Devereaux posted his career high in yards four times, including three consecutive games starting with 21 yards against Long Island, 31 at Kentucky, and 76 against Louisiana before exploding for 121 yards and two scores on five catches against Ohio.
The Special Teams Most Valuable Player honor went to punter Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne). The top punter in program history, Tomasek finished his career as a three-time honoree from the MAC after earning first-team honors in 2022 and 2023 and became the ninth player in EMU history with three career honors (first, second, or third-team) from the MAC. Only the second specialist to earn three All-MAC accolades in a career (kicker Andrew Wellock, first team in 2004, 2005, and 2006), Tomasek finished the year with 49 punts for 2,255 yards to post an average of 46.2 yards per punt, a mark that ranked 12th nationally and second in the MAC while taking the top spot in the program's single-season average, surpassing Jake Julien, who averaged 45.9 yards in 2021. Tomasek, who played his 50th career game on Senior Night to move into a tie for ninth on the all-time list, recorded four games with averages over 48.7 yards this season, including a school-record 52.4 yards per punt in the opener with Texas State before averaging 50.6 against Long Island one week later for fourth on the list. Overall, his career saw him tally 9,508 yards, which ranks fourth all-time, while his 44.7 yards per punt is a program record, surpassing Julien's 44.0 average (2017-21).
Defensive lineman Donovan Green (Palmetto, La./Opelousas Catholic/Northwestern State) took home the Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Award while defensive end Carter Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) collected the Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete honor.
The E-Gridiron Group's Newcomers of the Year honors went to quarterback Noah Kim (Centreville, Va./Westfield/Michigan State/Coastal Carolina) for his offensive efforts and to defensive lineman Quincy Byas (St. Louis, Mo./De Smet Jesuit) for his season performance on defense.
Quarterback Bryce Button (Bowling Green, Ky./South Warren), defensive lineman Jason Morbitzer (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley), and wide receiver Nate Lyman (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) earned the team's Scout Team Player of the Year awards for their efforts preparing the team for competition each week on offense, defense, and special teams, respectively.
Additionally, defensive back Solomon Bell (Pontiac, Mich./Southfield A&T/Highland CC) was presented with the Team Player "Game Ball" Award while defensive lineman Jefferson Adam (Ypsilanti, Mich./Washtenaw International/Hocking College/Iowa State) earned the the Torch Bearer Leader Award.
Eastern Michigan posted substantial numbers in several areas. The group finished first in the MAC in fourth down offense at 61.1 percent. The team also led the league in sacks allowed (0.92 per game) and tackles for loss allowed (3.75 per game). Red zone offense closed at 94.6 percent, which ranked second in the nation and first in the MAC. The passing offense ranked second in the league at 234.8 yards per game. Total offense ranked third in the conference at 377.3 yards per game. The defense held opponents to 184.2 passing yards per game, which ranked fourth in the MAC and 24th in the country. Special teams delivered strong production with a top-three MAC finish in net punting at 40.0 yards.
Kim ranked first in the MAC in passing yards and completions. He finished with 2,817 yards, 234.8 yards per game, 20.58 completions per game, and 18 touchdown passes. Kim also ranked first in the league in total offense per game at 250.3 yards. McMillan ranked third in the MAC in rushing yards with 1,014 yards and fourth in rushing yards per game at 84.5. His 5.73 yards per carry ranked second in the conference. Devereaux produced 510 yards and seven touchdowns, which ranked fourth in MAC scoring catches. Return specialist Jayvin Norman (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) delivered 432 combined return yards which ranked fourth in the league. Tomasek ranked second in the MAC with a 46.2 yard average. Kicker Rudy Kessinger (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) ranked third in field goals per game and fifth in scoring among MAC specialists. On defense, Llewellyn ranked sixth in the MAC in total tackles and tied for first on the roster in fumble recoveries.
Eastern Michigan University 2025 Football Awards
Team MVP
Dontae McMillan
James M. "Bingo" Brown Most Valuable Offensive Player Award
Dontae McMillan
John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award
Bryce Llewellyn
Special Teams MVP Award
Mitchell Tomasek
Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award
Carter Evans
Harold E. Sponberg Lineman Award
Donovan Green
E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Noah Kim
E-Gridiron Group Defensive Newcomers of the Year
Quincy Byas
Scout Team Player of the Year
Offense - Bryce Button
Defense - Jason Morbitzer
Special Teams - Nate Lyman
Hammer of the Year
Offense - Dontae McMillan
Defense - Carter Evans
Special Teams - Marvell Eggleston
Theme Award - The Climb
Nick Devereaux
ETOUGH Award
Dontae McMillan
Team Player Award "Game Ball"
Solomon Bell
Torch Bearer Leader Award
Jefferson Adam
Overall Honors Awarded to EMU Student-Athletes
Adam, Jefferson
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Devereaux, Nick
All-MAC Third Team
Kessinger, Rudy
MAC Special Teams Player of the Week 9/22
MAC Special Teams Player of the Week 10/13
Llewellyn, Bryce
All-MAC Second Team
MAC Defensive Player of the Week 9/22
Long, Joshua
All-MAC Second Team
McMillan, Dontae
All-MAC Second Team
MAC Offensive Player of the Week 12/1
Rewolinski, Mickey
All-MAC Third Team
Tomasek, Mitchell
All-MAC Third Team
Ray's 8 for Week 2 9/8
Burlsworth Trophy Nominee
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team hosted its 63rd annual football banquet Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest. The banquet served as the celebration of the team's 2025 individual award winners, which were announced by members of the EMU football coaching staff.
Running back Dontae McMillan (Seattle, Wash./Chief Sealth/Weber State) was named the team's Most Valuable Player as well as the James M. "Bingo" Brown Award recipient, given to the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player. McMillan had a career year for the Eagles as the running back powered to 1,389 total yards and seven touchdowns as he rushed 177 times for 1,015 yards and four scores while adding 33 catches for 375 yards and three scores, the first three of his career. The first running back to earn All-MAC honors since Samson Evans earned second-team accolades in 2022, McMillan joined Evans on the 1,000-yard rushing list as his 1,015 yards ranked 14th in a single season and made him the 12th different EMU player to break the 1,000-yard barrier. McMillan turned in five games of 100+ yards rushing, including 126 against Louisiana, 118 at Buffalo, 104 against Northern Illinois, 100 against Bowling Green, and 111 in his final game with Western Michigan. In the game with the Broncos, he added 126 yards receiving for the first 100-yard game of his career while becoming the first player in EMU history with 100+ rushing and 100+ receiving in the same game. Overall, McMillan, who started all 12 games, ranked among the top 40 in four national statistical categories, including 16th in all-purpose yards per game (115.8), 28th in rushing yards, 33rd in yards per carry (5.73), and 36th in rushing yards per game (84.5).
Defensive back Bryce Llewellyn (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral/Charleston Southern) was named the John E. Borowiec Award recipient, given to the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player. The first EMU defensive back to garner all-conference honors since Noski LaFleur was named to the first team in 2020, Llewellyn was the defense's top tackler as he posted 103 total stops, including 42 solo tackles and 61 assisted tackles, while adding two interceptions and 5.0 tackles-for-loss. Llewellyn, whose 8.5 tackles per game ranked 36th nationally and sixth in the MAC, posted career-high tackles in three games, including 11 against Louisiana before grabbing 12 at Central Michigan and 13 against Ohio. He added a career-high eight solo stops against Miami later in the season. The first defender with 100+ tackles in a season since Chase Kline recorded 143 in 2023, Llewellyn was fourth on the team with 5.0 TFLs while leading the team with at least 0.5 TFLs in six games, including a career-best 1.5 against NIU. He also led the way with two interceptions, one each against Louisiana and NIU.
Earning the team's Theme Award was wide receiver Nick Devereaux (Troy, Mich./Brother Rice/Davenport). The most significant breakthrough of the season came from Devereaux, who entered his senior season with one catch for seven yards in his EMU career. In 2025, he led the team with 510 yards and seven touchdowns while ranking second with 34 receptions. A starter in 10-of-12 games, Devereaux kept a streak going that has now seen at least one wide receiver earn all-conference honors for 10 consecutive seasons, and he did so by ranking 30th nationally in touchdown receptions with his seven, ranking as the most since 2022 when Tanner Knue pulled in nine. With at least one reception in all 12 games played, Devereaux posted his career high in yards four times, including three consecutive games starting with 21 yards against Long Island, 31 at Kentucky, and 76 against Louisiana before exploding for 121 yards and two scores on five catches against Ohio.
The Special Teams Most Valuable Player honor went to punter Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne). The top punter in program history, Tomasek finished his career as a three-time honoree from the MAC after earning first-team honors in 2022 and 2023 and became the ninth player in EMU history with three career honors (first, second, or third-team) from the MAC. Only the second specialist to earn three All-MAC accolades in a career (kicker Andrew Wellock, first team in 2004, 2005, and 2006), Tomasek finished the year with 49 punts for 2,255 yards to post an average of 46.2 yards per punt, a mark that ranked 12th nationally and second in the MAC while taking the top spot in the program's single-season average, surpassing Jake Julien, who averaged 45.9 yards in 2021. Tomasek, who played his 50th career game on Senior Night to move into a tie for ninth on the all-time list, recorded four games with averages over 48.7 yards this season, including a school-record 52.4 yards per punt in the opener with Texas State before averaging 50.6 against Long Island one week later for fourth on the list. Overall, his career saw him tally 9,508 yards, which ranks fourth all-time, while his 44.7 yards per punt is a program record, surpassing Julien's 44.0 average (2017-21).
Defensive lineman Donovan Green (Palmetto, La./Opelousas Catholic/Northwestern State) took home the Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Award while defensive end Carter Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) collected the Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete honor.
The E-Gridiron Group's Newcomers of the Year honors went to quarterback Noah Kim (Centreville, Va./Westfield/Michigan State/Coastal Carolina) for his offensive efforts and to defensive lineman Quincy Byas (St. Louis, Mo./De Smet Jesuit) for his season performance on defense.
Quarterback Bryce Button (Bowling Green, Ky./South Warren), defensive lineman Jason Morbitzer (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley), and wide receiver Nate Lyman (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) earned the team's Scout Team Player of the Year awards for their efforts preparing the team for competition each week on offense, defense, and special teams, respectively.
Additionally, defensive back Solomon Bell (Pontiac, Mich./Southfield A&T/Highland CC) was presented with the Team Player "Game Ball" Award while defensive lineman Jefferson Adam (Ypsilanti, Mich./Washtenaw International/Hocking College/Iowa State) earned the the Torch Bearer Leader Award.
Eastern Michigan posted substantial numbers in several areas. The group finished first in the MAC in fourth down offense at 61.1 percent. The team also led the league in sacks allowed (0.92 per game) and tackles for loss allowed (3.75 per game). Red zone offense closed at 94.6 percent, which ranked second in the nation and first in the MAC. The passing offense ranked second in the league at 234.8 yards per game. Total offense ranked third in the conference at 377.3 yards per game. The defense held opponents to 184.2 passing yards per game, which ranked fourth in the MAC and 24th in the country. Special teams delivered strong production with a top-three MAC finish in net punting at 40.0 yards.
Kim ranked first in the MAC in passing yards and completions. He finished with 2,817 yards, 234.8 yards per game, 20.58 completions per game, and 18 touchdown passes. Kim also ranked first in the league in total offense per game at 250.3 yards. McMillan ranked third in the MAC in rushing yards with 1,014 yards and fourth in rushing yards per game at 84.5. His 5.73 yards per carry ranked second in the conference. Devereaux produced 510 yards and seven touchdowns, which ranked fourth in MAC scoring catches. Return specialist Jayvin Norman (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) delivered 432 combined return yards which ranked fourth in the league. Tomasek ranked second in the MAC with a 46.2 yard average. Kicker Rudy Kessinger (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) ranked third in field goals per game and fifth in scoring among MAC specialists. On defense, Llewellyn ranked sixth in the MAC in total tackles and tied for first on the roster in fumble recoveries.
Eastern Michigan University 2025 Football Awards
Team MVP
Dontae McMillan
James M. "Bingo" Brown Most Valuable Offensive Player Award
Dontae McMillan
John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player Award
Bryce Llewellyn
Special Teams MVP Award
Mitchell Tomasek
Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award
Carter Evans
Harold E. Sponberg Lineman Award
Donovan Green
E-Gridiron Group Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Noah Kim
E-Gridiron Group Defensive Newcomers of the Year
Quincy Byas
Scout Team Player of the Year
Offense - Bryce Button
Defense - Jason Morbitzer
Special Teams - Nate Lyman
Hammer of the Year
Offense - Dontae McMillan
Defense - Carter Evans
Special Teams - Marvell Eggleston
Theme Award - The Climb
Nick Devereaux
ETOUGH Award
Dontae McMillan
Team Player Award "Game Ball"
Solomon Bell
Torch Bearer Leader Award
Jefferson Adam
Overall Honors Awarded to EMU Student-Athletes
Adam, Jefferson
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Devereaux, Nick
All-MAC Third Team
Kessinger, Rudy
MAC Special Teams Player of the Week 9/22
MAC Special Teams Player of the Week 10/13
Llewellyn, Bryce
All-MAC Second Team
MAC Defensive Player of the Week 9/22
Long, Joshua
All-MAC Second Team
McMillan, Dontae
All-MAC Second Team
MAC Offensive Player of the Week 12/1
Rewolinski, Mickey
All-MAC Third Team
Tomasek, Mitchell
All-MAC Third Team
Ray's 8 for Week 2 9/8
Burlsworth Trophy Nominee
Players Mentioned
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