I can't believe that this doesn't have a thread yet. Or maybe I just like accolades haha. I usually do a self prediction before this happens so some of these were not surprising. Some were:
John & Cynthia Ruzic Team MVP: Quinton Flowers (No shit lol. These kind of awards usually go to QBs but Q deserved it no doubt for many reasons)
Offensive MVP Honors: Marlon Mack and D'Ernest Johnson (Very politically correct move but I don't have a problem with it. Nice to see Dee get recognized because it's easy to just hand Mack the reward)
Defensive MVP: Auggie Sanchez (The QB of the defense. I know many would probably select Byrd but I think Auggie earned this for many reasons)
Special Teams MVP: Daniel Awoleke (Saw this coming a mile away. Actually picked this before the ceremony. Could have easily gone to Adams or McGee or Ciabatti though. All were great)
Jim & Laurie Ragsdale Outstanding Walk-On Award: Daniel Awoleke and Mak Djulbegovic (Both very deserving. I would have had a hard time just picking one. Happy they gave this away as a co)
Lee Roy Selmon Award: Eric Lee
Defensive Lineman Award: Eric Lee (This was another obvious one)
Frank Morsani Leadership Award: Deatrick Nichols and D'Ernest Johnson (Honestly shocked over these. No Sanchez or Flowers or Mack or Adams or Price or Byrd or others. I know Dee is pretty vocal and a lot of players love him but didn't see the award going to Nichols either. Love the kid but his name wasn't the first to come to mind)
Most Improved Player of the Year: Rodney Adams and Deatrick Nichols (AGAIN I was shocked to see Nichols on this list and that's my guy! I always figured that he was good so there wasn't much improvement to begin with. Adams is obvious because when you become the new #1, of course your stats will improve most likely when you are talented. I would have chose Hamilton for this or maybe even Brynjar or Awoleke. Neither of those guys played even close to where they played this year, last year IMO)
Offensive Lineman Award: Brynjar Gudmundsson (Yep, this is another I called. He got better and better every game I felt and his versatility is impressive. He's played pretty much every position on the line haha. Moving to the center for the first time ever and playing the way he did, making the call outs he did and helping this team break a rushing record...it was worth being recognized for)
Freshman of the Year: Ronnie Hoggins (You all knew it before I typed it. This was the clear and most obvious pick for all of these awards right next to team MVP. Absolutely, 100%, without a question, yes)
Tough Man Award: Jaime Byrd (I feel like this award was created for Jaime Byrd before he even got here and now the rightful owner is here to claim it)
Scout Team Awards: Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Greg Reaves (Marquez Valdes was my pick on offense but Greg Reaves totally shocked me! I know nothing about this kid. I just know he's from Manatee. If he's this good to pass up Gonzalez for the reward, maybe we have something here. Reaves is a LB)
I'll say this much. It's telling that some of these awards are dual awards. It tells you how deep this team is becoming. This is the first year since Taggart has been here that multiple people are winning awards. Before it was hard just to find someone to give the award to. This is fun.
John & Cynthia Ruzic Team MVP: Quinton Flowers (No shit lol. These kind of awards usually go to QBs but Q deserved it no doubt for many reasons)
Offensive MVP Honors: Marlon Mack and D'Ernest Johnson (Very politically correct move but I don't have a problem with it. Nice to see Dee get recognized because it's easy to just hand Mack the reward)
Defensive MVP: Auggie Sanchez (The QB of the defense. I know many would probably select Byrd but I think Auggie earned this for many reasons)
Special Teams MVP: Daniel Awoleke (Saw this coming a mile away. Actually picked this before the ceremony. Could have easily gone to Adams or McGee or Ciabatti though. All were great)
Jim & Laurie Ragsdale Outstanding Walk-On Award: Daniel Awoleke and Mak Djulbegovic (Both very deserving. I would have had a hard time just picking one. Happy they gave this away as a co)
Lee Roy Selmon Award: Eric Lee
Defensive Lineman Award: Eric Lee (This was another obvious one)
Frank Morsani Leadership Award: Deatrick Nichols and D'Ernest Johnson (Honestly shocked over these. No Sanchez or Flowers or Mack or Adams or Price or Byrd or others. I know Dee is pretty vocal and a lot of players love him but didn't see the award going to Nichols either. Love the kid but his name wasn't the first to come to mind)
Most Improved Player of the Year: Rodney Adams and Deatrick Nichols (AGAIN I was shocked to see Nichols on this list and that's my guy! I always figured that he was good so there wasn't much improvement to begin with. Adams is obvious because when you become the new #1, of course your stats will improve most likely when you are talented. I would have chose Hamilton for this or maybe even Brynjar or Awoleke. Neither of those guys played even close to where they played this year, last year IMO)
Offensive Lineman Award: Brynjar Gudmundsson (Yep, this is another I called. He got better and better every game I felt and his versatility is impressive. He's played pretty much every position on the line haha. Moving to the center for the first time ever and playing the way he did, making the call outs he did and helping this team break a rushing record...it was worth being recognized for)
Freshman of the Year: Ronnie Hoggins (You all knew it before I typed it. This was the clear and most obvious pick for all of these awards right next to team MVP. Absolutely, 100%, without a question, yes)
Tough Man Award: Jaime Byrd (I feel like this award was created for Jaime Byrd before he even got here and now the rightful owner is here to claim it)
Scout Team Awards: Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Greg Reaves (Marquez Valdes was my pick on offense but Greg Reaves totally shocked me! I know nothing about this kid. I just know he's from Manatee. If he's this good to pass up Gonzalez for the reward, maybe we have something here. Reaves is a LB)
I'll say this much. It's telling that some of these awards are dual awards. It tells you how deep this team is becoming. This is the first year since Taggart has been here that multiple people are winning awards. Before it was hard just to find someone to give the award to. This is fun.
