Editor’s Note: My apologies on the lack of posts lately, an unholy combination of work and being under the weather has kept me busy and without the free time/energy to post anything.
The football team recently held their annual team banquet where Coach Lembo announced this year’s award winners.
The John Magnabosco Award, which is named after the winningest coachin Ball State history and is the team’s Most Valuable Player Award, was awarded to senior wide receiver Briggs Orsbon and senior safety Sean Baker. Orsbon was the team’s leading receiver with 66 receptions for 649 yards and four touchdowns and was named second team All-MAC. Baker was the third leading tackler on the team with 95 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and two interceptions. Baker leaves Ball State with the record for most interceptions in a career and was a team captain as both a junior and senior.
Running back Jahwan Edwards earned the John Hodge Award, which is given to the team’s Most Valuable Freshman and is named for a past president of the Cardinal Varsity Club. Edwards rushed for 786 yards and 11 touchdowns, his three-touchdown performance against Army was the most rushing touchdowns by a Ball State player since 2009.
Punter Scott Kovanda and wide receiver/return man Jamill Smith are co-recipients of the Bill Reynolds Special Teams Award,which is named in honor of a long-time football volunteer employee. Kovanda punted 61 times for 2,654 yards and a 43.5 yard average, 18th best in the country. He was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, which is awarded to the country’s best punter, and was named to the third team All-MAC. Smith led the team with a 23.3 yard kickoff return average and was named second team All-MAC as a punt returner after averaging 10.9 yards per punt return.
Defensive end Ryan Hartke was awarded the Gene Booker Academic Award, which is named after a member of the 1949 Ball State football team, the only team in school history to go undefeated. Hartke earned a 3.40 GPA as an accounting major and was an honorable mention to the All-MAC academic team.
Safety Joshua Howard received the Mark Hays Inspiration Award, which is given to the player who demonstrates the greatest ability to motivate and inspire his teammates. The award is given in the memory of a son of two supporters of the athletic program. Howard was fourth on the team with 84 tackles (one for loss), had a team-leading three interceptions, and recovered three fumbles this season.
The Bill Meitzler Scout Team Players of the Year were wide receiver Jared Scaringe and cornerback* Keenan Noel. Scaringe is a redshirt freshman who did not see any playing time this year and Noel redshirted his freshman season. Meitzler is a former member of the Cardinal Varsity Club and a longtime supporter of Ball State football.
The football program had two new awards this season, the Paul Schudel Strength and Conditioning Award and the Dave McClain Leadership Award. Defensive tackle Adam Morris earned the Schudel Award and center Kreg Hunter and defensive end Andrew Puthoff were co-recipients of the McClain Award. Schudel was the Cardinals head coach from 1985-1994 and led the Cardinals to two MAC Championships and two bowl appearances during his tenure. He is second in team history with 60 wins and won 47 MAC games, fifth best in conference history. McClain was the Cardinals head coach from 1971-1977 and led the Cardinals to a 47-25-3 record as head coach. He guided the Cardinals as they entered both Division I-A football and the MAC, his team won the MAC Championship in only its second year in the league.
Kevin Gall, Torieal Gibson, Jerrod Gray, Kyle Hoke, Zac Jordan, Rayondon Kennedy, Richard Saint-Victor, Steve Spence, Cory Sykes, and Lorren Womack all received the Ray Louthen Senior Participation Awards. The award is named after Ball State’s head coach from 1962-1967 and athletic director from 1970-1981. Cory Sykes receiving this award likely means his Ball State career is finished.
*Noel is still listed on the official roster as a fullback, unless he lost a lot of weight and has impressive speed for a former fullback, he’s more likely a linebacker or defensive end.
Go Cards!!
Filed under: Ball State football Tagged: | Ball State football, football awards banquet
