2010 Spartan Football Awards Banquet Recap Consensus All-America linebacker Greg Jones has been selected Most Valuable Player by his teammates.

 

As expected, Greg Jones cleaned up at this years awards banquet. Photo courtesy of Mark Boomgaard.

 

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Consensus All-America linebacker Greg Jones, who helped lead Michigan State to a school-record 11 wins and a share of its first Big Ten Championship in 20 years, has been selected Most Valuable Player (Governor’s Award recipient) by his teammates at the annual Spartan Football Awards Banquet, held Saturday, Dec. 18 before a crowd in excess of 950 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. Jones becomes just the second defensive player to earn team MVP honors in the last nine years and the first since safety Eric Smith in 2005. His selection also marks the first time a linebacker has received the team’s top individual honor since Josh Thornhill won the Governor’s Award in 2001.

 

Here’s a complete list of hardware presented at the 2010 Spartan Football Awards Banquet:

 

Governor’s Award (Most Valuable Player): Linebacker Greg Jones

One of only 10 players in the nation to earn unanimous first-team All-America honors this season . . . became just the fourth Spartan to be named a consensus first-team All-America twice, joining George Webster, Bubba Smith and Lorenzo White . . . earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive year, becoming MSU’s seventh three-time first-team selection . . . leads team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 98 tackles . . . ranks second in school history with 44.5 tackles for loss and third with 457 tackles . . . has started 45 games in his career, including 39 straight . . . two-time team captain . . . named a semifinalist for the Butkus and Lombardi Awards . . . named National Defensive Player of the Week after posting a season-high 14 tackles against Illinois . . . selected Big Ten Player of the Week after recording two interceptions against Northern Colorado.

 

President’s Award (Perseverance): Senior Lineman – D.J. Young; Senior Back – Marcus Hyde

Offensive Tackle D.J. Young

Durable lineman has started 11 games at left tackle this season and has made 22 starts during his two-year Spartan career . . . named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches . . . helps anchor an offensive line that ranks fifth in the Big Ten and among the nation’s leaders in rushing . . . selected Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week for his role in the comeback win at Northwestern and also the victory over Wisconsin . . . made the position switch from right tackles last season to left tackle this season . . . battled through the adversity of transferring from Bowling Green, taking 46 credits in one year to become eligible at Michigan State.

 

Safety Marcus Hyde

Second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media . . . leads the Spartans in pass break-ups (8) and ranks second in interceptions (3 for 81 yards) and third in tackles (career-high 77) . . . recorded seven tackles, two pass break-ups and an interception against Minnesota . . . led the team with nine stops at Iowa . . . made 10 tackles and intercepted a pass against Illinois . . . selected Spartan Defensive Player of the Week after posting seven tackles at Michigan . . . totaled a career-best 11 tackles, a pass break-up and recovered a fumble in MSU's 34-31 overtime win over Notre Dame . . . his other interception came in the 2010 season opener against Western Michigan.

 

Biggie Munn Award (Most Inspirational Player): Fullback Josh Rouse

Fifth-year senior fullback suffered a season-ending neck injury while covering a punt in the season opener vs. Western Michigan . . . served as game captain against Notre Dame . . . also selected as game captain for the 2011 Capital One Bowl against Alabama.

 

Downtown Coaches Club Award – Outstanding Senior Offense: Wide Receiver Mark Dell

Honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media . . . ranks sixth in MSU history with 2,109 receiving yards (15.5 avg.), tied for ninth in receptions with 131, and tied for 13th in TD receptions with 12 . . . leads the team in receiving yards (761), which ranks ninth in the Big Ten (63.4 ypg.) . . . second on the team with a career-high 49 receptions (4.1 pg.) . . . ranked third in the Big Ten in conference games in receiving yards (73.6 ypg.) and tied for seventh in receptions (4.9 pg.) . . . has caught a career-high six TDs this season . . . 40 of his 49 catches (82 percent) have resulted in either a touchdown or a first down . . . ranks second on the team in yards after the catch (237 YAC) . . . produced his fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career with eight receptions for 108 yards, career-best two TDs and also a two-point conversion in comeback win over Purdue . . . recorded game highs in catches (8) and receiving yards (98) at No. 18 Iowa . . . tied a career high with nine receptions for 109 yards, including two TDs (7 and 13 yards), in comeback win at Northwestern . . . led MSU with 93 receiving yards on just three catches (31.0 avg.), including a 41-yard TD, in the Spartans’ victory at No. 18 Michigan . . . named Spartan Co-Offensive Player of the Week after recording a game-high six receptions for 91 yards and a TD in win over No. 11 Wisconsin; 60 of his receiving yards came after the catch.

 

Downtown Coaches Club Award – Outstanding Senior Defense: Linebacker Eric Gordon

Named second-team All-Big Ten by both the media and coaches . . . ranks second on the team in tackles with 88 . . . has produced 6.5 tackles for loss (18 yards), including two sacks (6) . . . recorded a season-high 12 stops in the home finale against Purdue . . . posted nine tackles each in back-to-back games against Iowa and Minnesota . . . made six stops, including one for a 2-yard loss, in MSU's 35-27 come-from-behind win at Northwestern, and his interception with 44 seconds left in the game iced it . . . registered a tackle for loss in six-straight games during one late-season stretch . . . tallied 11 tackles, including 1.5 for losses (5 yards), against Florida Atlantic . . . set a school record with his 48th career start in the 2010 regular-season finale at Penn State, breaking the mark previously held by former Spartan tight end Chris Baker (47 career starts, 1998-2001) . . . has started more games at linebacker than any other player in MSU history (previous record holder: Dan Bass, 44 career starts from 1976-79) . . . ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss (tied for 10th with 29) and tackles (tied for 13th with 327).

 

Downtown Coaches Club Award – Outstanding Senior Special Teams: Punter Aaron Bates

Second-team All-America selection by SI.com . . . named to the media All-Big Ten first team . . . currently leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 10 in the NCAA in punting with his 45.2-yard average . . . has placed 15 of his 50 punts (30 percent) inside the opponent's 20-yard line and hit 14 punts 50 or more yards . . . averaged 46.5 yards on four punts in MSU's 28-22 victory at Penn State, including two kicks placed inside the Nittany Lion 20-yard line . . . dropped a season-best three kicks inside the 20 against Purdue while averaging 43.4 yards on five punts . . . averaged 48.5 yards on six punts at Iowa, including one kick downed inside the 20 . . . named Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at Northwestern, averaging 43.0 yards on six punts and his 21-yard completion off a fake punt helped fuel MSU’s fourth-quarter comeback . . . averaged 45.0 yards on four punts at Michigan, including a career-long 69-yarder, and placed two kicks inside the 20 . . . selected Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after recording season highs in punts (8) and punting yards (363) against Notre Dame, including a 62-yarder, and placed two kicks inside the Irish 20 . . . his 29-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Gantt of a fake field goal gave MSU a 34-31 overtime victory over the Irish . . . listed among MSU's all-time leaders in punts (second at 253), punting yards (second at 10,603), and punting average (seventh at 41.9) . . . has placed 83 of his 253 career punts (33 percent) inside the opponent's 20-yard line . . . ranks third in both punts and punting yards among all active NCAA FBS punters.

 

Danziger Award (Outstanding Detroit-Area Player): Offense – Edwin Baker; Defense – Tyler Hoover

Running Back Edwin Baker

First-team All-Big Ten selection by the media . . . leads the team in carries (195), rushing yards (1,187) and rushing touchdowns (13) . . . became just the sixth sophomore in MSU history to reach the 1,000-yard rushing milestone, joining Lorenzo White (1985), Tico Duckett (1990), Marc Renaud (1995), Sedrick Irvin (1996) and T.J. Duckett (2000) . . . ranks third in the Big Ten and No. 21 in the NCAA FBS in rushing, averaging 98.9 yards per game . . . has led the Spartans in rushing in eight of 12 games . . . has recorded five 100-yard rushing games in 2010: 117 vs. Western Michigan (17 carries), a career-best 183 vs. Florida Atlantic (15), 147 at Michigan (22), 179 vs. Minnesota (27) and 118 at Penn State (career-high 28) . . . set a career high with four rushing TDs in MSU’s 31-8 victory over Minnesota, including a 30-yard scoring run in the first quarter, a pair of 1-yard TD runs on fourth-and-goal plays in the second quarter and another 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter . . . scored on a career-long 80-yard TD run against Florida Atlantic at Detroit’s Ford Field.

 

Defensive End Tyler Hoover

Has started nine games at left end . . . has recorded a career-high 35 tackles on the season, including three sacks (12 yards) . . . registered five tackles in win at Penn State . . . credited with three tackles, including a half tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry in comeback win over Purdue . . . produced 18 tackles, including three sacks, during a two-game stretch against Illinois and Northwestern . . . . earned Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors by recording a career-best two sacks (5 yards) and tying his career high with nine tackles in win at Northwestern; also forced a fumble at the goal line to prevent a Wildcat touchdown . . . selected Spartan Defensive Player of the Week against Illinois after posting a career-high nine tackles, including a 7-yard sack, two QB hurries and a pass break-up.

 

Up Front Award (Outstanding Offensive Lineman): Tight End Charlie Gantt

Has started 38 consecutive games at tight end . . . honorable mention All-American by SI.com . . . named second-team All-Big Ten by the media . . . ranks fourth on the team with 22 catches for 261 yards (11.9 avg.) and three TDs . . . selected John Mackey Tight End of the Week for his performance in the regular-season finale at Penn State . . . matched his career high with four receptions each at Penn State (38 yards) and Iowa (35) . . . his 3-yard TD grab from Keith Nicholgave MSU a 28-10 lead over the Nittany Lions with 8:31 left in the fourth quarter . . . selected Spartan Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week for his blocking against Northwestern . . . had three catches each at Northwestern (20) and against Wisconsin (41), including a 1-yard TD grab from Kirk Cousinsthat gave MSU a 27-17 lead late in the third quarter. . . his 29-yard TD reception from Aaron Bates, off a fake field-goal attempt, gave MSU a 34-31 overtime victory over Notre Dame . . . has 63 career catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns . . . the 911 receiving yards are sixth most by a Spartan tight end in school history (record: Chris Baker, 133 catches for 1,705 yards).

 

Outstanding Underclass Back Award: Offense – Kirk Cousins; Defense – Trenton Robinson

Quarterback Kirk Cousins

Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media) . . . ranks fifth in the Big Ten and No. 19 in the NCAA Football Subdivision in passing efficiency with his 153.5 rating . . . ranks fourth in the

Big Ten in passing yards (225.4 per game), tied for fourth in touchdown passes (20) and seventh

in total offense (218.8 ypg.) . . . has completed 216-of-320 throws (.675) for 2,705 yards, 20 TDs

and nine interceptions . . . his .675 completion percentage (first), 153.5 passing efficiency rating (third), 216 pass completions (fourth), 2,705 passing yards (fourth), 20 TD passes (tied for fourth), 2,625 total yards (fourth), seven 200-yard passing games (seventh) and 320 pass attempts (eighth) rank among the Top 10 single-season totals in MSU history . . . plays his best when the game is on the line, as his 173.0 second-half passing efficiency rating ranks No. 8 among all NCAA FBS quarterbacks, according to cfbstats.com . . . in the second half (24 quarters and overtime), has connected on 71 percent (100-of-141) of his throws for 1,352 yards, 11 TDs and three interceptions . . . completed 17-of-22 throws (77 percent) for 152 yards and two TDs to lead MSU to a 28-22 victory at Penn State, as the Spartans claimed a share of their first Big Ten Championship since 1990 . . . posted his seventh 200-yard passing game of the season, completing 28-of-37 throws for 276 yards, three TDs and one interception as MSU rallied from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 35-31 victory over Purdue . . . recorded six-straight 200-yard passing games (270.0 ypg.) during one stretch: against Notre Dame (245), Northern Colorado (290), Wisconsin (269), Michigan (284), Illinois (201) and Northwestern (season high 331) . . . selected Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after completing 29-of-43 throws for

331 yards and three TDs as MSU rallied from a 17-point deficit to remain unbeaten at 8-0 with a

35-27 victory at Northwestern . . . set career highs in pass completions (43), pass attempts

(43) and TD passes (3 - tied) against the Wildcats.

 

Free Safety Trenton Robinson

Second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches . . . leads the Big Ten in interceptions (4 for 19 yards; tied with three other players) and ranks second in passes defended (12) . . . ranks fourth on the team in tackles with a career-best 69 . . . posted a team-best seven stops to go along with an interception at Penn State . . . registered a season-high eight tackles and an interception against Illinois . . . earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording seven tackles, a pass break-up and an interception in the end zone in MSU's 34-17 victory at Michigan . . . made eight stops each against Wisconsin and Western Michigan . . . his first interception of the season came against Northern Colorado.

 

Outstanding Underclass Lineman Award: Offense – Joel Foreman; Defense – Jerel Worthy

Offensive Guard Joel Foreman

Third-team All-America selection by Phil Steele . . . honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media) . . . also named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team . . . has started 21 consecutive games at left guard . . . helps anchor an offensive line that ranks fifth in the Big Ten and No. 40 in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 168.8 yards per game . . . earned Spartan Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance in the comeback win over Purdue . . . named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week against Minnesota as the Spartans rushed for 189 yards and four touchdowns in win over the Gophers . . . named Spartan Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week for his role in leading MSU past No. 11 Wisconsin, as the Spartans rushed for 175 yards against the Badgers . . . earned Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after MSU rushed for 203 yards in the overtime win against Notre Dame. 

 

Defensive Tackle Jerel Worthy

Honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and the media . . . leads all Spartan defensive linemen with 37 tackles this season, including 8.0 for losses (42 yards) and a team-best 4.0 sacks (27 yards) . . . tied his career high with five tackles, including a 4-yard sack, in victory at Penn State . . . also recorded five tackles, including 1.5 for losses (6 yards) against Minnesota . . . registered five tackles, including one for a 4-yard loss, and also broke up a pass at No. 18 Iowa . . . matched his career high with 1.5 sacks (12 yards) at Northwestern . . . selected Spartan Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a field-goal attempt to end the first half at Michigan.

 

MSU Football Players Association’s Community Service & Outreach Award (Senior): Snapper Alex Shackleton

 

Clarence J. Underwood Jr. Sportsmanship Award: Quarterback Kirk Cousins

One of 22 players named to the Allstate AFCA All-Good Works Team, the preeminent Community Service Award in college football . . . named a finalist for the Wuerrfel Trophy, a national award that honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement . . . MSU’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient . . . participates in the Spartan Buddies program, volunteering in the pediatric ward at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, and in the Athletes in Action sports ministry.

 

Tommy Love Award (Most Improved Player): Kicker Dan Conroy; Center John Stipek

Kicker Dan Conroy

Earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media in his first year as the starter . . . leads the team in scoring with 86 points, converting 14-of-15 field-goal attempts and 44-of-45 extra-point tries . . . ranks among the Big Ten leaders in field-goal percentage (first at .933), kick scoring (fourth at 7.8 points per game), field goals (fifth at 1.3 made per game) and overall scoring (sixth) . . . set a school record by hitting his first 13 field-goal attempts of the 2010 season, breaking a mark previously held by Paul Edinger who made his first 10 attempts in 1999 . . . selected as National Placekicker of the Week by College Football Performance Awards and one of the Lou Groza Award’s Top Three Stars of the Week after accounting for a career-best 14 points against Illinois . . . made a career-best four field goals against the Illini, hitting from 37, 34, 32 and 18 yards . . . scored 12 points against Florida Atlantic by hitting all three field-goal attempts and all three extra-point tries . . . named National Placekicker of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards, one of the Lou Groza Award’s Top Three Stars of the Week as well as Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after converting field goals from 44, 41 and a career-long 50 yards against the Owls.

 

Center John Stipek

Started all 12 games in his first year as the starting center . . . anchors an offensive line that ranks fifth in the Big Ten and No. 40 in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 168.8 yards per game . . . selected Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week against Northern Colorado . . . began his career as a defensive lineman before making the transition to offense during the 2007 season.

 

Captain’s Award: Punter Aaron Bates, Quarterback Kirk Cousins and Linebacker Greg Jones

 

Potsy Ross Award (Top Scholar-Athlete): Punter Aaron Bates

Three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection . . . sports a 3.96 grade-point average in general management.

 

Iron Man Award (Strength & Conditioning): Linebacker Eric Gordon

 

Jim Adams Award (Unsung Hero): Scout Team Offense – Keith Mumphery; Scout Team Defense – Kyler Elsworth

Wide Receiver Keith Mumphery

Selected Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week twice during the regular season (vs. Western Michigan and Wisconsin).

 

Linebacker Kyler Elsworth

Ranks among the team leaders (third) with 12 special teams tackles . . . named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week against Northern Colorado.

 

Doug Weaver Oil Can Award (Team Humorist): Cornerback Chris D. Rucker

 

Cowing Award (Senior Manager): Eric Swanson (Troy, Mich.)

 

Con Demos Scholarship Award (Manager): Kameron Bouchard (Trenton, Mich.)