Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Hand Out Team Awards
12/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Quarterback Cooper Rush received the Herb Deromedi Most Valuable Player Award for the second-consecutive season Sunday during the Central Michigan football program's annual banquet.
The Chippewas, who will play Tulsa in the Miami Beach Bowl on Dec. 19, celebrated the 2016 season during the event at the Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel and Conference Center.
Among the individual accolades handed out was the Kurt Dobronski Award, which goes annually to a senior who demonstrates great effort, intensity and appreciation for the football program.
Defensive back Colton Odykirk received the prestigious award, which is voted on by the team's seniors.
The award's namesake, Kurt Dobronski, was a two-time All-MAC linebacker and four-year letterman from 1978-81. He died at age 28 in the crash of Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in Detroit in 1987.
Odykirk is a Mount Pleasant native and a third-generation CMU football player who has played through membranous nephritis, a disease that limits the kidneys ability to process protein.
Rush, a senior, is putting the finishing touches on one of the greatest careers in CMU history. A four-year starter, Rush ranks second in Chippewa history in touchdown passes, yards passing, total offense, pass attempts and pass completions.
He has completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 3,299 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. He was named Third Team All-Mid-American Conference and is on the watch list for every individual award for which he is eligible.
Wide receiver Corey Willis was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while defensive end Joe Ostman and cornerback Amari Coleman shared the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
All three are juniors. Coleman earned First Team All-MAC honors; Ostman and Willis were both named to the All-MAC Second Team.
Willis has enjoyed a breakout year, making 69 catches for 1,028 yards and nine touchdowns. He averages 14.9 yards per catch and 85.7 yards per game in receiving yardage.
Ostman leads the Chippewas in both sacks (9) and tackles-for-loss (13.5). He also forced two fumbles and recovered two. Coleman made four interceptions and broke up 15 passes this season. He returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns.
Junior J.P. Quinn was named the Offensive Up Front Player of the Year, while senior Kelby Latta was named the Defensive Up Front Player of the Year.
Quinn started all 12 games on the offensive line, alternating between both guard positions and center; Latta has made 22 tackles this season including two sacks among 5.5 tackles-for-loss.
The Special Teams Player of the Award went to senior Winslow Chapman, who blocked two punts this season; the Derek Nash Unsung Hero Award went to senior wide receiver Jesse Kroll, whose promising season was cut short by a knee injury he suffered in the fourth game of the season.
The Iron Chippewa award went to junior running back Devon Spalding, who is CMU's leading rusher (737 yards, 5.6 yards per carry) despite battling injuries throughout the season.
Tight end Tyler Conklin received the Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award, while defensive lineman Mike Danna was named the Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
Conklin, a junior, is tied for second on the team with 40 catches. He has 539 yards receiving, six TD receptions and is on the watch list for the Mackey Award, which goes to the nation's top tight end. Danna, a redshirt freshman, has recorded 1.5 sacks among 4.5 tackles-for-loss this season.
Berkley Edwards was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year, while Gage Kreski was named the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year.
The Academic Excellence Award went to offensive lineman Kenny Rogers, a senior who carries a 3.34 grade point average.
The Plas Presnell Team Humorist Award went to Saylor Lavallii. The Captains Awards went to Rush, Latta, Tony Annese, Joe Bacci and Jabari Dean.
