Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Hand Out Awards
12/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Joe Ostman was named the Kurt Dobronski Award winner and Corey Willis picked up the Herb Deromedi Most Valuable Player Award on Sunday as the Central Michigan football program handed out its yearly awards at its annual banquet at the Comfort Inn.
Willis, a senior wide receiver, leads the Chippewas with 54 receptions for 805 yards. He has also caught five touchdown passes. Willis enters CMU's matchup on Friday against Wyoming in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise ranked third in program history with 23 career touchdown receptions, eighth with 158 receptions, and seventh with 2,350 receiving yards.
The Dobronski Award goes to a senior player who demonstrates great effort, intensity and appreciation for the Chippewa football program. It is named for Kurt Dobronski, a two-time All-Mid-American Conference linebacker from 1978-81 who died in the crash of Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in Detroit in August 1987.
Ostman also shared the team's Defensive Player of the Year Award with safety Josh Cox. Ostman also earned the award last season. Ostman enters the bowl game (Friday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN, WUPS-FM, 98.5) averaging a nation-best 1.2 sacks per game. He has 12 sacks in 10 games and recorded 18.5 tackles for a loss. For his career, he has 26 sacks and 44.5 tackles for a loss, both good for No. 2 all-time at CMU behind Dan Bazuin.
It wasn't all awards. CMU coach John Bonamego called junior walk-on longsnapper Luke Idoni to the stage and surprised him with a scholarship.
Quarterback Shane Morris and tight end Tyler Conklin shared the Offensive Player of the Year Award.
CMU finished the regular season 8-4 overall, 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference.
The Offensive Up Front Player of the Year Award went to center J.P. Quinn, while the Defensive Up Front Player of the Year Award went to defensive tackle Nate Brisson-Fast.
The Iron Chippewa Award went to defensive lineman Donny Kyre.
The Special Teams Player of the Year Award went to return man Jerrod Davis and punter Jack Sheldon, while the Derek Nash Unsung Hero Award went to defensive lineman Chris Kantzavelos and wide receiver Mark Chapman.
The Dustin Preston Leadership Award went to defensive end Mitch Stanitzek, while the Plas Presnell Team Humorist went to defensive lineman Shahid Bellamy. The Academic Excellence Award went to offensive lineman Austin Doan.
The Scout Team Player of the Year Awards went to tight end Keegan Cossou for offense and linebacker Troy Hairston for defense, while the Newcomer of the Year Awards went to running back Jonathan Ward (offense) and cornerback Sean Bunting (defense).
The Captains Awards went to Ostman, Conklin, running back Devon Spalding and cornerback Amari Coleman.
