2014 Spartan Football Awards Banquet Recap
12/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Big Ten Receiver of the Year Tony Lippett, who leads the conference in receiving yards and touchdowns, has been selected Most Valuable Player (Governor's Award recipient) by his teammates at the annual Spartan Football Awards Banquet held Sunday, Dec. 7 before a crowd of nearly 700 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.
Here is the complete list of hardware presented at the 2014 Spartan Football Awards Banquet.
Governor's Award (Most Valuable Player): Wide Receiver Tony Lippett
First Spartan to be named Big Ten Receiver of the Year since the award's inception in 2011 . . . also a first-team All-Big Ten selection (coaches, media, BTN.com) . . . has recorded career highs in receptions (60), receiving yards (1,124) and touchdown catches (11) . . . is the sixth Spartan to record a 1,000-yard receiving season . . . is just the third Spartan to record at least 50 receptions, 10 touchdown catches, 1,000 yards and five 100-yard receiving games in a single-season (Charles Rogers: 2001, 2002; B.J. Cunningham: 2011) . . . currently ranks third in MSU single-season history in 100-yard receiving games (6), fifth in touchdown receptions (11), sixth in receiving yards (1,124) and tied for 10th in receptions (60) . . . ranks first in the Big Ten and tied for 17th in the NCAA FBS in receiving (93.7 ypg.) . . . leads Big Ten and ranks tied for eighth in FBS with 11 TD receptions . . . ranks fifth in the conference in receptions (60; 5.0 pg.) . . . leads Spartan receivers in explosive plays (17 catches of 20-plus yards) . . . 87 percent of his catches (52-of-60) have gone for either a touchdown or first down . . . started at both wide receiver and cornerback at Penn State to become MSU's first two-way starter in the same game since Allen Brenner (split end and safety) in 1968 . . . served as the team's fourth game captain against the Nittany Lions and caught four passes for 53 yards, including a 10-yard TD reception from Connor Cook in the third quarter . . . also had one tackle and one pass break-up at PSU . . . led MSU with five catches for 72 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown, on Senior Day vs. Rutgers; also returned to action at cornerback for the first time since 2011 and had two pass break-ups and one tackle while seeing extended action on defense against the Scarlet Knights . . . recorded his sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season and fourth straight with 103 yards on just three catches in the win over Michigan, including a 70-yard TD reception . . . had 123 yards on seven catches at Indiana; however, his streak of eight straight games with a TD reception was snapped against the Hoosiers . . . collected 138 receiving yards on seven catches, including a 39-yard TD, at Purdue . . . had three receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown against No. 19 Nebraska; it also marked the highest single-game receiving total in series history against the Huskers . . . also produced his first career rushing TD, scoring on a 32-yard double reverse late in the third quarter to give the Spartans a 27-3 lead . . . named the fourth game captain vs. Nebraska . . . established a career high with 11 receptions for 133 yards, including a 7-yard TD catch, at No. 3 Oregon; the 11 receptions ranked among the Top 10 receiving performances in MSU single-game history (tied for seventh) . . . recorded a career-high 167 receiving yards and two touchdowns (71 and 64 yards) on just four catches (41.8 avg.) in the season opener against Jacksonville State; the 167 receiving yards ranked among the Top 20 receiving performances in MSU single-game history (No. 16) . . . CAREER NOTES: Fifth-year senior is in his third year as a starting split end . . . has 144 catches for 2,173 yards (15.1 avg.) and 15 touchdowns in 53 career games, including 27 starts (22 consecutive) at wide receiver . . . has caught at least one pass in 22 consecutive games . . . ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in receptions (fourth with 144), receiving yards (sixth with 2,173) and touchdown receptions (tied for eighth with 15).
Downtown Coaches Club Award - Outstanding Senior Offense: Running Back Jeremy Langford/Wide Receiver Tony Lippett
Running Back Jeremy Langford
Fifth-year senior has rushed for more than 100 yards in a school-record nine straight games, breaking his own school record he set last season . . . rushed for more than 100 yards in 15 straight Big Ten games and 16 consecutive games against Big Ten opponents; his 15 consecutive 100-yard rushing performances in Big Ten regular-season games is a school record; it's also the longest 100-yard streak in the FBS for regular-season conference games since STATS began tracking such records in 1996 . . . accepted an invitation to play in the 2015 Senior Bowl . . . honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media) . . . leads team, ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 20th in the FBS in rushing, averaging 113.3 ypg . . . ranked third in the Big Ten in rushing in conference games (127.5 ypg.) . . . has totaled 1,360 rushing yards on 249 carries (5.5 avg.), which ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 17th in the FBS . . . is the first Spartan to record back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Javon Ringer (2007-08) and just the sixth running back to accomplish the feat in school history . . . is one of only three Spartan running backs, along with Javon Ringer and T.J. Duckett, to record at least 1,300 yards rushing in back-to-back seasons (1,422 in 2013; 1,360 in 2014) . . . also leads team in all-purpose yards (1,415; 117.9 ypg.) and scoring (114 points; 9.5 ppg.) . . . ranks second in the Big Ten and tied for eighth in the FBS in rushing TDs with a career-high 19 . . . has scored multiple TDs in six straight games . . . also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in scoring (third with 9.5 ppg.), carries (fourth with 249) and all-purpose yards (seventh with 117.9 ypg.) . . . has 13 rushes of 20-plus yards, tied for 15th most in the FBS . . . also has seven rushes of 30-plus yards . . . broke his own school record by rushing for more than 100 yards in his ninth consecutive game against Penn State with 118 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries against the Nittany Lions; it also marked his 16th game in a row with 100-plus yards against a Big Ten opponent . . . had 126 yards and two touchdowns (18 yards, 38 yards) on 16 carries vs. Rutgers on Senior Day . . . collected 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns (runs of 8 and 25 yards) on 25 carries at Maryland; 69 of his rushing yards came in the fourth quarter . . . for the third consecutive game, recorded three rushing touchdowns, scoring on a pair of 1-yard runs and also a 33-yarder vs. No. 14 Ohio State; finished with 137 yards on 18 attempts (7.6 avg.) against the Buckeyes . . . also had 152 all-purpose yards vs. OSU . . . posted career highs in rushing yards (177) and carries (35) while tying a career best with three rushing TDs in the win over Michigan . . . on MSU's final drive against the Wolverines late in the fourth quarter, Langford rushed seven straight times for 48 yards, capped by a 5-yard TD run, to give MSU a 35-11 lead . . . recorded 109 rushing yards on 21 carries, including three touchdowns (runs of 32, 8 and 12 yards), at Indiana . . . rushed 13 times for 104 yards (8.0 avg.) at Purdue . . . had 29 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown against No. 19 Nebraska; his 31-yard TD run early in the second quarter gave MSU a 14-0 lead over the Huskers . . . delivered his first 100-yard rushing game of the season with 137 yards on 16 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown run, against Wyoming . . . had 86 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.6 avg.), including a 16-yard TD run, at No. 3 Oregon . . . CAREER NOTES: Is in his second season as the starting tailback . . . three-year letterwinner has rushed for 2,805 yards on 550 carries (5.1 avg.) with 37 touchdowns in his career . . . has appeared in 49 career games, including 26 consecutive starts at tailback . . . has 17 career 100-yard rushing games, third most in MSU history . . . entered the program as a running back, but also spent time at cornerback and wide receiver during his career . . . ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in 100-yard rushing games (third with 17), rushing touchdowns (third with 37), total touchdowns (fourth with 39), rushing yards (ninth with 2,805), carries (ninth with 550) and points (10th with 234) . . . only former Spartan All-American Javon Ringer has rushed for more yards in back-to-back seasons (3,059 in 2007-08) than Langford (2,782 in 2013-14) . . . has scored the most rushing touchdowns (37) in a two-season span in school history (previous record: Blake Ezor with 30 in 1988-89).
Downtown Coaches Club Award - Outstanding Senior Defense: Safety Kurtis Drummond/Defensive End Marcus Rush
Safety Kurtis Drummond
Named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year . . . named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media . . . first Spartan safety to earn back-to-back first-team All-Big Ten honors since John Miller (1988-89) and is just the fifth in school history . . . also named first-team All-Big Ten by BTN.com . . . accepted an invitation to the 2015 Senior Bowl . . . leads team with 65 tackles . . . ranks first in the Big Ten in passes defended with 15 (four interceptions and 11 pass break-ups) . . . leads team with a career-high 11 pass break-ups, which ranks second in the Big Ten . . . leads team and is tied for sixth in the Big Ten with four interceptions . . . led secondary with 15 production points in Senior Day win over Rutgers; had an interception and collected six tackles against the Scarlet Knights . . . had 14 production points in the win at Maryland (15-yard interception return; two pass break-ups; three tackles) . . . recorded a career-high 11 tackles and a pass break-up vs. No. 14 Ohio State . . . led the Spartan secondary with 21 production points in the win over Michigan, including six tackles with a 4-yard loss and two pass break-ups . . . led team with seven tackles, including a 1-yard loss, and had a pass break-up at Purdue . . . recorded 21 production points in the win over No. 19 Nebraska with nine tackles, including a 5-yard loss, and a pass break-up . . . led the secondary with 17 production points against Wyoming (six tackles, 19-yard interception return) . . . returned an interception 17 yards, broke up a pass, and collected four tackles in the season opener vs. Jacksonville State to record 23 production points . . . CAREER NOTES: Co-captain has started a team-high 33 consecutive games at free safety . . . has 226 tackles in 51 career games . . . ranks 11th in MSU history with 33 passes defended (12 interceptions and 21 pass break-ups) . . . also has 12 tackles for loss (55 yards), three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries . . . tied for seventh in MSU history with 12 career interceptions and 12th in interception return yards (148) . . . ranks ninth (tied) among all active NCAA FBS leaders in interceptions (12).
Defensive End Marcus Rush
Fifth-year senior is in his fourth year as a starting defensive end . . . three-year letterwinner has started a school-record 52 games (previous record: 49, held by OG Joel Foreman and LB Eric Gordon) . . . has played in 53 career games . . . honorable mention All-Big Ten selection (coaches, media) . . . has 36 tackles, including career bests in tackles for losses (10 for 62 yards) and sacks (seven for 56) . . . leads team and ranks eighth in the Big Ten with seven sacks (0.58 per game) . . . in the regular-season finale at Penn State, recorded 1.5 sacks (10 yards), including a 5-yard sack and forced fumble in the third quarter that led to a Spartan touchdown; had three tackles overall . . . tied a career high with two sacks (12 sacks), recorded 20 production points, and set MSU's career starts record with his 50th start at Maryland . . . led Spartan defensive lineman in win over No. 19 Nebraska with 21 production points; had four tackles, including two for losses (11 yards) . . . sacked quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. and forced a fumble on the Husker 2-yard line that led to a Spartan field goal in the third quarter . . . tied career highs with 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss (14 yards) at No. 3 Oregon, including an 11-yard sack of Marcus Mariota . . . CAREER NOTES: Has 162 career tackles, including 37 for losses (179 yards) and 18 sacks (127 yards) . . . ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in forced fumbles (tied for sixth with five), tackles for loss yardage (sixth with 179 yards), sacks (seventh with 18), tackles for loss (seventh with 37), and sack yardage (seventh with 127). . . also has 16 career pass break-ups.
Downtown Coaches Club Award - Outstanding Senior Special Teams: Punter Mike Sadler
Named to the 2014 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Class and is one of 17 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy (nation's top scholar-athlete) . . . named a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America selection for the second straight season; is the third Spartan to earn first-team Academic All-America honors twice . . . also becomes the first student-athlete at MSU to garner Academic All-America accolades four times . . . ranks sixth in the Big Ten in punting (41.3 avg.) . . . CAREER NOTES: Fifth-year senior is in his fourth season as Michigan State's starting punter . . . has a career average of 42.2 yards per punt, which is currently sixth best in MSU history . . . also ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in punting yards (second with 11,188) and punts (second with 265) . . . a valuable weapon on special teams, he has placed 39 percent of his career punts inside the 20 (103-of-265) and 21 percent inside the 10 (56-of-265) . . . ranks among all active NCAA FBS leaders in punting yards (second at 11,188) . . . three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick (2011, 2012, 2013) . . . earned first-team All-America honors from ESPN.com in 2013 and was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist . . . achieved near perfection in the academic arena, maintaining a 3.97 GPA while graduating with a major in applied engineering sciences in May 2013; currently pursuing his master's in public policy.
President's Award (Senior Lineman/Senior Back Perseverance)
Offensive Lineman Connor Kruse
Has played in nine games, including seven starts (right guard vs. Purdue, Michigan, Ohio State, Maryland and Rutgers; left guard vs. Penn State; center vs. Indiana) . . . has started three different positions on the offensive line this season . . . led offensive line against Rutgers with seven knockdowns; also had a 1-yard carry in the fourth quarter . . . was named the fourth game captain on Senior Day against the Scarlet Knights . . . led team with seven knockdowns in the win at Maryland . . . tied a team high by playing 70 snaps in the win over Michigan while recording a career-best 11.5 knockdowns . . . started at center in place of Jack Allen at Indiana and recorded 10 knockdowns while playing a season-high 80 snaps . . . started his first career game as the right guard at Purdue; played 64 snaps and ranked second on the team with seven knockdowns, including two dominators . . . named the fourth game captain vs. Purdue . . . played 48 snaps vs. No. 19 Nebraska and recorded 7.5 knockdowns . . . entered preseason camp as the starter at right guard, but suffered an injury in the second preseason scrimmage and missed the first three games . . . returned to action for the Wyoming game and recorded four knockdowns while playing 22 snaps at center and guard . . . CAREER NOTES: Fifth-year senior can play any position on the offensive line . . . has seen action in 37 career games.
Running Back Jeremy Langford
Linebacker Taiwan Jones
Second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches; honorable mention choice by the media . . . is in his first season as the starting middle linebacker after starting two years at Star linebacker . . . ranks third on the team with 54 tackles, including career bests in tackles for loss (11 for 37 yards) and sacks (four for 19 yards) . . . led team with eight tackles, including two tackles for loss (15 yards) and an 8-yard sack, to go along with his first career interception in the victory over Michigan and was named Spartan Defensive Player of the Week . . . compiled a team-best 36 production points against the Wolverines . . . tied a career high with 10 tackles and set a career high with three tackles for loss (8 yards), including a sack (4 yards), while recording 29 production points in the victory over No. 19 Nebraska . . . CAREER NOTES: Has 29 career starts (17 at Star linebacker, 12 at Mike linebacker) . . . has 177 tackles, including 24 for losses (83 yards), in 53 career games.
Defensive End Marcus Rush
Up Front Award (Outstanding Lineman)
Offense: Jack Allen
Named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media . . . MSU's first All-Big Ten First Team center since Jason Strayhorn in 1998 . . . candidate for the Rimington Trophy (nation's top center) . . . ranks second on the team with 75 knockdowns and leads team with 16.5 dominators in 10 games . . . has started 10 of MSU's 12 games at center . . . compiled a career-best 12.5 knockdowns in the win over Michigan, including four dominators . . . recorded a team-best nine knockdowns vs. No. 19 Nebraska . . . had his streak of 15 consecutive starts snapped as he missed the Wyoming game due to an ankle injury . . . named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week after leading team with nine knockdowns in win over Eastern Michigan as MSU rushed for 336 yards . . . named the fourth game captain vs. Oregon . . . CAREER NOTES: Fourth-year player is in his third season as a starter on the offensive line in 2014 . . . has played in 35 career games, including 34 starts (29 at center, five at left guard).
Defense: Shilique Calhoun
First-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media for the second year in a row . . . joins College Football Hall of Famer Charles "Bubba" Smith (1965-66) and Sam Williams (1957-58) as the only other Spartan defensive ends to earn back-to-back first-team All-Big Ten honors . . . named one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award (college lineman/linebacker of the year) . . . named one of 20 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award (nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player) . . . named one of 32 players on the Midseason Hendricks Award Watch List (Defensive Lineman of the Year) . . . named one of 20 quarterfinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy . . . has 37 tackles on the season, including 11 for losses (97 yards) and 6.5 sacks (79 yards) . . . ranks tied for 10th in the Big Ten in sacks (6.5; 0.54 pg) and tied for 13th in tackles for loss (11; 0.92 pg) . . . had a tackle for loss in nine of MSU's 12 regular-season games . . . CAREER NOTES: Is in his second season as a starting defensive end . . . in 39 career games, has 80 tackles, including 27.5 for losses (174 yards) with 15 sacks (125 yards) . . . has started 26 consecutive games . . . ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss yardage (sixth with 174), sack yardage (seventh with 125), sacks (tied for 10th with 15), fumble recoveries (tied for 10th with five) and tackles for loss (17th with 27.5) . . . elected a co-captain by his teammates . . . 34 percent of his career tackles have gone for losses (27.5 TFLs/76 tackles).
Clarence Underwood (Sportsmanship Award) / MSU Football Players Association Community Service Award: Keith Mumphery
Ranks second on the team in receiving yards (408) and fifth in receptions (22) . . . has two touchdowns . . . ranks second on the team in yards per catch (18.5 avg.) . . . also has six carries for 85 yards (14.2 avg.) and one touchdown . . . Has started 11 of 12 games . . . named MSU's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient . . . had a season-best four catches for 61 yards on Senior Day against Rutgers . . . led team with 78 receiving yards on two catches, including a 62-yard reception, at Maryland . . . hauled in three receptions for 72 yards, including a 44-yard catch and a 10-yard TD grab, vs. No. 14 Ohio State . . . named fourth game captain at Indiana . . . collected 52 all-purpose yards in the win over Wyoming and scored multiple touchdowns in one game for the first time in his career (6-yard TD catch; three rushes for 46 yards, including a 33-yard TD run) . . . CAREER NOTES: Fifth-year senior is in his third year as Michigan State's starting flanker . . . three-year letterwinner has 84 catches for 1,261 yards (15.0 avg.) and six touchdowns in 53 career games, including 26 starts . . . also has 14 carries for 125 yards (8.9 avg.) and one touchdown . . . was nominated for the Allstate Good Works Team for his community service involvement . . . two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection . . . serves as one of the football team's representatives on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Outstanding Underclass Lineman
Offense: Offensive Tackle Jack Conklin
Second-team All-Big Ten selection (coaches and media) . . . first-team All-Big Ten pick by BTN.com . . . leads team with 101 knockdowns, including 10 dominators . . . has only allowed 1.5 sacks this season . . . named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy (awarded to former walk-on) . . . selected Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week vs. Rutgers after MSU scored 45 points and racked up 520 yards of total offense in the win over the Scarlet Knights . . . graded out the highest among Spartan offensive lineman (92 percent) vs. No. 14 Ohio State while being matched up for most of the game against Big Ten sack leader Joey Bosa; recorded 10.5 knockdowns and helped limit Bosa to just one tackle . . . led the team with a career-best 15 knockdowns in the win over Michigan . . . led the Spartans with 10 knockdowns at Indiana as MSU rushed for 330 yards . . . named Spartan Offensive Player of the Week after producing a team-best nine knockdowns at Purdue as MSU rushed for 294 yards and didn't allow a sack for the fourth straight game . . . named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week after recording 12.5 knockdowns vs. Wyoming as MSU rushed for 338 yards and didn't allow a sack . . . posted the highest grade among Spartan offensive lineman at No. 3 Oregon; had five knockdowns, including two dominators, against the Ducks . . . named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week after recording nine knockdowns, including two dominators, in the season opener vs. Jacksonville State, as MSU racked up 565 total yards . . . CAREER NOTES: Third-year player is in his second season as the starting left tackle . . . has seen action in 26 games, including 25 starts (22 consecutive at left tackle) . . . has only allowed 1.5 sacks in 26 career games.
Defense: Linebacker Ed Davis
Has started 11 of 12 games at Sam linebacker . . . honorable mention All-Big Ten selection (coaches and media) . . . leads team in defensive production points . . . ranks second on the team with 56 tackles . . . has at least a half tackle for loss in nine of 12 games . . . ranks third on the team with six sacks (25 yards) . . . tied for team lead and ranks tied for 13th in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (1.0 pg.; 0.92 for 40 yards) . . . led the team with seven tackles and 16 production points in the win over Rutgers . . . led defense with 23 production points and had a career-high nine tackles, including a 3-yard loss, at Maryland . . . posted six tackles, including two for losses (6 yards), in the win over Michigan . . . impressive all-around game in victory over No. 19 Nebraska with five tackles, including 1.5 for losses (3 yards) with a 2-yard sack; also forced a fumble on Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah at the MSU 7-yard line that helped prevent a Husker score . . . recorded a team-high 40 production points against the Cornhuskers . . . in his first career start, had four tackles, including two for losses (10 yards) and 1.5 sacks (9 yards), in the season opener vs. Jacksonville State and was named Spartan Defensive Player of the Week . . . CAREER NOTES: Third-year player and two-year letterwinner is in his first season as the starting Sam linebacker, replacing three-year starter Denicos Allen . . . has 78 tackles, including 15.5 for losses (64 yards) and 10 sacks (45 yards), in 39 career games.
Outstanding Underclass Back
Offense: Connor Cook
Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors (coaches and media) for the second year in a row . . . first Spartan quarterback to garner back-to-back second-team All-Big Ten laurels . . . named one of 20 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award (collegiate player of the year) and one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award . . . ranks first in the Big Ten in passing (241.7 ypg.) . . . ranks first in the FBS in passing yards per completion (15.4) . . . ranks second in the Big Ten and 14th in the NCAA FBS in passing efficiency (152.4 rating) . . . also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in touchdown passes (second with 22), total offense (third with 247.4 ypg.) and completion percentage (tied for fourth at .582) . . . also has two rushing TDs . . . ranks among MSU's single-season leaders in touchdown passes (tied for second with 22), passing efficiency (third with 152.4 rating), passing (fourth with 2,900 yards), total offense (fourth with 2,969 yards), 200-yard passing games (fourth with nine) and pass completions (12th with 188) . . . led the Big Ten in conference games in passing (257.9 ypg.) . . . threw for at least 200 yards in seven of eight Big Ten games . . . threw for a career-high 358 yards on 25-of-45 throws in the loss to No. 14 Ohio State; the 358 yards were the fifth most in a single-game in MSU history and second most against Ohio State . . . fired two touchdown passes vs. OSU (15 yards to Keith Mumphery, 16 yards to Josiah Price) to tie a school record with 16 straight games with at least one touchdown pass; it marked Cook's fifth 300-yard passing game and 15th 200-yard passing game in his career . . . completed 24-of-32 passes for 332 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the 56-17 victory at Indiana; was named a "Star of the Week" by The Manning Award . . . established career highs for completions (29) and pass attempts (47) while throwing for 343 yards at No. 3 Oregon; had two touchdowns and two interceptions against the Ducks . . . CAREER NOTES: Fourth-year player has started the last 25 games at quarterback for the Spartans (22-3 record; 16-1 vs. Big Ten opponents; 15-1 Big Ten games) . . . tied a school record, shared with Kirk Cousins and Drew Stanton, by throwing for a touchdown pass in 16 straight games (streak snapped at Maryland) . . . won 11 straight games as the starting QB for the Spartans from Oct. 5, 2013, to Aug. 29, 2014, which is the second-longest streak in school history (Al Dorow, 15 in 1950-51) . . . in 29 career games, has completed 58 percent of his passes (420-of-720) for 5,749 yards, 45 touchdowns and 13 interceptions . . . ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in passing efficiency (third with 142.4 rating), 300-yard passing games (tied for third with five), 200-yard passing games (fourth with 17), touchdown passes (fourth with 45), total offense (fifth with 5,891 yards), passing yards (sixth with 5,749), pass completions (seventh with 420), pass completion percentage (ninth at .583) and pass attempts (ninth with 720).
Defense: RJ Williamson
Has seen action in all 12 games, including nine starts at strong safety . . . ranks tied second on the team with three interceptions (60 yards), including two interception returns for touchdowns (29 yards vs. Michigan; 22 yards vs. Maryland) . . . ranks fourth on the team with a career-high 49 tackles . . . ranks third on the team with a career-best five pass break-ups . . . returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown at Maryland in the third quarter to give MSU a 23-7 lead in the eventual 37-15 victory . . . recorded a career-high 11 tackles vs. No. 14 Ohio State . . . returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and had four tackles in the win over Michigan . . . CAREER NOTES: Three-year letterwinner has 120 tackles and 16 passes defended (six interceptions, 10 pass break-ups) in 37 career games, including 11 starts.
Biggie Munn Award (Most Inspirational)
Offense: Travis Jackson
Has started 11 games (10 at left guard, one at center vs. Wyoming) . . . has 46.5 knockdowns for the season . . . has played 614 snaps . . . did not play in the regular-season finale at Penn State (ankle) . . . was forced to leave the Rutgers game on Senior Day after the first series due to an ankle injury . . . compiled 9.5 knockdowns, including three dominators, in the win over Michigan . . . named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week at Indiana after recording 7.5 knockdowns and MSU rushed for 330 yards while giving up just one sack . . . tallied seven knockdowns against Wyoming while starting at center in place of injured starter Jack Allen . . . started his first career game at left guard in the season opener vs. Jacksonville State; played 48 snaps and totaled three knockdowns against the Gamecocks before being forced to leave the game with an injury . . . CAREER NOTES: Fifth-year senior has played in 39 career games, including 29 starting assignments (18 at center, 10 at left guard, one at right guard) . . . elected a co-captain by his teammates.
Defense: Mylan Hicks
Fifth-year senior suffered a broken arm against Nebraska in game five and missed four games . . . returned to action at Maryland . . . has a career-high 15 tackles and four pass break-ups in eight games of action . . . collected a tackle and broke up a pass at Penn State . . . credited with a pass break-up on Senior Day vs. Rutgers . . . had two tackles at Maryland after missing the previous four games with a broken arm . . . posted three stops, including a 5-yard sack, against Wyoming . . . tied a career high with three tackles and a pass break-up at No. 3 Oregon in his first career start . . . collected a career-high three tackles in the season opener vs. Jacksonville State . . . CAREER NOTES: Has recorded 23 tackles in 31 career games . . . made the move from safety to linebacker during the 2013 season.
Jim Adams Award (Unsung Heroes)
Offense: Nick Hill
Ranks second on the team in rushing with a career-high 596 yards on 100 carries (49.7 ypg.) . . . has rushed for a career-best nine touchdowns in 2014, which ranks second on the team . . . set career highs in carries (16) and rushing yards (178) at Indiana; busted out for a career-long 76-yard TD run in the fourth quarter in the 56-17 win over the Hoosiers . . . recorded 72 yards rushing on nine carries (8.0 avg.) and tied his career high with two rushing TDs at Purdue; had a 37-yard gain in the third quarter . . . CAREER NOTES: Has rushed for 1,103 yards and 11 touchdowns on 218 carries (5.1 avg.) in 52 career games . . . was the team's primary kick returner in 2011 and 2012 . . . ranks third in MSU history in kickoff return yards (1,764) . . . has collected 3,043 all-purpose yards (1,764 kick return, 1,103 rushing, 106 punt return, 70 receiving) in his career.
Defense: Trae Waynes
First-team All-Big Ten selection (coaches, media) . . . named one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation's top defensive back) . . . has started all 12 games at boundary corner . . . is one of the main factors why the Spartans rank fourth in the FBS in passing efficiency defense (102.9 rating) and 25th in passing defense (196.0 ypg.) . . . ranks sixth on the team with 43 tackles, including two for losses (9 yards) . . . ranks second on the team with a career-high seven pass break-ups . . . tied for second on the team with three interceptions . . . in the regular-season finale at Penn State, recorded his third interception of the season and sixth of his career; also broke up a pass and had four stops against the Nittany Lions . . . selected Spartan Defensive Player of the Week after limiting Rutgers' Leonte Carroo to one catch for 6 yards while recording three tackles; Carroo entered the game ranked second in the Big Ten, averaging 93.3 receiving yards per game . . . had a career-high two tackles for loss (9 yards), including a 4-yard sack, and also broke up a pass at Indiana . . . tallied 20 production points to lead the secondary at Purdue; had five tackles and a fumble recovery early in the fourth quarter against the Boilermakers . . . led the secondary with 22 production points in victory over No. 19 Nebraska; tied his career high with two interceptions and also posted career bests in tackles (7) and pass break-ups (2) . . . CAREER NOTES: Fourth-year player is in his second season as a starting cornerback . . . has 98 tackles, six interceptions and 12 pass break-ups in 35 career games, including 26 consecutive starts.
Tommy Love Award (Most Improved)
Offense: Aaron Burbridge
Ranks third on the team with 25 catches for 301 yards (12.0 avg.) . . . also has 39 rushing yards on eight carries (4.9 avg.) . . . 16 of his 25 catches (64 percent) have gone for either a first down or a touchdown . . . has three receptions of 20-plus yards . . . had a season-high five catches for 48 yards at Indiana . . . CAREER NOTES: Has 76 catches for 859 yards (11.3 avg.) and three touchdowns in 36 career games, including 10 starts . . . also has 105 rushing yards on 13 carries (8.1 avg.).
Defense: Lawrence Thomas
Has started all 12 games at nose tackle . . . has collected 29 tackles, most among Spartan interior defensive lineman, including 3.5 for losses (13 yards) and two sacks (10 yards) . . . tied a career best with five tackles, including a 1-yard loss, and also broke up a pass at Penn State . . . collected a season-high 14 production points in the win over Michigan; had three tackles and recovered a fumble against the Wolverines . . . tallied a career-high five stops and had 10 production points at Indiana . . . recorded three tackles, including a 4-yard sack, and had 11 production points in the win over No. 19 Nebraska . . . CAREER NOTES: Fourth-year player is in his first season as the starting nose tackle . . . has played in 32 career games.
Captains Award: Shilique Calhoun, Kurtis Drummond, Travis Jackson
Potsy Ross (Scholar-Athlete): Mike Sadler
Danziger Award (Outstanding Detroit Area Player): Tony Lippett
Iron Man Award (Strength & Conditioning): Marcus Rush
Doug Weaver Oil Can (Team Humorist): James Kittredge
Cowing Award (Senior Manager Award): Andrew Kolpacki
Con Demos Scholarship (Manager): Dan Kalchik
George Scofes (Outstanding Faculty): Dr. Linda Jackson (Posthumously)
