Wolfpack Football Holds Annual Awards Banquet
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Hyundai Sun Bowl-bound NC State football team held its annual awards banquet at Talley Student Union on Sunday. More than 350 guests were in attendance to honor the accomplishments of the 2017 squad.
Senior defensive end Bradley Chubb, the 2017 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, won the team's Governor's Award, which has been given to the team's Most Valuable Player since 1960.
Chubb, who leads the ACC with 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, set the NC State career records in both categories this season. He is a finalist for the Nagurski, Bednarik and Hedricks Awards. Chubb also earned the Mario Williams Award for the Most Valuable Defensive Player.
Jaylen Samuels, a first-team All-ACC performer as an all-purpose player, and quarterback Ryan Finley, a third-team all-conference choice, were co-winners of the Torry Holt Award for most valuable offensive player. Samuels led the team in touchdowns (15) and receptions (69) this season while Finley passed for 3,200 yards.
Junior punter A.J. Cole, III, earned the award for Most Valuable Special Teams Player. Cole averaged 44.8 yards per punt this season, the fifth-best single-season mark in school history, and placed 23 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Wide receiver Emeka Emezie was honored with the Philip Rivers Most Valuable Freshman Award after playing in all 12 games at wide receiver and catching a dozen passes.
Here's a complete list of the honorees:
Earle Edwards Award (Top GPA) – C Garrett Bradbury & P A.J. Cole III
Michael Hardy Award (Winning Attitude) – QB Jalan McClendon
Bo Rein Award (Vital contribution in an unsung role) – C Garrett Bradbury & DT B.J. Hill
Bob Warren Award (Integrity & Sportsmanship) – OG Tony Adams & LB Airius Moore
Al Michaels Award (Team before self) – TE Cole Cook
Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award (Comeback from injury) – WR JuMichael Ramos & LB Germaine Pratt
Community Service Award – RB Brady Bodine & CB Nicholas Lacy
Alpha Rising Award (Most Improved Player) – WR Jakobi Meyers
Wolfpack Spirit Award (Special Supporter of the Program) - DD Hoggard & Dr. Ira Rubin
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year – QB Matt McKay
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year – DT Grant Gibson
Ted Brown Award (Offensive Back of the Year) - RB Nyheim Hines
Gary Rowe Award (Wide receiver of the Year) – WR Kelvin Harmon
Jim Ritcher Award (Offensive Lineman of the Year) – OT Will Richardson
DeWayne Washington (Defensive Back of the Year) – Saf/Nickle Shawn Boone
Bill Cowher (Linebacker of the Year) – LB Jerod Fernandez
Carey Brewbaker Award (Defensive Lineman of the Year) - DE Bradley Chubb
Philip Rivers Award (Most Valuable Freshman) – WR Emeka Emezie
Most Valuable Special Teams Player – P A.J. Cole, III
Torry Holt Award (Most Valuable Offensive Player) – H Jaylen Samuels & QB Ryan Finley
Mario Williams Award (Most Valuable Defensive Player) – DE Bradley Chubb
Governor's Award (Team MVP) – DE Bradley Chubb