Hurricanes Honored at Annual Banquet
Dec. 10, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team hosted their annual awards banquet on Saturday at Jungle Island in Miami, Fla. The event, consisting of a reception followed by dinner and the award presentation, culminated the Hurricanes’ 2011 football season.
The Jack Harding Award, honoring the team’s most outstanding player, was given as a group award to the team’s 25 graduating seniors.
Sean Spence, who finished the season with a team-high 106 tackles and 14 tackles for loss, took home the Defensive Most Outstanding Player of the Year Award for the second straight season. Senior quarterback Jacory Harris, who graduates with the second-most passing yards and second-most touchdown passes in school history, earned Offensive Most Outstanding Player honors.
In one of the more difficult decisions leading up to the presentation, Denzel Perryman edged out other key contributors for Newcomer of the Year honors. Perryman ranked first among Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen in tackles with 69 on the year.
After recording only six receptions in his first two years at Miami, wide receiver Tommy Streeter earned the Nick Chickillo Most Improved Player Award after an outstanding junior campaign. Streeter finished 2011 as the team leader in receptions (46), receiving yards (811) and receiving touchdowns (8).
Junior offensive lineman Ben Jones, freshman defensive back Dallas Crawford and junior linebacker Erik Lichter each earned awards for their work “behind the scenes.” Jones took home the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year Award, Dallas Crawford earned Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors, and Lichter took home the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Unsung Hero Award.
For the fourth consecutive year, long-snapper Chris Ivory took home the Albert Bentley Award, given to the team’s most valuable walk-on. Ivory has served as the Hurricanes’ primary long snapper for all four of his season with the Hurricanes.
2011 Miami Football Award Winners:
Hard Hitter Award – Harland Gunn
The Mariutto Family Scholar-Athlete Award – Spencer Whipple
Community Service Man of the Year Award – Joel Figueroa
Strength Training Athlete of the Year – Mike James
Albert Bentley Most Valuable Walk-On Award – Chris Ivory
Nick Chickillo Most Improved Player Award – Tommy Streeter
Walt Kichefski Hurricane Award – Tyler Horn
U of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Unsung Hero Award – Erik Lichter
Training Room Comeback Player of the Year – Shayon Green
Hurricane Media “Good Guy” Award – LaRon Byrd
Captain’s Awards – Jacory Harris, Tyler Horn, JoJo Nicolas, Sean Spence
Plumer Award for Leadership, Motivation and Spirit – John Calhoun
Melching Leadership Award – JoJo Nicolas
U Respect Award – Marcus Robinson
Scout Team Player of the Year – Offense – Ben Jones
Scout Team Player of the Year – Defense – Dallas Crawford
Newcomer of the Year Award – Denzel Perryman
Defensive Most Outstanding Player – Sean Spence
Offensive Most Outstanding Player – Jacory Harris
Special Teams MVP – Andrew Swasey / Jake Wieclaw
Jack Harding Team Most Outstanding Player – Graduating Class of 25 Seniors
