Miami Football Holds 2016 Awards Show
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami held its 2016 Canes Football Awards Show on Sunday night at the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall located inside the Frost School of Music.
Former Miami offensive lineman and current analyst on the Hurricane Sports Radio Network Don Bailey, served as the awards show’s emcee. The show opened with the top 10 plays of the 2016 season:
2016 Miami Hurricanes Top 10 Plays
10. Michael Jackson recovers a fumble in the endzone at Notre Dame to give Miami a 27-20 lead over the Irish/Michael Badgley connects on a season-long 51-yard field against Florida State.
9. Kendrick Norton forces a fumble against Pittsburgh, which sets up a touchdown.
8. Mark Walton dashes 80 yards to the endzone on the first play of the game at Appalachian State.
7. Corn Elder sacks Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert to stop the Cavaliers first drive of the second half.
6. Ahmmon Richards hauls in a 77-yard pass from Brad Kaaya to give the Hurricanes a 27-14 lead at Virginia.
5. Joe Jackson recovers a fumble and rumbles 18 yards to the endzone to give Miami a 28-7 lead at Georgia Tech.
4. Stacy Coley tiptoes his way into the endzone to give the Hurricanes a 10-0 lead at FSU.
3. David Njoku flips his way into the endzone to give the Hurricanes a 7-0 lead versus Pittsburgh.
2. Shaquille Quarterman returns a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown at Georgia Tech.
1. Mark Walton rushes 55 yards to the endzone to give Miami a 51-28 lead over Pittsburgh.
The Hurricanes coaching staff handed out 23 annual player awards. Sophomore running back Mark Walton was named the Jack Harding Team Most Valuable Player following an incredible 2016 season where he led the team in rushing (1,065) and touchdowns (15). His 1,065 yards receiving marked the 10th time in program history a Miami running back has surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in a single season.
Offensive Player of the Year went to junior quarterback Brad Kaaya after he threw for over 3,000 yards through the air for the third straight season. Defensive Player of the Year honors went to senior defensive back Corn Elder. In 2016, Elder led the team with 12 pass break ups and finished fourth on the team in tackles.
All-ACC punter Justin Vogel was named Special Teams Player of the Year honors following a year where he averaged 44.2 yards per punt.
Senior safety Jamal Carter, Sr., was the recipient of the Plumer Award for Leadership, Motivation and Spirit. Junior Michael Badgley and seniors Corn Elder and Danny Isidora received the Melching Leadership Award. Both awards are voted on by the team.
The program also saw Kendrick Norton and Mark Walton receive the third annual Kelly UTough Player of the Year Award.
At the end of the night, head coach Mark Richt thanked the senior class and all 18 seniors were presented with their framed jersey.
The Hurricanes finished the regular season with an 8-4 overall record and a 5-3 mark in ACC play. Miami will take on West Virginia in the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 28.
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2016 Miami Hurricane Award Winners
Hard Hitter Award: Jamal Carter and Marquez Williams
Kelly UTough Award: Kendrick Norton and Mark Walton
The Mariutto Family Scholar Athlete Award: Braxton Berrios
Community Service Man of the Year Award: Demetrius Jackson
Strength Training Athlete of the Year: Malcolm Lewis and Zach McCloud
Albert Bentley Most Valuable Walk-On Award: Jordan Butler and Malik Mayweather
Nick Chickillo Most Improved Player: Rayshawn Jenkins, David Njoku and Michael Smith
Walt Kichefski Hurricane Award: Shaquille Quarterman
U of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Unsung Hero Award: R.J. McIntosh Jr., Chris Herndon IV and Braxton Berrios
Training Room Comeback Player of the Year: Darrion Owens
Captain’s Awards: Corn Elder, Danny Isidora, Brad Kaaya and Justin Vogel
Plumer Award: Jamal Carter, Sr.
Melching Leadership Award: Corn Elder, Danny Isidora and Michael Badgley
Scout Team Player of the Year – Offense: Austin Pfenninger
Scout Team Player of the Year – Defense: Teddy Stavetski and Dewayne Washington
Scout Team Player of the Year – Special Teams: Sam York
Newcomer of the Year Award – Offense: Ahmmon Richards
Newcomer of the Year Award – Defense: Shaquille Quarterman
Newcomer of the Year Award – Special Teams: Travis Homer
Defensive Most Valuable Player: Corn Elder
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Brad Kaaya
Special Teams Most Valuable Player: Justin Vogel
Jack Harding Team Most Valuable Player: Mark Walton
