 | ||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 
|
 
UNI Hands Out Awards at Season Banquet
The University of Northern Iowa football team put a cap on the 2007 season Sunday with its annual awards banquet. UNI completed the first-ever undefeated regular season (11-0) in the Gateway Conference and the school's first perfect regular season since 1960. UNI was also ranked No. 1 in the nation for six weeks during the regular season. UNI finished the season 12-1 overall and ranked No. 4 in the nation after reaching the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Senior quarterback Eric Sanders, senior linebacker Brannon Carter and junior receiver/returner Johnny Gray were named the Most Valuable Players at the team's annual football banquet held Sunday in the McLeod Center.
Sanders (Oelwein, Iowa) took home the Offensive MVP honor. Sanders passed for 2,842 yards and 17 touchdowns on 237-of-315 passing in 2007. He completed an astonishing 75.2 percent of his passes as a senior and finished his career as the FCS' all-time completion percentage leader at 69.64 percent. Sanders was a first-team all-Gateway selection and was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year.
Carter (St. Charles, Mo.) was awarded the team's Defensive MVP award. Carter was the Gateway Football Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and led the Panthers in tackles this season with 88 total stops. He led the squad with five interceptions. Carter was also named to the Associated Press All-America first team as well as the Sports Network's All-America third team.
Gray (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) was named the team's Special Teams MVP. Gray, a first-team all-Gateway pick and second-team All-America selection by the Sports Network, led the Panthers with 18 punt returns for 304 yards (16.9 avg.) and a touchdown. He also returned six kicks for 112 yards (18.7 avg.). Gray was the Panthers' leading receiver with 70 catches for 910 yards and five touchdowns.
Senior safety Clifford Waters (Kirkwood, Mo.) was given the Stan Sheriff Award (Oil Can Award) by the UNI coaching staff. This award is given to the player who helps the team perform in the smoothest manner. Waters started all 13 games as safety and tied for second on the squad in total tackles (87). Waters also recorded 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a quarterback sack, an interception and forced a fumble in the Panthers' secondary. He was a first-team All-Gateway pick and was also named an honorable mention All-American by the Sports Network.
Senior offensive tackle Chad Rinehart (Boone, Iowa) earned the Don Erusha Most Valuable Offensive Lineman award. The award is named after former UNI assistant coach Don Erusha. Rinehart started all 13 games at right tackle for the Panthers this season, while earning first-team all-Gateway Football Conference honors. He was also named to 2007 ESPN the Magazine academic all-district squad and was a first-team academic all-Gateway selection. Rinehart helped guide the Panthers to a perfect 11-0 regular season and a No. 1 national ranking for six weeks. The Panthers' rush offense (227.38 yards/game) ranks No. 2 in the Gateway and No. 15 in the nation, the Panthers' pass offense (229.92 yards/game) ranks No. 2 in the Gateway and the Panthers' total offense ranks No. 7 in the nation (457.31 yards/game). Rinehart earned first-team All-America honors from the Sports Network, Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, American Football Coaches Association. He also earned a spot on the CollegeSportingNews.com's Fabulous 50 team. Rinehart participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 26.
Freshman offensive lineman Jay Teply (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and freshman linebacker Jordan Smith (Humboldt, Iowa) were named the Scout Team Players of the Year.
The team's Hammer Awards were given to the top defensive players. Sophomore defensive end James Ruffin (Burnsville, Minn.), senior linebacker Brannon Carter (St. Charles, Mo.) and senior safety Clifford Waters (Kirkwood, Mo.) earned this year's Hammer Awards with Waters earning the Super Hammer Award.
Ruffin started all 13 games at defensive end and totaled 52 tackles (20 solos). He ranked second on the team with 8.0 tackles-for-loss. Ruffin notched a season-high eight tackles in UNI's 30-24 win over Southern Illinois. He also secured a sack and three tackles in a 38-17 win at Missouri State. Ruffin was a first-team All-Gateway pick at the conclusion of the season.
2007 UNI Football Awards |
 |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
 |
