Seniors Jordan Johnson and Zack Wagenmann were named the co-recipients of the University of Montana’s Steve Carlson Award (Most Valuable Player) Sunday afternoon at the team’s 2014 Football Awards Banquet held at the DoubleTree Hotel.
A three-year starter at quarterback from Eugene, Ore., Johnson has passed for 2,405 yards and 20 touchdowns so far this season, and he has also rushed for two scores. From Missoula, Wagenmann is also a three-year starter at defensive end and ranked among the national leaders in sacks (13.5) and tackles for loss (18.5), and he is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award.
Senior running backs Jordan Canada and Travon Van were the co-winners of the Terry Dillon Award, which goes to the team’s outstanding back(s) or receiver(s).
Canada, from Duarte, Calif., recently became the fourth player to gain more than 1,000 yards twice in his career, and has a team-leading 1,011 rushing yards for 9 touchdowns. Van, from San Diego, Calif., who also plays wide receiver, has rushed for 478 yards and 7 scores and has 52 receptions for 4 TDs, for a game-high 11 total touchdowns.
2014 Grizz Football Co-MVPs Jordan Johnson and Zack Wagenmann. Photo by ©Mark Mesenko for Make it Missoula.
Defensive tackle Tonga Takai was voted the recipient of the Larry Miller Award (Outstanding Defensive Lineman), while center Logan Hines earned the Paul Weskamp Award (Outstanding Offensive Lineman).
Another three-year starter, Takai, a senior from Honolulu, is one of the Grizzlies’ leading tacklers with 44 stops. Hines, a senior from Phoenix, Ariz., has started all 12 games at center and is a three-year letterman.
The Golden Helmet Award, given to the “hardest hitter,” was shared by linebacker Jeremiah Kose (koe-say) and fullback Jamal Wilson.
A junior from Oceanside, Calif., Kose is Montana’s second leading tackler with 102 stops, and third on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. A big-time blocker, Wilson, a junior from Compton, Calif., is one of the primary reasons that Canada and Van have combined for 1,600 yards rushing and 16 TDs. Wilson has two carries this season, including his first career TD – a 1-yard run at Southern Utah.
Matt Hermanson was presented the Tony Barbour Award, which goes to the player, “who best exemplifies outstanding practice habits and makes an unselfish contribution to the betterment of the Grizzly football team.”
A senior free safety from Sioux Falls, S.D., Hermanson is ranked fifth in the FCS with 6 interceptions, and he is UM’s third leading tackler with 99 stops.
The Most Inspirational Player, who is annually presented the Pat Norwood Award, was senior defensive tackle Trevor Rehm. From Dillon, Rehm (pronounced Raim) has started all 12 games this year for the Griz, and is ninth on the squad with 50 total tackles.
Junior kicker Daniel Sullivan was given a new award, “The Hauck Family Special Teams Player of the Year.” From Mill Creek, Wash., Sullivan has made 8-of-11 field goal attempts and 24-of-25 PATs.
Freshman wide receiver Reese Carlson from Gig Harbor, Wash., was chosen the “Offensive Scout Team Player of Year” Freshman safety Evan Epperly from Kalispell (Glacier High School) was voted the “Defensive Scout Team of the Year.” Both players redshirted this season.
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