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Commodore Football Banquet Awards 12/13/2005
Holloway, Hunter, Dunning, Burns Among Top Football Recipients After a week when seven Vanderbilt football players garnered All-Southeastern Conference recognition, other teammates captured several top honors at the Commodore football banquet held Sunday. Senior Trey Holloway, junior Funtaine Hunter, senior Dustin Dunning and senior Jason Burns walked away from the banquet with top team awards. Holloway, a two-year starter at center who began his career as a defensive tackle, was named a co-captain by his teammates. The Captain’s Award was added as a prestigious postseason honor when Head Coach Bobby Johnson came to Vanderbilt in 2001. The players’ other top honor — Hustle Award — went to Hunter, one of the squad’s top special team members. The Vanderbilt Dedication Award, the top honor presented by Johnson’s coaching staff, was given to Dunning and Burns. Dunning developed into an All-SEC receiving target while Burns, a walk-on from New Orleans, became of the team’s top blocking receivers and a leading special teams player. Dunning was one of seven Commodores to earn all-conference honors in the last week. Other All-SEC Commodore selections were senior quarterback Jay Cutler, senior linebacker Moses Osemwegie, junior offensive tackle Brian Stamper, freshman receiver Earl Bennett, freshman kicking specialist Bryant Hahnfeldt and freshman safety Reshard Langford. Cutler was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year on both ballots.
During the banquet, Coach Johnson gave special tribute to the 21-member senior class, including former All-SEC performer Kwane Doster, who died Dec. 26, 2004 from gunshot wounds in his hometown of Tampa, Fla. Doster’s No. 1 jersey was positioned at the podium during the banquet. Johnson also recognized the first Commodore Football Leadership Council comprised of seniors Cutler, Dunning, receiver Erik Davis, offensive tackle Ryan King, defensive end Herdley Harrison, linebackers Moses Osemwegie and Otis Washington, and safety Kelechi Ohanaja. Cutler, who set virtually every Vanderbilt senior passing record en route to establishing numerous Commodore career offensive marks and earning consensus All-SEC status, was recognized as the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Back. Osemwegie, another two-time First Team All-SEC selection and the league’s active career tackles leader, captured the Most Valuable Linebacker Award. Other individual awards went to Harrison, Most Valuable Defensive Lineman; Holloway, Most Valuable Offensive Lineman; Bennett, Most Valuable Receiver; Langford and Andrew Pace, co-recipients of Most Valuable Defense Back; and Hahnfeldt, Most Valuable Special Teams Player. Lifter of the Year honors went to junior offensive tackle Brian Stamper. Following is a complete list of Vanderbilt football award winners: * – selected by vote of teammates |
