Neill Named Rutgers Football MVP
Dec 11 | Football
Neill, who last week was named first team All-BIG EAST for a second-consecutive season, was a defensive force all season for the Scarlet Knights. Neil, who also earned All-America honors (hm) by SI.com, ranks second in the BIG EAST, and fifth nationally, with 20.5 tackles for loss this season, resulting in a loss of 89 yards. The 6-3, 265-pound lineman is tied for third in the league and 20th in the nation in sacks with 9.0, and he anchors a defensive unit that is tied (with Nebraska) as the national leader with 46 sacks. The tri-captain leads all defensive linemen and is fourth on the team in tackles with 65 and has registered 24 quarterback hurries this season. Neill was a finalist for the Hendricks, Wuerffel and Awards and Recognition Association (ARA) Sportsmanship awards and a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy in 2005. Neill was a Rotary Lombardi Trophy and National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete candidate during the regular season. He was named to the ESPN The Magazine District 2 Academic All-America team earlier this season.
Fullback BRIAN LEONARD (Gouverneur, NY) was named Most Valuable Player-Offense, tackle RAMEL MEEKINS (Westwood, NJ) was named Most Valuable Player-Defense, and fullback ISHMAEL MEDLEY (Elizabeth, NJ) was named Most Valuable Player-Special Teams. Leonard, a junior, leads Rutgers in scoring (90 points), receiving (49 catches) and all-purpose yards (1,164). He is the second leading rusher for the Scarlet Knights, with 694 yards on the ground, and was recently named All-BIG EAST (second team). Meekins earned a starting spot at defensive tackle in training camp, and has emerged as a force up front. He is second on the team (and third in the BIG EAST) in tackles for loss with 15 and tied for second with 9.0 sacks (tied for third in the BIG EAST). He also registered 58 tackles. Medley, one of seven fifth-year seniors on the team, is regarded as a leader on the special teams, where he registered seven tackles. Also known as a crunching blocker as a fullback, Medley had two carries for six yards in 2005.
Linebacker WILL GILKISON (Union Beach, NJ) was the recipient of the Paul Robeson Award, which is presented annually to the 'individual whose performance, leadership and dedication on and off the field during his career has had the greatest impact on Rutgers football' and is donated by the Rutgers Football Touchdown Club. The senior tri-captain was in on 40 tackles in 2005, despite playing much of the year with injuries. He had a season-high eight tackles in Rutgers' home opening win over Villanova.
Senior offensive guard JOHN GLASS (Allentown, PA) and senior defensive end VAL BARNABY (Franklin, NJ) received the David Bender Trophies, awarded annually to the top offensive and defensive linemen on the team. Glass was a key performer up front for the Scarlet Knights' offensive unit, anchoring an offensive line that helped the unit finish second in the BIG EAST in total offense and passing in 2005. Barnaby registered 10 sacks, second in the BIG EAST (and 11th nationally), and 13 tackles for loss, tied for sixth in the Conference, for the Scarlet Knights.
Career Achievement Awards were presented to quarterback RYAN HART (Coral Springs, FL) and wide receiver TRES MOSES (Delray Beach, FL). Hart will leave Rutgers having re-written the passing record book. He is the all-time leader in yards (8,108), completions (711), TD passes (49) and attempts (1,179). He led the Scarlet Knights to their come-from-behind win at Connecticut with three second half TD passes, and was named the BIG EAST's Offensive Player of the Week after completing 18-of-21 passes for 221 yards in a 31-21 win over Navy. Moses, who has been one of Hart's favorite receivers through the years, is the Scarlet Knights' all-time leading receiver with 185 catches for 2,409 yards. He set a Rutgers single season record with 81 catches in 2004. Moses, named All-BIG EAST (second team) at the conclusion of the 2005 regular season, grabbed 38 passes for 645 yards and four TDs this season.
This year's recipient of the Loyal Knight Award was cornerback COREY BARNES (Miami, FL). Barnes, who came to Rutgers as a wide receiver in 2002, made the switch to cornerback mid-way through the 2004 season, and earned a starting spot in pre-season camp. He has registered 32 tackles and one interception, and was named the BIG EAST's Special Teams Player of the Week after scoring a pair of touchdowns in Rutgers' 31-9 win at Syracuse.
Senior offensive tackle SAMEEH McDONALD (Newark, NJ) was the recipient of the Iron Knight Award, which is presented to the player who has demonstrated an exceptionally high level of mental and physical toughness throughout his career. McDonald has started 38 games for the Scarlet Knights, and was a key to the team's dynamic offensive play from his right tackle position. In 2005, Rutgers nearly doubled its rushing output from the previous season, and the offensive line allowed just 19 sacks.
Sophomore BRANDON RENKART (Piscataway, NJ) was the recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award presented annually 'to the letterwinner who has the highest academic average and has demonstrated outstanding football ability.' Renkart, engineering major, sealed the Scarlet Knights' victory over Pittsburgh with an interception in the waning moments of the game. He was a key contributor on special teams, and also served in the defensive backfield rotation, for the Scarlet Knights in 2005.
Senior linebacker BRAD CUNNINGHAM (Jersey City, NJ) was presented the Kevin and Helen Collins Academic Improvement Award, given to the student-athlete on the football team who has shown the greatest academic improvement. Cunningham, a criminal justice major, was one of 19 seniors honored prior to the Scarlet Knights' regular season finale vs. Cincinnati.
2005 AWARDS CAPSULE
Homer Hazel Trophy -- Team MVP DE Ryan Neill
Most Valuable Player - Offense FB Brian Leonard
Most Valuable Player - Defense DT Ramel Meekins
Most Valuable Player - Special Teams FB Ishmael Medley
David Bender Trophy - Top Linemen
Offense OG John Glass Jr.
Defense DE Val Barnaby
Paul Robeson Award LB Will Gilkison
Iron Knight Award OT Sameeh McDonald
Loyal Knight Award CB Corey Barnes
Career Achievement Award QB Ryan Hart
Career Achievement Award WR Tres Moses
Collins Academic Improvement Award LB Brad Cunningham
Scholar-Athlete Award DB Brandon Renkart
2005 Rutgers Football Letterwinners (letters won)
Chris Baker (3), Val Barnaby (4), Corey Barnes (3), William Beckford (3), Jean Beljour (2), Terry Bynes (4), Anthony Cali (2), Manny Collins (2), Mike Cortese, (4), Brad Cunningham (4), Marcus Daniels (3), Markis Facyson (4), Mike Fladell (1), Eric Foster (2), Willie Foster (3), Quintero Frierson (3), Joe Giacobbe (1), Will Gilkison, (4), Mike Gilmartin (1), Ron Girault (2), John Glass Jr. (3), Courtney Greene (1), Clark Harris (3), Ryan Hart (4), Jeremy Ito (2), Leslie Jackman (1), Sam Johnson (3), Glen Lee (1), Brian Leonard (3), Chenry Lewis (1), Brad Listorti (2), Kevin Malast (1), Jason McCourty (1), Sameeh McDonald (4), Ishmael Medley (4), Ramel Meekins (3), Matt Mitchell (1), Tres Moses (4), Ryan Neill (4), Jason Nugent (4), Dominick Piegaro (1), Clarence Pittman (4), Joe Porter (3), Chris Quaye (1), Joe Radigan (3), Brandon Renkart (1), Ray Rice (1), Rashawn Ricks (1), Luis Rivas (4), Derrick Roberson (3), Pedro Sosa (1), Darnell Stapleton (1), Cameron Stephenson (2), Vantrise Studivant (1), Mike Teel (1), Devraun Thompson (3), Shawn Tucker (3), Pete Tverdov (1), Tiquan Underwood (1), Will Vogt (2), Gary Watts (1), Jamaal Westerman (1), Brandon Wood (3), Jeremy Zuttah (2).
