FB: Nova wins Homer Hazel MVP
Dec 14 | Football
Photo Gallery EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Dec. 14, 2014) - Senior quarterback Gary Nova (Elmwood Park, N.J.) was awarded both the Homer Hazel Trophy (donated by the RU Football Letterwinners Association) as Rutgers' Most Valuable Player and the Axe Player of the Year at the program's 76th annual awards banquet, held Sunday at the Hilton in East Brunswick. The awards banquet is sponsored by the Rutgers Football Touchdown Club in conjunction with the Rutgers Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.
A two-time team captain, Nova has thrown for 2,667 yards and 20 touchdowns to help the Scarlet Knights to seven wins so far in 2014. The quarterback is first in school history with 71 career touchdown passes, second with 9,074 yards and third with 680 completions in 45 career games played. A two-time winner of the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week this season, he also picked up the Axe Player of the Year, which is given to the player who accumulated the most axe weekly honors for the season.
The Scarlet Knights also honored their Most Valuable Players on offense, defense and special teams, with junior wide receiver Leonte Carroo (Edison, N.J.), junior defensive lineman Darius Hamilton (West Paterson, N.J.) and junior kicker Kyle Federico (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) earning the honors, respectively.
Carroo, a First Team All-Big Ten pick by the media, is second in the conference with 1,043 receiving yards and is just the sixth Scarlet Knight in school history to post at least 1,000 yards in a year. He has six games with at least 100 yards receiving in 2014 and tied the single-season school record with 10 touchdowns, as he is one short of tying the program career receiving standard with 19 touchdowns.
Hamilton has emerged as an every-down lineman and team captain this season. He leads the squad with 9.5 tackles-for-loss with five sacks, posting 43 stops overall. A consistent presence in the backfield, the defensive lineman earned honorable mention All-Big Ten in the media vote.
Federico has converted 14 field goals this season to bring his career mark to 32, which is sixth in school history. The kicker made at least one field goal in 11 games, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in the come-from-behind victory at Maryland. Federico has also handled kickoffs throughout the season.
Senior Michael Burton (Long Valley, N.J.) earned both the Paul Robeson Award (donated by the Touchdown Club) and Offensive Swarm and Finish Award for his efforts in 2014. The Robeson Award is presented annually to that individual whose performance, leadership and dedication on and off the field during his career has had the greatest impact on Rutgers football, while Swarm and Finish is given to the player who exemplifies the type of consistent effort and intensity in best representing the Rutgers' mantra to swarm and finish. Burton has been an integral part of the offense and special teams during his collegiate career as a three-year starting fullback. He was a national nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given to the top walk-on in college football, and was voted a team captain by his teammates.
Earning the Defensive Swarm and Finish Award was junior defensive lineman Djwany Mera (Hollywood, Fla.). He has continued his consistency up front and has started each of the past 25 games since the beginning of last season. Mera had a sack in the Maryland win and has been cited by the coaching staff for his efforts to finish plays.
The Most Valuable Offensive and Defensive Lineman award was donated by the Bender Trust. Senior David Milewski (Sayreville, N.J.) took home the defensive honor by posting a career-best 50 tackles with eight for loss as a starter. Capable of playing all positions on the defensive line, Milewski has played in each game since the start of last season after overcoming three significant knee surgeries. Senior Betim Bujari (Secaucus, N.J.) picked up the award on the offensive side after starting all 12 games at center. The veteran has called signals for a unit that has allowed two or less sacks in nine games and paved the way for 18 rushing touchdowns.
Senior offensive lineman Kaleb Johnson (Jacksonville, Fla.) and senior defensive back Lorenzo Waters (Accokeek, Md.) were both recipients 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. Johnson has started the last 49 games on the line for RU, setting a new record for the position, and earned all-conference honors for the third consecutive season with honorable mention All-Big Ten status. A team captain, Waters is the leader of the secondary with 48 games and 36 starts to his ledger. He has totaled 197 career tackles, four interceptions and five forced fumbles.
The Loyal Knight Award (donated by Rutgers Alumni Association), which is presented to the player who has displayed great character in sacrificing personal goals for the good of the team, was split by senior quarterback Mike Bimonte (Manalapan, N.J.), junior tight end Tyler Kroft (Downingtown, Pa.) and senior linebacker Kevin Snyder (Mechanicsburg, Pa.). Bimonte has been an important part of the quarterback group in his fourth year in the program and has served as the holder for field goals and extra points. Kroft is averaging 12.7 yards per catch in his career with 22 catches in Big Ten games this season. The tight end has also improved his blocking to spark the running game. Switching to middle linebacker in spring practice, Snyder leads the roster with 50 career games and owns 222 career tackles, with 56 stops and four pass break-ups this year.
Senior offensive lineman Taj Alexander (Downingtown, Pa.) and senior defensive back Gareef Glashen (Miami, Fla.) earned the "R" Man Courage Award at the ceremony, which is given to the player who best demonstrates courage, belief, strength and inspiration to all. Alexander has played in all 12 games of the regular season for the first time in his career, starting each at right tackle. He is a four-time member of the conference all-academic team. Glashen has recorded a career-best 52 tackles this season with nine pass break-ups. The cornerback had a career-best eight stops in the season-opening win at Washington State.
Milewski repeated as the Scholar-Athlete Award, which is awarded annually to the letterwinner who has the highest academic average and has demonstrated outstanding football ability. Named Academic All-America with a 3.88 GPA, the team captain is pursuing a master's of business administration. Milewski is a four-time member of the conference all-academic team and has also been honored for his work in the community.
Sophomore defensive lineman Quanzell Lambert (Sicklerville, N.J.) earned the Most Improved Scholar Award for being the student-athlete who has shown the greatest academic improvement. Demonstrating an outstanding work ethic in the classroom, he has improved his GPA this semester. Lambert has played in all 12 games so far in 2014 on the field, recording sack in the win over Indiana.
Rutgers football also honored its 22 seniors at the banquet: Myles Jackson (West Chester, Pa.), Sean Barowski (Harrisburg, Pa.), Dallas Whitaker (Somerville, N.J.), Johnathan Aiken (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Alexander, Sam Bergen (East Stroudsburg, Pa.), Bimonte, Nick Borgese (Hamburg, N.Y.), Bujari, Burton, Nick DeLouisa (Tewksbury, N.J.), Glashen, Johnson, Kenneth Kirksey (Daytona Beach, Fla.), Bryan Leoni (Flemington, N.J.), Milewski, Anthony Milito (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Nova, Iyanoso Ogbevoen (South Plainfield, N.J.), Snyder, Andrew Turzilli (Butler, N.J.) and Waters.
The Scarlet Knights (7-5) will take on North Carolina at the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit on Dec. 26 at 4:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN. Visit RutgersBowl.com for more information.
2014 Rutgers Awards Banquet
Most Improved Scholar: Quanzell Lambert
Scholar-Athlete Award: David Milewski
"R" Man Courage Award: Taj Alexander, Gareef Glashen
Loyal Knight Award (donated by the Rutgers Alumni Association): Mike Bimonte, Tyler Kroft, Kevin Snyder
Iron Knight Award: Kaleb Johnson, Lorenzo Waters
Most Valuable Offensive and Defensive Lineman (donated by the Bender Trust): David Milewski (defensive line), Betim Bujari (offensive line)
Swarm and Finish Award: Djwany Mera (defense), Michael Burton (offense)
MVP - Special Teams: Kyle Federico
MVP - Offense: Leonte Carroo
MVP - Defense: Darius Hamilton
Paul Robeson Award (donated by the Touchdown Club): Michael Burton
Axe Player of the Year: Gary Nova
Homer Hazel Trophy (donated by the Rutgers Football Letterwinners Association): Gary Nova
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
