Carroo Earns Homer Hazel MVP Honor
Dec 03 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Senior captain Leonte Carroo (Edison, N.J.) was awarded the Homer Hazel Trophy as the team's most valuable player, Rutgers football announced Thursday. Carroo, also the Offensive MVP, led the Big Ten with 10 receiving touchdowns in 2015 to bring his career total to a program-record 29.
2015 Rutgers Team Awards
Homer Hazel Trophy: Leonte Carroo
MVP - Offense: Leonte Carroo
MVP - Defense: Steve Longa
MVP - Special Teams: Janarion Grant
Bender Trophy for Most Valuable Offensive and Defensive Lineman: Quanzell Lambert (defensive line), Keith Lumpkin (offensive line)
Paul Robeson Award (Touchdown Club Trophy): Djwany Mera
Loyal Knight Award: Paul James, Brian Verbitski
Iron Knight Award: Sam Bergen
Axe Player of the Year: Joey Roth
Swarm and Finish Award: Julian Pinnix-Odrick (defense), Derrick Nelson (offense)
"R" Man Courage Award: Chris Muller, Quentin Gause
Collins Most Improved Scholar: Djwany Mera
Scholar-Athlete Award: Brian Verbitski
Carroo picks up Offensive MVP for the second consecutive year after an All-Big Ten season that produced 39 receptions, 809 yards and 10 touchdowns over eight games played. He had four 100-yard games with a ratio of one touchdown per 3.9 receptions for the season. The receiver leaves ranked first in school history in receiving touchdowns (29) and third in receiving yards (2,373).
Junior Steve Longa (Saddle Brook, N.J.), Defensive MVP, continued his consistency with a third consecutive 100-tackle season (117), joining Tyronne Stowe (four seasons) as the only players in Rutgers history to achieve the feat. Longa finished second in the Big Ten and eighth nationally with 10.6 tackles per game. The linebacker paced the conference with 6.9 solo stops per contest, also ranked sixth in the country. His best game statistically came against then-No. 1 Ohio State with a career-best 19 tackles (tied for the most by a Big Ten player this season).
Junior Janarion Grant (Trilby, Fla.) earns his second career Special Teams MVP, also doing so as a freshman in 2013. In 2015, the returner led the Big Ten with three kickoff return touchdowns and ranked second in the nation with 1,151 combined kick return yards to earn All-Big Ten honors. He logged a school-record 984 yards during the season to bring his career total to 2,411, the program standard. In the Sept. 12 game versus Washington State, Grant became the first Rutgers player to record both a kickoff and punt return touchdown in the same game. He had a school-record 337 all-purpose yards that day.
Junior Quanzell Lambert (Sicklerville, N.J.) and fifth-year senior Keith Lumpkin (Montclair, N.J.) both registered the Bender Trophy as the top defensive and offensive lineman, respectively. Lambert led the defensive line with 43 tackles, with 7.5 going for a loss. He added 2.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries and two pass breakups over 12 games (11 starts). Lumpkin collected All-Big Ten honors after starting the last 38 games at left tackle. He was part of a line paved the way for three 500-yard rushers.
Fifth-year senior Djwany Mera (Hollywood, Fla.) was bestowed the Paul Robeson Award, given to the senior whose performance, leadership and dedication on and off the field during his varsity career had the greatest impact on Rutgers football. A three-year starter at defensive end, Mera was a dependable player in the scheme of the defense. He recorded a career-high seven tackles with a forced fumble in the win at Army and also blocked a field goal versus then-No. 4 Michigan State.
Mera also earned the Most Improved Scholar Award for being the student-athlete who has shown the greatest academic improvement. He is on track to graduate this semester with a degree in labor and employment relations.
Fifth-year senior Paul James (Glassboro, N.J.) and senior Brian Verbitski (Burlington, N.J.) were both recipients of the Loyal Knight Award, given to the players who distinguished themselves by sacrificing personal goals for the team and whose character and dedication have proved resilient in the pursuit of excellence. James overcame injury to return as the starting running back for the Scarlet Knights. The senior rushed for 544 yards and five touchdowns, while serving as a team captain. He finished his career with a 5.6 yards per carry average, second-best in school history. Verbitski was a reliable and versatile member of the practice squad for the Scarlet Knights. He appeared in five career games.
Verbitski also claims the Scholar-Athlete Award, which is awarded annually to the letterwinner who has the highest academic average and has demonstrated outstanding football ability. The supply chain management major is in the Rutgers School of Business and holds a 3.67 GPA.
Sixth-year senior Sam Bergen (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) collected 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. Bergen became the fourth player in program history to return for a sixth season. In 2015, Bergen played in all 12 games as the team's primary fullback, also contributing to special teams.
The Axe Player of the Year went to fifth-year senior Joey Roth (Basking Ridge, N.J.), an award for the player with the most Axe Player of the Game honors. The punter averaged 40 yards per attempt in 2015 as the starter, having a long of 57 yards. Roth forced 21 fair catches and was a national nominee for the Ray Guy Award.
The Swarm and Finish Award is given to the players who exemplified the type of effort and intensity in representing Rutgers' mantra to swarm and finish. Junior offensive lineman Derrick Nelson (Capitol Heights, Md.) and junior defensive Julian Pinnix-Odrick (Montclair, N.J.) earned the honors of their sides of the ball. Nelson emerged as the starter at center for Rutgers, seeing extensive action for the first time in his career. Pinnix-Odrick moved inside to defensive tackle and notched 33 tackles, six quarterback hurries and three pass breakups in 12 starts. He also forced two fumbles and had one sack.
Both junior Chris Muller (Perkiomenville, Pa.) and fifth-year senior Quentin Gause (Rochester, N.Y.) were winners of the "R" Man Cougar Award for the demonstrating courage, belief, strength and inspiration to all. Muller has played in each of the last 38 games, with starts at right guard and center in 2015. He helped the offense have three games with 200-yards rushing and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick. Also an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Gause finished 2015 with a career-best 96 total tackles, which ranked second on the team, and a team-leading 12 stops for loss. The team captain's 60 solo tackles were the sixth-highest total in the conference.
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