Last Saturday, Dec. 6, the 2009 University of Toledo Football Banquet was held at the Crowne Plaze Hotel. Many Rockets were honored with awards and their athletic, academic, and personal achievements honored by the program and the University. Below is a list of awards and award winners, and a brief summary of their accomplishments.

Congrats to all the Rockets who won these awards, and to all the Rockets who helped them gain the extra yard, complete the pass, and score the touchdown. It truly is a team effort and all the awards given here are really credit to the entire program.

2009 Toledo Football Team Awards

Jim Nicholson Award (Contributed most to team’s success)

Barry Church, Sr., Safety (Pittsburgh, PA). Church was a four-time, first-team All-MAC selection, the first in UT history and only the third player ever in MAC history to accomplish this feat. Church was second on the team and 12th in the MAC with 98 tackles. He also led the Rockets with three blocked kicks.

Norman Cohen Award (Top freshman)

Eric Page, Fr. WR (Toledo, OH). Page led all freshman receivers in the nation with 82 receptions and 1,159 receiving yards. He ranks 15th in the nation and third in the MAC in receptions, ninth in the nation and second in the MAC in receiving yards. Page’s reception total is the third-highest in school history, and his receiving yardage ranks fourth. Page, who scored seven TDs, gained over 100 yards receiving in six games. He was named second-team All-MAC.

Jon Binder Memorial Award (Top walk-on)

Matt Shumaker, Sr., DE/FB, (Delphos, OH). Shumaker only recorded one tackle on defense, but he made an impact as a blocking fullback in short-yardage situations. He also caught three passes and scored one TD out of the backfield. Shumaker also won this award as a freshman in 2006, the first two-time winner in Rocket history.

Findlay Family Community Service Award (Commitment to community service)

Buster Garrett, Sr., OL (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL). Garrett played in 21 games on the offensive line in his career, starting 14 times.

Daniel and Mary Jo Hanson Senior Scholar-Athlete Award (Top senior GPA)

Beau Brudzinski, Sr., LB, (Weston, FL). Brudzinski, a nominee for Academic All-America, had a 3.52 grade point average in finance. Despite missing the final two games due to injury, he was third on the team in tackles in 2009 with 67.

Gus Yeager Legacy Award (Spiritual leadership)

DaJuane Collins, Sr., RB (Westville, NJ). Collins, a third-team All-MAC selection, rushed for 991 yards and scored 14 touchdowns as a senior. For his career, Collins finished with 2,588 yards, which ranks sixth all-time at UT.

Offensive MVP

Stephen Williams, Sr., WR (Houston, TX). Williams, a first-team All-MAC pick, caught 79 passes for 1,065 yards. This was his third consecutive season on the All-MAC team, but his first on the first-team. Williams finished his career with 229 receptions and 3,102 receiving yards, both UT records.

Defensive MVP

Alex Johnson, Jr., DE (Lansdale, PA). Johnson had 22 tackles, including 3.0 sacks. He forced two fumbles and caused two others.

Special Team MVPs

Alex Steigerwald, Sr., K, (Mayfield Village, OH). Steigerwald was fourth in the MAC this season in field goal percentage, making 12-of-16 (75.0 percent). He finished his Rocket career as the MAC’s leader in career field goal percentage with 82.8.

Isaiah Ballard, So., DB, (Toledo, OH). Ballard was Toledo’s top tackler on kickoffs and punts. He finished with 23 tackles, most of them on special teams.

Future Team Award (Scout Team MVPs)

OFFENSE: Erik Carlson, Fr., OL (Canton, OH)
DEFENSE: Ethan Kagy, Fr., Safety (Tiffin, OH)

Unsung Heroes

OFFENSE: Jared DeWalt, Sr., OL, (Lyndhurst, OH). DeWalt started all 12 games at left guard this season. He was part of an offensive line that currently ranks No. 16 in the nation in total offense (437.9 yards per game) and No. 18 in passing offense (278.1).

DEFENSE: Derrick Summers, Sr., DL, (Southfield, MI). Summers led Rocket defensive lineman with 35 tackles and 4.0 sacks.

Team Captains (Team’s Best Leaders)

OFFENSE: Aaron Opelt, Sr., QB (Fremont, OH); Kevin Kowalski, Jr., C, Macedonia, OH)
DEFENSE: Barry Church, Sr., Safety (Pittsburgh, PA); Lester Richmond, Sr., FS, (Chicago, IL)