UConn PR Deshon Foxx (4) looks for the end zone ahead of him in the third quarter against the Stony Brook Seawolves on September 6, 2014 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. Foxx would return the kick for a 72 yard touchdown.
From UConn:
STORRS, Conn. – The 2014 Husky Football Awards Show was held on Friday night at the Rome Commons Ballroom to honor this year’s version of the UConn team. The event began with a social hour and was followed by an ESPY-style awards presentation.
Senior wide receiver Deshon Foxx (Lynchburg, Va.) was named the Offensive Player of the Year while redshirt junior Andrew Adams (Fayetteville, Ga.) was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Redshirt junior Junior Lee (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was named the Special Teams Player of the Year.
Foxx started all 12 games for UConn at wide receiver and also saw time at quarterback. He had UConn’s longest rush (68 vs. UCF), reception (88 vs. East Carolina) and punt return (72 yards vs. Stony Brook) during the season – all scoring touchdowns.
Adams started all 12 games at safety, leading UConn with four interceptions and eight pass breakups and finished second on the squad with 96 tackles. He tied a program record with three interceptions in a win over UCF on Nov. 1 and returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown vs. SMU (Dec. 6). He recorded double-digit tackles in three games.
Other awards given out on Friday night were:
The Joseph M. Giannelli Newcomer of the Year Award to redshirt sophomore Andreas Knappe (Slkeborg, Denmark), who played in ten games this season, starting the final seven at right tackle. Other finalists for the award were redshirt sophomore punter Justin Wain (Wilmington, N.C.), freshman cornerback Jamar Summers (East Orange, N.J.) and freshman running back Ron Johnson (Naples, Fla.).
The John L. Toner Scholar-Athlete Award to redshirt sophomore safety Obi Melifonwu (South Grafton, Mass.), who was fourth on the team in tackles with 75 and had started 23 of UConn’s past 24 games since 2013. Other finalists for the award were redshirt senior cornerback Byron Jones (New Britain, Conn.), redshirt sophomore tight end Tommy Myers (Coventry, Conn.) and redshirt freshman Joshua Marriner (Chesapeake, Va.).
The Kendall Madison Award for the most outstanding power player to redshirt junior defensive tackle Julian Campenni (West Pittson, Pa.), who was the team’s starting nose guard and made 35 tackles on the season with a pair of sacks. Other finalists were Knappe, junior offensive guard Tyler Samra (Wycoff, N.J.) and redshirt defensive lineman Mikal Myers (Newburgh, N.Y.).
The Brian Kozlowski Award for the outstanding big skill player to redshirt junior linebacker Graham Stewart (Durham, Conn.), who was third on the team with 94 tackles and led the Huskies with 10.5 tackles for a loss. Other finalists were: redshirt sophomore fullback Jazzmar Clax (Freehold, N.J.), redshirt junior linebacker Marquise Vann (Cincinnati, Ohio) and redshirt junior tight end Sean McQuillan (Glastonbury, Conn.).
The Jasper T. Howard Outstanding Skill Player Award to redshirt senior wide receiver Geremy Davis (Lawrenceville, Ga.), who ended his career as the most prolific receiver in UConn’s FBS era and among the top-six in program history in receptions and receiving yards. Other finalists were: Foxx, Jones and sophomore wide receiver Noel Thomas (Norwalk, Conn.).
The Football Alumni Bleed Blue Award that goes to the player that best embodies a great teammate to redshirt junior Dominick Manco (Lagrangeville, N.Y.), who has served as the Huskies’ deep snapper for the past two years. Other finalists were: Marriner, redshirt sophomore cornerback Nick Vitale (Madison, Conn.) and Mikal Myers.
The Look Team Player of the Year to redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Sean Marinan (Higganum, Conn.). Other finalists were: senior defensive back Chris DeBerry (Torrington, Conn.), redshirt sophomore Tony Tully (East Sandwich, Mass.) and redshirt freshman quarterback Bryant Shirreffs (Jefferson, Ga.).
*editor’s note: I was invited to attend the awards show but due to being under the weather, I decided to stay home.
photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune
