Davis Named MVP At USF Football Banquet
December 07, 2014 | Football
Byrd and Mack named Defensive and Offensive MVPS, respectively
TAMPA, DEC. 6, 2014 – Senior wide receiver Andre Davis (Tampa) was named the John & Cynthia Ruzic MVP Award winner at USF Football's annual post-season banquet Saturday at the Marshall Center on the USF campus.
Bulls players, coaches and staff where joined by their families at the evening event hosted by the Voice of the Bulls Jim Louk.
Davis, who etched his name on 13 program receiving records in his illustrious career, tied the USF season record with seven receiving touchdowns despite missing four games. He finished the season with 36 catches for 594 yards in just seven games and two quarters. He led USF to comeback wins at Tulsa, where he posted 154 yards on six catches and scored three straight second half touchdowns, and at SMU, where he caught the game winning TD pass with four seconds to play. Named AAC Player of the Week for his performance at Tulsa, Davis finished his USF career with program records of 153 catches for 2,136 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The Bulls honored 21 seniors on the night, including four who have already earned their USF degree. Eleven seniors are on schedule to graduate in December and the rest on are on schedule to earn degrees in the spring or summer. Davis was the only team MVP winner who will not be returning in 2015. Eleven team honorees will be returning next season.
Freshman Marlon Mack (Sarasota), who led The American in rushing, was honored as the Bulls' Offensive MVP after posting just the fourth 1,000-yard rushing season in USF history and a new freshman rushing record. Mack's four 100-yard games were the most for a Bull since 2009 as he finished with 1,041 yards and nine rushing touchdowns on the year while adding 21 receptions for 160 yards.
Junior Jamie Byrd (Dade City) earned the Bulls' Defensive MVP honors in his first season with the program. The junior college transfer led the Bulls with 95 tackles and ranked 20th in the nation with 5.9 solo tackles per game from his safety position. Byrd also tied for the team lead with two interceptions, forced a fumble and recorded 2.5 tackles for loss.
Junior Mattias Ciabatti was named the Bulls' Special Teams MVP after posting a USF season record punting average of 44.4 yards. Ciabatti led The American in punting average as well as in punts downed inside the 20 (22) and punts of 50-plus yards (18) and ranked among the top 15 punters in the nation.
Junior wide receiver Alex Mut (Port Charlotte) was recognized with the Academic Excellence Award. USF donor and Iron Bull Committee Chair Jeff Fishman was honored with the I Got Your 6 Award for his support of the program.
Senior center Austin Reiter (Bradenton) was honored with the Tough Man Award and the Offensive Lineman Award after completing his third straight season starting every game. Senior defensive tackle Todd Chandler earned the Defensive Lineman Award after posting 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and recovering two fumbles.
Running back D'Ernest Johnson (Immokalee) earned the Freshman of the Year Award after rushing for 150 yards and catching eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore long snapper Alex Salvato (Lakeland) earned the Most Improved Player Award while redshirt freshman linebacker Auggie Sanches (St. Petersburg) and junior offensive lineman Brynjar Gudmundsson earner the Frank Morsani Leadership Award.
Senior wide receiver Deonte Welch (Williston), who finished his career with 80 catches for 1008 yards, earned the Lee Roy Selmon Award and junior defensive back Trevon Griffin (Miami) earned the Jim & Laurie Ragsdale Outstanding Walk-On Award after posting six tackles and a forced fumble in heavy special teams duty.
Captains Awards were presented to Davis, Marvin Kloss (Naples) and Reshard Cliett (Thomasville, Ga.) while the Scout Team Award for offense was presented to freshman wide receiver Chase Whitehead (Fort Walton Beach) and for defense to freshman defensive end Kevin Bronson (Delray Beach).
USF returns 14 starters (6 offense, 7 defense and 1 specialist) for Taggart's third season at the helm. The bulls will return their top four tacklers (8 the top 12 overall) and 73 percent of their tackles on defense. USF returns 100 percent of its rushing and passing yardage from 2014, including 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack, and 50 percent of its receptions and receiving yards.
The 2015 campaign kicks off on Sept. 5 vs. Florida A&M. The Bulls will also face non-conference contests at Maryland (Sept. 19) and at Florida State (Sept. 26) and will take on Syracuse (Oct. 10) in Raymond James Stadium. The American Athletic Conference will expand to 12 teams in 2015 with the addition of Navy and will add a championship game. USF will be part of the East Division joining UCF, Cincinnati, UConn, East Carolina and Temple and will play each annually while rotating games with three opponents from the West Division annually.
The USF Football program completed its 18th season and 15th at the FBS level in 2014. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 23 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.
USF is currently taking football season ticket deposits by calling 1-800-GoBulls, or in person at the Ticket Sales and Service Center in the Sun Dome administrative offices (Gate B).
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