Tegray Scales Wins IUFB MVP as Hoosiers Hold Annual Awards Banquet

Tom Allen addresses his team during the 2017 postseason banquet. Image: Indiana Athletics

Tom Allen addresses his team during the 2017 postseason banquet. Image: Indiana Athletics

IU Athletics Release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana football program honored senior linebacker Tegray Scales as the Anthony Thompson Most Valuable Player at the program's 2017 banquet this afternoon. Head coach Tom Allen recognized the team's seniors and handed out postseason awards inside the Henke Hall of Champions.
 
Scales (2nd time), fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow, senior defensive end Greg Gooch and redshirt junior offensive lineman Wes Martin were named the team captains.
 
Lagow also received the inaugural LEO (Love Each Other) Award presented by Allen.

The first IU player to earn back-to-back MVP honors since Jammie Kirlew (2008-09), Scales closed out his career with 2017 first team All-Big Ten recognition. He became the first Hoosiers linebacker to collect first team honors since Willie Bates and Joe Huff in 1988.
 
Scales secured second team All-America honors from SI.com in 2016 and was the first Indiana linebacker to land on an All-America team since Van Waiters (3rd team) in 1987. He continued his elite play this year, as he paced the team with 12.5 tackles for loss (9th in the Big Ten), two interceptions and two fumble recoveries (T-3rd). His six sacks (T-9th) were tied for the team lead, while his 89 tackles (T-10th) and 56 solo stops (6th) ranked second.
 
The Cincinnati native finished third on IU's career charts with 46.0 stops for loss, sixth with 18.0 sacks and 10th with 325 tackles. Scales wrapped up his career with 13 double-digit tackle games, four multi-sack games and 14 multi-TFL games.
 
Since the start of the 2016 season, Scales recorded 12, 10-plus tackle games, which shared 11th nationally. He finished second among all defenders nationally with 148 solos, tied for third with 36.0 stops for loss and 18th with 211 total tackles.

Below is a list of the Hoosiers 2017 award winners:
Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Morgan Ellison
Defensive Newcomer of the Year: Raheem Layne
Ted Whereatt "Senior Academic Excellence" Award: Rashard Fant
Ted Verlihay "Mental Attitude" Award: Danny Friend
Corby Davis Memorial Award (Outstanding Back): Ricky Brookins
Howard Brown "Dedication to IU Football" Award: Nate Hoff
Chris Dal Sasso Award (Outstanding Lineman): Greg GoochWes Martin
Harold Mauro "Loyalty to IU Football" Award: Tony Fields
Terry P. Cole Award (Old Oaken Bucket Game MVP): Chase DutraGriffin Oakes
Offensive Scout Team Players of the Year: Alex RodriguezNick Tronti
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Joshua Brown
Outstanding Walk-On Player of the Year: Ben Bach
Special Teams Player of the Year: Chase Dutra
Most Outstanding Specialist of the Year: Griffin Oakes
Offensive Player of the Year: Simmie Cobbs Jr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Covington
Anthony Thompson Most Valuable Player: Tegray Scales
Team Captains: Greg GoochRichard LagowWes MartinTegray Scales
LEO Award: Richard Lagow