Indiana Football Hosts Virtual 2019 Awards Ceremony
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Image: Amanda Pavelka Hoosier Huddle
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Indiana head football coach Tom Allen hosted the Hoosiers virtual awards ceremony on Thursday night. The event honored the players and moments that made the 2019 season so special. The night started on a somber note as Allen paused for a moment of silence to honor Cam Wilson and his family after he lost both parents this past weekend.
After the moment of silence, Indiana Football’s Twitter put out a highlight video from the 2019 season, which saw the Hoosiers go 8-5 with a berth in the Tax Slayer Gator Bowl.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Click the hyper links to view player speeches on Twitter.
2019 IU Football Awards
Newcomers of the Year
Offense- Matthew Bedford- Bedford was forced into duty early due to the injury to Coy Cronk in week four against UConn. As a true freshman he played in nine games, including eight starts. He more than held his own against some of the best competition in the Big Ten.
Defense- Tiawan Mullen- Mullen was another impact true freshman for the Hoosiers. He played in all 13 games and started eight times as he earned Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten accolades. Mullen made 29 tackles, 13 passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Ted Whereatt Award (Senior with the highest GPA)
Nick Westbrook- Westbrook leaves Indiana not only as one of the most productive wide receivers in their history, he excelled off the field as well as he was a Campbell Trophy candidate and a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Ted Verlihay Award (Outstanding Mental Toughness)
Nick Westbrook
Gavin Everett- Everett came to IU as a walk-on from Western Illinois University. After sitting out the 2016 season, Everett became a contributor off the bench during the 2017 season. Everett played in 33 games and made 33 tackles including six for a loss. Prior to the 2019 season, Everett was awarded a scholarship.
Corby Davis Award (Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Backs)
Offense- Stevie Scott III- Scott III led the Hoosiers in rushing and all-purpose yardage in 2019. He played and started in 11 of the Hoosiers 13 games as a sophomore and scored 11 touchdowns.
Defense- Khalil Bryant- The senior became Indiana’s most trusted defensive back in 2019. Bryant finished second on the team with 55 tackles, including one for a loss. He played in all 13 games for the Hoosiers including eight starts.
Howard Brown Award (Dedication to Indiana Football)
Hunter Littlejohn- The senior center played in 37 games and started 28 times in his time at IU. He entered the 2019 season on the Rimington Trophy Watch List and was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Chris Del Sasso Award (Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Lineman)
Offense- Simon Stepaniak- Stepaniak was arguably IU’s best lineman in 2019. Unfortunately, he suffered an ACL injury during bowl practices and missed the game against Tennessee. He started 11 games in 2019 and was named a Third-Team and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection for his efforts. He started in 31 of the 41 games he played in at IU. Stepaniak was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
Defense- Jerome Johnson- Johnson made 43 tackles, 5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in 2019. He is the anchor of the defensive line and sometimes gets over looked by outsiders. He made six tackles in the Gator Bowl and won IU’s defensive player of the week award against Northwestern.
Harold Mauro Award (Loyalty to Indiana Football)
Andre Brown Jr.- Brown Jr. played in 45 games with 34 starts in his Hoosier career. He started five times in 2019. He made 17 tackles and had two pass breakups as well. For his career he made 114 tackles.
Terrance P. Cole Award (Bucket Game MVP)
Peyton Ramsey- Ramsey was carried off the field in what turned out to be his final regular season game with the Hoosiers. In the double-overtime win in West Lafayette, Ramsey threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground he ran for 42 yards and two more touchdowns, including a sneak at the goal line that clinched the 44-41 win.
Scout Team Players of the Year
Offense- Connor Thomas- This is Thomas’s second-straight Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year Award. He won five Scout Team Player of the Week Five times (2x Offense, 3x Special Teams). He played in three games and ran for 11 yards on six carries. Thomas was also an Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Defense- C.J. Person-Person redshirt the 2019 season, but still played in four games and made one tackle. His efforts on the practice field earned him two Scout Team Players of the Week awards. The expectation is for the defensive lineman to be more of an impact player in his second season as a Hoosier.
Special Teams-
Connor Thomas
Ryan Barnes- Barnes played in five games last season as a reward for his efforts as two-time Scout Team Player of the Week.
Oustanding Walk-ons
Ahrod Lloyd- Lloyd played in all 13 games in 2019 and was on the field for some of the Hoosiers biggest moments. He ran the ball 10 times for 19 yards and had 45 yards on three kick returns. His efforts earned him a scholarship prior to the 2019 season. Lloyd figures to have a bigger role in the backfield in 2020.
Samuel Slusher- After earning a scholarship in fall camp, Slusher played in 11 games in 2019. He earned three Scout Team Player of the Week honors and was an Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Outstanding Specialists of the Year
Logan Justus- Justus had a career year in 2019 as he went 17-of-21 on field goals and account for 96 points. He was a Groza Award Semi-finalist and a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection.
Haydon Whitehead- Whitehead was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Selection and a Ray Guy Award Nominee. He averaged a career-best 42.5 yards per punt and 22 punts inside the opponents 20-yard line.
Special Teams Player of the Year
Raheem Layne- Lane started five games and played in all 13 for the Hoosiers in 2019. He made 30 tackles, including two for a loss and had three pass breakups. He was a two-time IU Defensive Player of the Week and took home IU Special Teams Player of the Week once.
Offensive Player of the Year
Whop Philyor- Philyor was IU’s best playmaker in 2019 as he made 70 catches for 1,002 yards. He was named Second and Third Team All-Big Ten for his performances. He also won IU’s Offensive Player of the Game four times.
Defensive Player of the Year
Micah McFadden- McFadden led the Hoosiers in tackles (61), interceptions (2) and tackles for loss (10) as a sophomore. Those numbers earned him an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection. McFadden also excelled off the field as an Academic All-Big Ten selection.
2019 Team Captains
Coy Cronk
Reakwon Jones
Peyton Ramsey
Simon Stepaniak
Nick Westbrook
LEO Award- Reakwon Jones
Anthony Thompson 2019 Team MVP Award- 2019 Senior Class
Justin Berry
Andre Brown Jr.
Khalil Bryant
Coy Cronk
Gavin Everett
Donavan Hale
Reakwon Jones
Logan Justus
Hunter Littlejohn
Davondre Love
Peyton Ramsey
A’Shon Riggins
Allen Stallings IV
Simon Stepaniak
Connor Thomas
Nick Westbrook
At the conclusion of the awards, Tom Allen congratulated the 2019 senior class and how they changed the program for the better.