The University of Akron Athletics
Photo by: Cathy Bongiovi
Football Celebrates 2017 Season with Awards Banquet
December 10 | Football
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AKRON, Ohio— Prior to departing for the 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl this week, the University of Akron football program celebrated the 2017 season with its annual awards banquet on Sunday afternoon at Quaker Station in downtown Akron.
Senior WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) was named the outstanding offensive performer, while junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) was named the outstanding defensive performer for the second consecutive season.
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A team captain, Coney is second in receiving with 41 receptions for 523 yards and three touchdowns. He averages 12.8 yards per reception. In the win over Buffalo, Coney led the receivers with a career-high 91 yards on a career-high seven receptions. Named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Coney leads the team's community service efforts.
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A two-time first-team All-MAC honoree, Gilbert started all 13 games at Will linebacker. UA's top defender has 128 tackles, 50 more tackles than the next Zip. He had 8.5 TFL, a team-best five sacks, three interceptions, four break-ups, and five hurries. Gilbert has scored two touchdowns this fall, one on an interception return and another on a fumble recovery. He earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice during the season.
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Junior P Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) was selected as the special teams player of the year. The Zips' kicker and punter, Gasser took over scoring duties this fall as well. He went 13-of-14 in extra points. He punted 78 times for 3,269 yards, averaging 41.9 yards per punt. Gasser kicked off 58 times for 3,362 yards, averaging 58.0 yards per kick.  Gasser earned MAC Specialist of the Week honors four times during the season.
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Seniors Coney, RB Warren Ball (Columbus, Ohio), and S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.), who were selected as team captains for the 2017 season by their teammates, earned the coaches' captain's award.
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A complete list of honorees follows.
The season highlight video, produced by the football video department kicked off the event.
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Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron won the MAC East championship and participated in the 2017 MAC Championship. The Zips travel to Florida to play Florida Atlantic in the 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. at FAU Stadium. ESPN will televise the game.
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2017 Akron Football Team Awards
Fred S. Sefton Award
Presented for outstanding offensive and defensive performances, this award is named for
former UA football head coach (1915-23) and head of the physical education department.
Offensive MVP:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A.J. Coney
Defensive MVP: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ulysees Gilbert III
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Special Teams Player of the Year
Nick Gasser
Harry "Doc" Smith Award
Presented to the outstanding player in each class on offense and defense, this award is given
in remembrance of a man who gave himself to the University through his activity in the field
of health and physical education.
Outstanding Senior (Offense):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tra'Von Chapman and Austin Wolf Â
Outstanding Senior (Defense):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Andrew Hauser
Outstanding Junior (Offense):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kyle Ritz
Outstanding Junior (Defense):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kyron Brown
Outstanding Sophomore (Offense):Â Â Trevor Brown
Outstanding Sophomore (Defense):Â Alvin Davis
Outstanding Freshman (Offense):Â Â Â Â Kato Nelson
Outstanding Freshman (Defense):Â Â Â Justin Sampson
Howard "Red" Blair Award
Presented to the player who scores the most points in a season, this award is given in honor
of the former UA head coach for football (1927-35) and basketball (1928-36).
Kwadarrius Smith Â
John W. Heisman Award
Presented to the player who is the team's unsung hero for the intangibles he provides during
practice and for inspiring his teammates, this award is given in memory of UA's first athletics
director and football head coach (1893-94).
Offense: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Ericksen
Defense: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brock Boxen
Captain's Award
Warren Ball
A.J. Coney
Zach Guiser
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Iron ZIP Award
Manny Morgan
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Rise & Shine Award
Alex Ramart
Scout Team Player of the Year
Offense: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hugh Cade
Defense:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Myran Mounds
Academic Award
Senior:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zach Guiser
Junior:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vince Lockett
Sophomore: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Lako
Freshman: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Austin Sample
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PHOTO GALLERY
                                            Â
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AKRON, Ohio— Prior to departing for the 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl this week, the University of Akron football program celebrated the 2017 season with its annual awards banquet on Sunday afternoon at Quaker Station in downtown Akron.
Senior WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) was named the outstanding offensive performer, while junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) was named the outstanding defensive performer for the second consecutive season.
Â
A team captain, Coney is second in receiving with 41 receptions for 523 yards and three touchdowns. He averages 12.8 yards per reception. In the win over Buffalo, Coney led the receivers with a career-high 91 yards on a career-high seven receptions. Named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Coney leads the team's community service efforts.
Â
A two-time first-team All-MAC honoree, Gilbert started all 13 games at Will linebacker. UA's top defender has 128 tackles, 50 more tackles than the next Zip. He had 8.5 TFL, a team-best five sacks, three interceptions, four break-ups, and five hurries. Gilbert has scored two touchdowns this fall, one on an interception return and another on a fumble recovery. He earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice during the season.
Â
Junior P Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) was selected as the special teams player of the year. The Zips' kicker and punter, Gasser took over scoring duties this fall as well. He went 13-of-14 in extra points. He punted 78 times for 3,269 yards, averaging 41.9 yards per punt. Gasser kicked off 58 times for 3,362 yards, averaging 58.0 yards per kick.  Gasser earned MAC Specialist of the Week honors four times during the season.
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Seniors Coney, RB Warren Ball (Columbus, Ohio), and S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.), who were selected as team captains for the 2017 season by their teammates, earned the coaches' captain's award.
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A complete list of honorees follows.
The season highlight video, produced by the football video department kicked off the event.
Â
Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron won the MAC East championship and participated in the 2017 MAC Championship. The Zips travel to Florida to play Florida Atlantic in the 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. at FAU Stadium. ESPN will televise the game.
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2017 Akron Football Team Awards
Fred S. Sefton Award
Presented for outstanding offensive and defensive performances, this award is named for
former UA football head coach (1915-23) and head of the physical education department.
Offensive MVP:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A.J. Coney
Defensive MVP: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ulysees Gilbert III
Â
Special Teams Player of the Year
Nick Gasser
Harry "Doc" Smith Award
Presented to the outstanding player in each class on offense and defense, this award is given
in remembrance of a man who gave himself to the University through his activity in the field
of health and physical education.
Outstanding Senior (Offense):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tra'Von Chapman and Austin Wolf Â
Outstanding Senior (Defense):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Andrew Hauser
Outstanding Junior (Offense):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kyle Ritz
Outstanding Junior (Defense):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kyron Brown
Outstanding Sophomore (Offense):Â Â Trevor Brown
Outstanding Sophomore (Defense):Â Alvin Davis
Outstanding Freshman (Offense):Â Â Â Â Kato Nelson
Outstanding Freshman (Defense):Â Â Â Justin Sampson
Howard "Red" Blair Award
Presented to the player who scores the most points in a season, this award is given in honor
of the former UA head coach for football (1927-35) and basketball (1928-36).
Kwadarrius Smith Â
John W. Heisman Award
Presented to the player who is the team's unsung hero for the intangibles he provides during
practice and for inspiring his teammates, this award is given in memory of UA's first athletics
director and football head coach (1893-94).
Offense: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Ericksen
Defense: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brock Boxen
Captain's Award
Warren Ball
A.J. Coney
Zach Guiser
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Iron ZIP Award
Manny Morgan
Â
Rise & Shine Award
Alex Ramart
Scout Team Player of the Year
Offense: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hugh Cade
Defense:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Myran Mounds
Academic Award
Senior:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zach Guiser
Junior:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vince Lockett
Sophomore: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Lako
Freshman: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Austin Sample
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Players Mentioned
RB
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DL
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CB
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OL
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WR
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WR
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CB
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OL
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PK/P
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LB
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S
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LB
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S
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RB
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QB
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QB
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OL
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DE
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WR
/ Football
WR
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