Spartans announce annual awards

The MSU football team held its annual banquet on Sunday, celebrating the moments of a season that will see the Spartans participate in a bowl game for the third consecutive year.

One of the highlights of the evening was the awards ceremony, which honors numerous players for their play on and off the field.

Senior kicker Brett Swenson was named the team MVP, marking the first time in the 79-year history of the award that a kicker has won the award. Swenson will graduate from MSU as the school’s all-time leader in field goals (70), points scored (370) and extra points (160). His 70 field goals are the fourth most in Big Ten history.

This season, Swenson was 18-for-20 on field goal attempts and hit two 52-yarders against Purdue, both career-highs.

Sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins was named the most inspirational offensive player. Before the season began, Cousins was elected as just the second sophomore captain in school history. Cousins finished the regular season second in the Big Ten in passing efficiency. Senior defensive end Trevor Anderson told reporters early in the season they should listen to Cousins’ pregame speeches because of how motivational they were.

Anderson himself was named the most inspirational defensive player. Anderson led a players-only meeting at halftime against Purdue to try to motivate the team, despite the fact he wasn’t named a captain.

Here are the other award winners.
Cowning Award (Manager): Vince Herzog
Con Demos Scholarship Award (Manager): Eric Swanson
Jim Adams Award (Unsung Hero): Scout team offensive player of the year: Freshman quarterback Andrew Maxwell
Scout team defensive player of the year: Freshman cornerback Dana Dixon
Iron Man Award: Senior fullback Andrew Hawken
Potsy Ross Award (Scholar-Athlete): Senior wide receiver Blair White
Tommy Love Award (Most Improved Player): Junior defensive end Colin Neely
Clarence J. Underwood Jr. Sportsmanship Award: Senior safety Danny Fortener
MSU Football Players Association Community Service & Outreach Award: Senior cornerback Ross Weaver
Outstanding Underclass Lineman Award: Junior tight end Charlie Gantt
Outstanding Underclass Back Award: Junior linebacker Greg Jones
Up Front Award (Outstanding Offensive Lineman): Senior center Joel Nitchman
Downtown Coaches Club Award – Outstanding Senior Defensive: Trevor Anderson
Downtown Coaches Club Award – Outstanding Senior Offense: Blair White
Downtown Coaches Club Award – Outstanding Senior Special Teams: Brett Swenson
Danziger Award (Outstanding Detroit-Area Player): Sophomore wide
receiver Keshawn Martin
Doug Weaver Oil Can Award (Team Humorist): Senior cornerback Jeremy Ware
President’s Award (Perseverance): Senior left tackle Rocco Cironi and Jeremy Ware
Captains Awards: Kirk Cousins, Greg Jones, Ross Weaver, Blair White