Football closes 2015 season with annual awards banquet
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team celebrated the 2015 season on Saturday night with its annual Football Awards Banquet in the Multipurpose Athletic Center on the Bryant campus.
The Bulldogs finished the year with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the Northeast Conference. Bryant placed nine players on the All-NEC first and second teams and had two players named All-New England.
BLACK & GOLD (BULLDOG) AWARD – Ricardo McCray
McCray was the heart of the Bryant offense this season, leading the NEC and finishing fifth nationally with 1,270 rushing yards. He posted seven 100-yard games on the year and also finished in the top 15 in the country in all-purpose yards. McCray, named the NEC Offensive Player of the Year last week, finishes his career with over 2,000 career rushing yards and over 4,000 career all-purpose yards.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Chad Ward
Ward enjoyed a career-year in his final fall in Smithfield. He posted career-highs in receptions (47) and receiving yards (822) and tied his career high with five touchdown receptions. Ward enjoyed a career-day in Bryant's win over Brown, catching eight passes for 180 yards and two scores. He averaged 17.5 yards per catch and finished his career second all-time at Bryant in receptions (152) and receiving yards (2,254).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Abri Tate
Tate posted the best season of his career this fall on his way to Second Team All-NEC honors. He finished the season with 48 tackles, two sacks and a team-high 12.5 tackles for a loss. Tate also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble on the year.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR – Paul Taylor
Bryant's starting left tackle in all 11 games, Taylor helped the Bulldogs lead the league in passing yards and fewest sacks allowed. Taylor was part of a unit that allowed just 12 sacks in 11 games, a number good enough for 20th nationally.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR – Marko Piedmont
Given a chance to produce, Piedmont shined for the Bulldogs in his senior season. He started the final 10 games of the season on the defensive line, finishing with 24 tackles, three tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery. Piedmont posted a career-high six tackles in the final game of his career at Robert Morris.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jose Depadua
Depadua takes home the special teams award for the second-straight season. One of the most electrifying specialists in the nation, Depadua returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and finished third in the country with an average of 29.3 yards per return. He posted return scores of 94 and 93 yards and set a Bryant single-game record with 180 return yards against Wagner.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Aaron Aryee and Taylor Janoskie
Aryee and Janoskie both enjoyed breakout seasons for the Black and Gold. Aryee worked his way into the receiver rotation and finished the year with eight catches for 80 yards.
Janoskie played in all 11 games and started the final three at linebacker this fall. He finished the year with a career-high 25 tackles.
SCOUT TEAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Kyle Presti, Alec Ruden, Josh Jefferson, Nicolaas Esposito
Given to the individuals that have done everything they can throughout the week to help the team, these four players were outstanding role models for their fellow teammates. They were instrumental in preparing the Bulldogs for Saturday's opponent.
CHARACTER AWARD – William Morlock and Jordan Horne
These two seniors exemplified everything that it means to be a Bulldog. They were leaders on and off the field, in the classroom and in the community. They were looked at as leaders and had all the values of a Bryant University student.
After not playing in a game his first three seasons, Morlock became a key part of Bryant's defensive line this fall. He appeared in the final seven games of the season, posting 10 tackles and one tackle for a loss. A tough-nosed player, Morlock brought his grit and determination to the trenches.
Horne also made the most of his final season, helping the Bulldogs on special teams and as a fullback. Relentless, Horne played his best football over the final three weeks of the season.
ACADEMIC AWARDS – Joel Diaz, Joel Schaefer, Matthew Rega, Marko Piedmont
Awarded to those players that excel in the classroom and on the football field, the academic awards were given to the student-athletes that represented all that it means to be a exactly that.
CAPTAINS AWARDS – Ryan Barrett, John Lavin, Aaron Dixon, Ricardo McCray, Marquise Watson, Charles Wingate
Bryant's chosen leaders on and off the field, these six were the backbone of Bryant's football team this year. They were leaders in every sense of the word.