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Most Valuable Player: Brendon Kay
In one of two unanimous votes from the Down The Drive staff Kay is the runaway winner of the MVP. Its hard to argue with. He was never healthy, not even for a moment this year and he comes in after Munchie Legaux went down and delivered one of the all time great single seasons in UC history for a quarterback. Well deserved.
Offensive Player of the Year: Brendon Kay
Also receiving votes: Chris Moore, Shaq Washington
Kay as the engine at the heart of this offense is the pick, but Moore and Shaq turned in excellent seasons in their first years as mainstays on offense.
Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Temple
Also receiving votes: Greg Blair
Greg Blair is the headliner, and with good reason as he is headed to the NFL in April and will probably stick around in the league for a while. But Nick Temple was something else this year. I have been a big Temple advocate for as long as this blog has existed, and even I didn't expect a 72/13.5/5.5 line this year. He was unreal from the start.
Most Improved: Shaq Washington
Also receiving votes: Anthony McClung
Who else could it be? He briefly quit the team, was buried on the bench a year ago and this year becomes a fixture on offense and a third down converting machine. And he finally got a touchdown. Happy to have him around for another two years.
Lineman of the Year: Silverberry Mouhon
Also receiving votes: Eric Lefeld, Jordan Stepp
A game that lives up to the name. It was always assumed that Silverberry would assume the mantle as the next great UC defensive end, following in the line of Barwin, Hoke, Cole and Peek. But this is the year it happened. 9.5 sacks, 10.5 TFL and two forced fumbles for good measure.
Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Mekale McKay
Also receiving votes: Hosey Williams, Deyshawn Bond
The massive Arkansas transfer needed some time to get up to speed, but once he did the Bearcats offense changed completely. His best moment came against Rutgers when he made a mockery of the Knights secondary. Big Play McKay indeed.
Defensive Newcomer of the Year: Zach Edwards
The other unanimous choice. What more can be said about Edwards that hasn't already been said? He has a chance to put his name in the conversation for the greatest DB in UC history. Too early to say that? Nonsense, Mike Mickens, great as he was, looked like a freshman more often than not in 2005. Edwards was, more often than not, the Bearcats best DB. He can be as good as he wants to be.
