KLOBUCHER REPEATS AS FERRIS FOOTBALL'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Senior Earns Bulldogs' Top Individual Award For Second Straight Season

Senior middle linebacker Mike Klobucher was voted the 2006 Bulldog football team's Most Valuable Player and is the recipient of the award for the second consecutive season.

A two-time (2004-05) All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Honorable Mention Team selection, Klobucher was the Bulldogs' leading tackler in 2006 for the third straight year with 92 total stops (47 solos) in 10 contests. The two-time (2005-06) FSU defensive co-captain compiled 6.5 tackles for a loss of 29 yards, which included 2.5 pass sacks for minus 19 yards. He also had two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries as a 10-game starter. Klobucher presently ranks 25th nationally in total tackles (9.2 avg.) and 34th in solo stops (4.7 avg.).

The 6-2, 245-pound Klobucher recorded five double-figure tackle single-game performances this fall, which included a season-best 16 stops against Michigan Tech (10/7). In the classroom, the two-time (2004-05) GLIAC All-Academic Team performer was among 17 college football student-athletes to attain National Football Foundation (NFF) 2006 National Scholar-Athlete laurels and is also a finalist for the prestigious Draddy Trophy which is awarded to the nation's top college football scholar.

Klobucher concluded his four-year career ranking seventh all-time on Ferris' tackles leaders list with 389 career stops (206 solos) in 42 outings. He also accumulated 20 double-digit tackle game efforts during his career. The selection of Klobucher as team MVP represents the fourth year in a row in which a Bulldog linebacker has garnered the award and Klobucher becomes the sixth player in school history to receive the recognition more than once. Klobucher was also the recipient of Rich Currie EPEP (Every Player, Every Play) Award along with junior offensive guard Bill Bourdlais (Newberry).

Senior quarterback Ryan Kaul (Clarkston) was tabbed as the Most Valuable Offensive Skill Player after throwing for 1,483 yards and 13 TD's with a 58.3 completion percentage (95-163) in nine games this season. Kaul, who also ran for 257 yards and three TD's on 78 attempts this campaign, passed for 4,967 career yards and 37 TD's in 39 outings to sixth on Ferris' all-time passing yardage list. The Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player Award went to senior cornerback Jim Skodak (Lennon/Corunna), a three-time (2003-05) honorable mention all-conference honoree. Skodak's 41 tackles (30 solos) was seventh highest among FSU's leaders while his three pass interceptions for 33 yards and eight pass breakups led the team. His 10 career pass thefts for 59 yards in 47 career games tied for seventh best in Ferris' annals.

For the second consecutive season, sophomore defensive tackle Jake Visser (Coopersville) was chosen as the Most Valuable Defensive Lineman. Visser's 86 total tackles (52 solos) this year was the second most on the squad while the 11-game starter had a team-best 16.0 tackles for minus 74 yards, which included a conference-high 10.5 sacks for 62 yards. His season's sacks total tied for the sixth-highest ever among the Bulldogs' single-season leaders. Senior offensive tackle Kevin Teeple (Bancroft/Durand), a two-year plus starter at left tackle, was bestowed with the Most Valuable Offensive Lineman Award.

Kevin Teeple

The Special Teams Player of the Year Award went to senior placekicker Josh Eichler (Tomball, Texas), who connected on six-of-13 field goals (46.2%) and converted all 34 of his extra-point kick attempts this fall. Eichler finished second in 2006 team scoring with 52 points while his 14 career field goals represented the seventh most in school history. Senior center and two-year starter Tim Pickens (Sterling Heights/Henry Ford II) received the Most Improved Offensive Player Award. Junior defensive end Erik Schumacher (Lake Isabella/Beal City) was named the Most Improved Defensive Player after totaling a team sixth-place 42 tackles (20 solos) as an 11-game starter. Schumacher's 10.5 tackles for a negative 60 yards was second best on the squad and he also posted four sacks for a loss of 32 yards.

Junior defensive tackle Kurt Hout (Arvada, Colo./West), a transfer from NCAA Division IAA Northern Colorado, was recognized as the Outstanding Defensive Rookie. The 10-game starter notched 35 tackles (18 solos) in 10 contests to place eighth on the squad. He registered seven tackles for loss (-20 yds.). The Outstanding Offensive Rookie Award winner was junior split end-tailback Robert Miller (Carson, Calif.), who was Ferris' top performer in four statistical categories. Miller made his initial season in a FSU jersey a productive one by pacing the Bulldogs in rushing with 531 yards and three TD's on 82 carries (6.5 ypc.) and receiving with 34 receptions for 399 yards (11.7 ypc.) and three TD's. The Harbor (Calif.) Community College transfer also averaged a team-high 107.9 all-purpose yards (1,187 total yds.) and produced a squad-best 257 yards on 12 kickoff returns (21.4 avg.).

The winners of the Coaches Award for outstanding leadership were senior outside linebacker Nick Maeder (Lake/Beal City) and senior offensive tackle Chris Putra (Jackson/Lumen Christi). A pair of seniors, H-back John Vandenberg (Trenton) and defensive end Dan Boulter (Redford/Saint Agatha) were presented with the Bulldog Spirit Award as a result of best exemplifying team spirit.

Robert Miller

Sophomore tight end Travis "Snoop" Eising (Marion) earned the Bill and Lynn Scheible Scholarship Award as Tomorrow's Team Offensive Player of the Year while first-year freshman cornerback Chris Brown (Redford/Union) was the recipient of the Matt Sklom Memorial Award as Tomorrow's Team Defensive Player of the Year.

The 19 Bulldog seniors honored at the banquet were free safety Nick Beaudry (Goodells/Marysville), defensive end Dan Boulter, offensive guard Mitch DeVries (Kalamazoo/Central), kicker Josh Eichler, offensive guard Allen Feigel (Livonia/Stevenson), tailback Shawn Grigg (Allegan), quarterback Ryan Kaul, middle linebacker Mike Klobucher, offensive guard Matt Leslie (Mattawan), offensive center-guard Rob Lukofsky (Livonia/Franklin), strong safety Chris Machalak (Clinton Township/Clintondale), outside linebacker Nick Maeder, cornerback Daniel McKinney (Detroit/Benedictine), offensive center Tim Pickens, offensive tackle Chris Putra, defensive tackle-long snapper Jereld Sawyer (Sault Ste. Marie/Sault Area), cornerback Jim Skodak, offensive tackle Kevin Teeple, and H-back John Vandenberg.

Ferris State, under 12th-year head coach Jeff Pierce, finished the 2006 campaign at 8-3-0 overall with a third-place 7-3-0 GLIAC mark. The Bulldogs' record this fall represented the program's best since 1996 (10-3-0 overall).

2006 Ferris State Football Award Recipients

Most Valuable Player --Mike Klobucher
Most Valuable Offensive Skill Player --Ryan Kaul
Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player --Jim Skodak
Eric Bennett Memorial Award Most Valuable Offensive Lineman --Kevin Teeple
Most Valuable Defensive Lineman --Jake Visser
Special Teams Player of the Year --Josh Eichler
Most Improved Offensive Player --Tim Pickens
Most Improved Defensive Player --Erik Schumacher
Outstanding Offensive Rookie -- Robert Miller
Outstanding Defensive Rookie -- Kurt Hout
Coaches Award (Outstanding Leadership) -- Chris Putra (Offense) and Nick Maeder (Defense)
Bulldog Spirit Award -- John Vandenberg (Offense) and Dan Boulter (Defense)
Rich Currie EPEP (Every Player, Every Play) -- Bill Bourdlais (Offense) and Mike Klobucher (Defense)
Bill & Lynn Scheible Award For Tomorrow's Team Offensive Player of the Year -- Travis "Snoop" Eising
Matt Sklom Memorial Award For Tomorrow's Team Defensive Player of the Year -- Chris Brown