FERRIS STATE FOOTBALL HONORS DISTRIBUTED AT AWARDS BANQUET

Senior Standout Kevin Myers Named Bulldogs' Most Valuable Player

Senior outside linebacker Kevin Myers was selected the Most Valuable Player of Ferris State's 2004 campaign.

Senior outside linebacker Kevin Myers (Midland) was honored as the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2004 and also received the Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player Award for the second consecutive year. Myers finished second on the team with 133 total tackles (83 solos) in 11 contests, which included seven stops for minus 19 yards. The 2003 All-America First-Team selection registered seven double-figure tackle game performances this season highlighted by a career-high 26 stops (15 solos) in the season opener against Grand Valley State (8/28). The FSU defensive co-captain is presently 10th nationally in solo tackles (6.5 avg.) and 13th in total tackles (11.5 avg.). Myers, who notched over 100 tackles in each of his last three seasons, concluded his career with 435 tackles (257 solos) in 42 outings which represents the fifth-highest output in school history and was one shy of tying for fourth place. He also compiled 23 double-figure single-game tackle efforts and averaged 14.6 tackles per game (73 total) against five nationally-ranked teams this season – 26 vs. Grand Valley State (8/28), 15 at North Dakota (10/9), eight vs. Michigan Tech (10/23), 12 at Northwood (10/30) and 12 vs. Saginaw Valley State (11/6).

Senior defensive tackle Whitney Bell claimed FSU Most Valuable Defensive Lineman Award recognition for the second consecutive year.

Senior defensive tackle Whitney Bell (Sault Ste. Marie/Sault Area) earned Most Valuable Defensive Lineman honors for the second straight year after tallying a team fourth-place 60 total tackles (35 solos) in 11 appearances. Bell led Ferris State with 14.5 tackles for a loss of 69 yards, which included a team-high 7.5 quarterback sacks for minus 54 yards. The Bulldog defensive co-captain was recognized as both the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week following his 10-tackle performance at Mercyhurst (9/25), which included four quarterback sacks for a negative 29 yards. Bell recorded a season-high 11 stops at nationally-ranked Northwood (10/30). He finished his career with 225 total tackles (133 solos) in 42 outings to go with 41.5 tackles for loss (-180 yds.) and 16.0 quarterbacks sacks for minus 99 yards to rank 14th among the Bulldogs’ career sacks leaders. Senior Kevin Park (Goshen, Ind.), who started all 11 games at right tackle this season, attained the Eric Bennett Memorial Award as the squad's Most Valuable Offensive Lineman. Park, a three-year regular, played an integral role in FSU averaging 324.1 total offensive yards and 144.8 yards rushing per contest this campaign.

The Eric Bennett Memorial Award as FSU's Most Valuable Offensive Lineman went to senior tackle Kevin Park.

The Most Valuable Offensive Skill Player Award was given to junior flanker Carlton Brewster (Grand Rapids/Creston), who led the Bulldogs in receiving for the second consecutive season with a career-high 81 catches for 1,230 yards and eight TD’s in 11 outings. Brewster’s receiving yard total this fall ranked third highest among Ferris’ all-time single-season leaders. He recorded seven 100-yard plus receiving yardage games, including a career-best 15 receptions for 195 yards and two TD’s at Ashland (9/4). Brewster turned in a 141-yard receiving effort and one TD on 12 catches versus Grand Valley State (8/28). The FSU wideout presently ranks sixth among the national leaders in receptions per game (7.4 avg.), eighth in receiving yards (111.8 ypg.) and 25th in all-purpose yards (150.0 ypg.). In 32 career contests, Brewster has 174 grabs for 2,263 receiving yards and 18 TD’s while ranking fifth on the school’s all-time receiving yardage leaders list to date.

Junior flanker Carlton Brewster garnered the Most Valuable Offensive Skill Award after turning in his best Ferris State season ever with the third-highest receiving yards output in school history.

Senior guard-long snapper Matt Desmarais (Jackson) was selected as the Special Teams Player of the Year. The three-year starting long snapper competed in all 11 games for the second straight season while also receiving action on the Bulldogs’ offensive line.

The Rich Currie EPEP (Every Player, Every Play) Award featured co-recipients in senior outside linebacker Rob Mida (Chelsea) and senior split end Andy Thwaites (Stanton/Central Montcalm). Mida’s 86 total tackles (50 solos) this fall was third highest on the squad. He garnered double digits in tackles on five occasions, led by a season-high 12 stops against nationally-ranked Michigan Tech (10/23). The three-year starter wrapped up his career with 274 total tackles (138 solos) in 43 contests, which included 20.0 tackles for minus 136 yards. Thwaites, also a three-year starter, was on the receiving end of a team second-place leading 31 passes for 281 yards and three TD’s in 11 encounters this campaign. He notched a season-high five receptions for 42 yards at Ashland (9/4) and had a three-game TD receiving streak (9/11-25) with grabs versus Hillsdale (9/11), at Indianapolis (9/18) and at Mercyhurst (9/25). Thwaites totaled career numbers of 86 catches for 912 yards and six TD’s in 34 contests.

Senior Matt Desmarais was honored as FSU's Special Teams Player of the Year after handling the long snapping duties the last three seasons.

Senior defensive end Jesse Schnitker (Manton) was named the Most Improved Defensive Player after tying for seventh place in team tackles with 32 total stops (13 solos) in 11 games. Schnitker tallied three tackles for 12 yards lost, including a quarterback sack for minus seven yards, to go along with a fumble recovery and forced fumble apiece. He registered a season-high seven tackles at Northwood (10/30). A two-year starter, Schnitker concluded his career with 114 total tackles (61 solos) and garnered 15.5 tackles for a loss of 102 yards, which included 7.5 pass sacks for 64 yards, in 43 appearances.

The award for Most Improved Offensive Player was presented to senior tailback Andrew Terry (Kentwood/Grand Rapids Creston), who rushed for a career-high 1,293 yards and seven TD’s on 283 carries as an 11-game starter. His rushing yardage this fall marked the sixth-highest single-season rushing output in school history as Terry gained 1,087 more yards this campaign than a season ago (206 yards). The backfield performer posted five 100-yard plus rushing game performances in 2004, highlighted by a NCAA Division II single-game record 410 yards and a TD on 38 attempts against Findlay (10/2) which afforded him the D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week accolades. Terry also was among four individuals attaining Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette Offensive Player of the Week kudos and was also honored as the GLIAC’s Offensive Player of the Week. Terry finished his career ranking 13th on FSU’s all-time rushing leaders list with 1,670 career yards and nine TD’s on 369 carries.

The Outstanding Defensive Rookie went to senior strong safety Jason Davis (Howard City/Tri-County), who placed sixth in team tackles with a career-high 50 total (34 solo) in his initial year as a full-time starter. He garnered a career-best nine tackles versus Grand Valley State (8/28) and recorded his first career pass interception at Ashland (9/4). Junior quarterback Ryan Kaul (Clarkston) was honored as the Outstanding Offensive Rookie as a result of throwing for a career-high 1,375 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games this fall. He completed 107 passes out of 221 attempts (48.4 completion pct.) and averaged 137.5 yards per completion. He threw for over 100 yards in a game on seven occasions, including a 257-yard effort (11-24) at Mercyhurst (9/25). The previous week (9/18) at Indianapolis, Kaul set a FSU single-game mark for most net yards rushing by a quarterback with 103 yards on 17 carries while passing for 148 yards (14-23) and a touchdown.

Senior defensive end John Hazle (St. Johns) and sophomore middle linebacker Mike Klobucher (Grand Haven/North Muskegon) were co-honorees of the Coaches Award for outstanding leadership. Hazle garnered 55 tackles (26 solos) and had eight tackles for minus 28 yards at his starting right end position this year. He made a career-high 13 tackles in the 2004 season opener versus Grand Valley State (8/28). Hazle accumulated 177 career tackles (93 solos) in 42 outings, which included 30.5 tackles for a loss of 145 yards. The two-year starter (2003-04) registered 17.0 career quarterback sacks for 113 yards to rank tied for 12th place on Ferris’ all-time sacks leaders list. Klobucher turned in his best season ever in a Bulldog uniform with a team-leading and career-best 134 tackles (80 solos) as an 11-game starter. He compiled eight double-digit tackle output contests, including five to start the season. He produced a career-high 20 points (11 solos) against Grand Valley State (8/28). Klobucher presently is 17th nationally in total tackles (11.4 avg.) and 21st in solo stops (6.0 avg.).

The Bulldog Spirit Award for team spirit was presented to senior defensive end Brad Morris (South Lyon), who posted a career-best 24 tackles (15 solos) in 11 contests this campaign to rank 13th among the squad’s top tacklers. He tallied a career-high five stops (four solos) against Hillsdale (9/11) and was a key specialty teams performer. The Bill and Lynn Scheible Scholarship Award as Tomorrow’s Team Offensive Player of the Year was awarded to freshman flanker Cole Meredith (Big Rapids) and freshman defensive tackle Jake Visser (Coopersville) received the Matt Sklom Memorial Award as Tomorrow’s Team Defensive Player of the Year.

The 17 seniors honored were defensive tackle Whitney Bell, outside linebacker Brad Bigelow (Alma), cornerback Ryan Carruthers (Waterford/Mott), cornerback Bruce Cook (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), strong safety Jason Davis, guard-long snapper Matt Desmarais, defensive end John Hazle, free safety Jason Machalak (Clinton Township/Clintondale), quarterback Tom Marsan (Evergreen Park, Ill.), outside linebacker Rob Mida, defensive end Brad Morris, outside linebacker Kevin Myers, tackle Kevin Park, defensive end Jesse Schnitker, strong safety Cory Strader (Warrenton, N.C./Taylor, Mich. John F. Kennedy), tailback Andrew Terry and split end Andy Thwaites.

Ferris State, under 10th-year head coach Jeff Pierce, concluded the 2004 season and its 96th year of varsity competition with a 6-5 overall record while compiling a fifth-place 6-4 GLIAC mark. The Bulldogs registered their third winning campaign in the last four seasons.

2004 Ferris State Football Award Recipients

Most Valuable Player --Kevin Myers
Most Valuable Offensive Skill Player --Carlton Brewster
Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player --Kevin Myers
Eric Bennett Memorial Award For Most Valuable Offensive Lineman --Kevin Park
Most Valuable Defensive Lineman --Whitney Bell
Special Teams Player of the Year --Matt Desmarais
Most Improved Offensive Player --Andrew Terry
Most Improved Defensive Player --Jesse Schnitker
Outstanding Offensive Rookie -- Ryan Kaul
Outstanding Defensive Rookie -- Jason Davis
Coaches Award (Outstanding Leadership) -- John Hazle and Mike Klobucher
Bulldog Spirit Award -- Brad Morris
Rich Currie EPEP (Every Player, Every Play) -- Rob Mida and Andy Thwaites
Bill & Lynn Scheible Award For Tomorrow's Team Offensive Player of the Year -- Cole Meredith
Matt Sklom Memorial Award For Tomorrow's Team Defensive Player of the Year -- Jake Visser