RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team handed out its annual team awards for the 2014 season at a team meeting Sunday afternoon. Tight end Matt Lengel took home the highest honor, the Roy Kidd Award.
The Roy Kidd Award is given to a player(s) annually based upon his performance on the field, success in the classroom and positive involvement in the community. Lengel, a sixth-year senior from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, battled back from back-to-back season-ending injuries in 2012 and 2013 to be a major contributor this year. The tight end earned nine starts and finished fifth on the squad with 16 receptions for 139 yards. Lengel tallied at least one reception in eight games while recording season highs in receptions (three) and receiving yards (33) at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 18.
The Offensive MVP award went to junior running back Dy’Shawn Mobley. His 1,491 rushing yards were the sixth most ever in a single season by an EKU player. Mobley set a program record and equaled an OVC mark when he scored six touchdowns in the win over Murray State on Nov. 15. The OVC Offensive Player of the Year scored three touchdowns against three other conference teams – UT Martin on Sept. 20, Southeast Missouri on Oct. 25 and Tennessee State on Nov. 1. Mobley, hailing from Powell, Tennessee, produced a league-high eight 100-yard rushing games. He also ranked third on the team with 33 receptions.
The Defensive MVP award went to senior defensive back Brandon Stanley. A two-time all-conference selection, Stanley led the Colonels and ranked third in the OVC with 124 tackles. The native of Atlanta, Georgia, reached double-figure tackles in four contests, including a career-high 17 tackles against Jacksonville State on Nov. 8. Stanley also paced Eastern with four interceptions and two forced fumbles while ranking third with eight tackles for loss.
The other award winners were junior Brett Eyckmans (Offensive Lineman of the Year), sophomore Avery Pitt (Defensive Lineman of the Year), senior kicker Andrew Lloyd (Special Teams MVP), junior wide receiver Taylor Miller (Most Improved – Offense), junior linebacker Chris Kelly (Most Improved – Defense), freshman quarterback Tyler Swafford (Offensive Future of the Year), freshman defensive lineman Marqui Daniel (Defensive Future of the Year), senior quarterback Jared McClain (Offensive Colonel Core Value Award) and senior linebacker Tyrelle Johnson (Defensive Colonel Core Value Award).
The players voted upon all of the awards except the Roy Kidd Award. The coaching staff selected the Roy Kidd Award recipient.
Eastern Kentucky (9-4, 6-2) reached the FCS playoffs for the third time in seven seasons under head coach Dean Hood and finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference standings.
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