Edwards & Joseph Earn Homer Hazel Award
Dec 15 | Football
Rutgers football held senior banquet Friday
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Fifth-year seniors Gus Edwards and Sebastian Joseph were both honored with the Homer Hazel Award Friday at the Rutgers football senior banquet. The award has been given out each season since 1953 to the most valuable player on the team, with this marking the second time being shared (1972).
In addition, Joseph and classmate Dorian Miller took home the David Bender Trophy, which is awarded to the offensive and defensive lineman to properly recognize merit, while fellow senior Darnell Davis collected the Paul Robeson Award for performance, leadership and dedication to the program. For being the team's most elite scholar-athlete, fifth-year senior Kemoko Turay picked up Academic Excellence Award.
Captains Kyle Bolin, Deonte Roberts, Miller and Davis also were recognized for their leadership.
Edwards, who was named honorable mention All-Big Ten, joined Rutgers as a graduate transfer and led the team with 713 rushing yards, 816 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns as the starting running back in 2017. The Staten Island native rushed for 512 yards in conference play, the most by a Scarlet Knight in a Big Ten season since joining the conference. He recorded a season-high 109 rushing yards versus Maryland, adding a go-ahead 23-yard receiving score to help the Scarlet Knights secure the win. In addition, Edwards broke free for a 74-yard touchdown in the Purdue triumph, the longest rush ever by a Rutgers player against Big Ten competition.
Joseph started all 12 games at nose tackle this season and finished his career playing in 49 consecutive games and 50 overall. The defensive lineman totaled 41 tackles as a senior with a career-high seven in the win over Maryland. He also had 4.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass batted down, one forced fumble, one blocked field goal, was a candidate for the AFCA Good Works Team and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten. Joseph was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and the program's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner.
Miller, also an honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree, started all 12 games at left guard and played in 38 career games overall. He was part of an offensive line that had the second-fewest sacks permitted (18) in the Big Ten and cleared the way for 200 or more rushing yards on three occasions. That included 274 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns in the victory at Illinois.
Davis started his career as a walk-on and worked his way up to a captain as a senior, playing in 46 games as a Scarlet Knight. The defensive lineman totaled 38 tackles in 2017 with four for loss, two forced fumbles and two sacks, including a highlight-reel hit in the opener versus Washington. He claimed an Academic All-Big Ten spot in each of the last three years.
Turay graduates this semester and will earn a degree as an informatics & technology major with a minor in Africana studies, earning Academic All-Big Ten status this year. The defensive lineman recorded a career-best 65 tackles in 2017, with 52 versus the run, eight against the pass and five on sacks. He accumulated 4.0 sacks overall with a team-leading 7.0 tackles-for-loss and will be participating in the Reese's Senior Bowl next month.
Under the direction of head coach Chris Ash, Rutgers doubled its win total in 2017 and won three Big Ten games to match its high since joining the conference.
Rutgers Football Banquet Awards
Homer Hazel Award: Gus Edwards & Sebastian Joseph
David Bender Trophy: Sebastian Joseph & Dorian Miller
Paul Robeson Award: Darnell Davis
Academic Excellence Award: Kemoko Turay
Team Captains: Kyle Bolin, Darnell Davis, Dorian Miller, Deonte Roberts
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
In addition, Joseph and classmate Dorian Miller took home the David Bender Trophy, which is awarded to the offensive and defensive lineman to properly recognize merit, while fellow senior Darnell Davis collected the Paul Robeson Award for performance, leadership and dedication to the program. For being the team's most elite scholar-athlete, fifth-year senior Kemoko Turay picked up Academic Excellence Award.
Captains Kyle Bolin, Deonte Roberts, Miller and Davis also were recognized for their leadership.
Edwards, who was named honorable mention All-Big Ten, joined Rutgers as a graduate transfer and led the team with 713 rushing yards, 816 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns as the starting running back in 2017. The Staten Island native rushed for 512 yards in conference play, the most by a Scarlet Knight in a Big Ten season since joining the conference. He recorded a season-high 109 rushing yards versus Maryland, adding a go-ahead 23-yard receiving score to help the Scarlet Knights secure the win. In addition, Edwards broke free for a 74-yard touchdown in the Purdue triumph, the longest rush ever by a Rutgers player against Big Ten competition.
Joseph started all 12 games at nose tackle this season and finished his career playing in 49 consecutive games and 50 overall. The defensive lineman totaled 41 tackles as a senior with a career-high seven in the win over Maryland. He also had 4.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass batted down, one forced fumble, one blocked field goal, was a candidate for the AFCA Good Works Team and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten. Joseph was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and the program's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner.
Miller, also an honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree, started all 12 games at left guard and played in 38 career games overall. He was part of an offensive line that had the second-fewest sacks permitted (18) in the Big Ten and cleared the way for 200 or more rushing yards on three occasions. That included 274 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns in the victory at Illinois.
Davis started his career as a walk-on and worked his way up to a captain as a senior, playing in 46 games as a Scarlet Knight. The defensive lineman totaled 38 tackles in 2017 with four for loss, two forced fumbles and two sacks, including a highlight-reel hit in the opener versus Washington. He claimed an Academic All-Big Ten spot in each of the last three years.
Turay graduates this semester and will earn a degree as an informatics & technology major with a minor in Africana studies, earning Academic All-Big Ten status this year. The defensive lineman recorded a career-best 65 tackles in 2017, with 52 versus the run, eight against the pass and five on sacks. He accumulated 4.0 sacks overall with a team-leading 7.0 tackles-for-loss and will be participating in the Reese's Senior Bowl next month.
Under the direction of head coach Chris Ash, Rutgers doubled its win total in 2017 and won three Big Ten games to match its high since joining the conference.
Rutgers Football Banquet Awards
Homer Hazel Award: Gus Edwards & Sebastian Joseph
David Bender Trophy: Sebastian Joseph & Dorian Miller
Paul Robeson Award: Darnell Davis
Academic Excellence Award: Kemoko Turay
Team Captains: Kyle Bolin, Darnell Davis, Dorian Miller, Deonte Roberts
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
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