Photo by: Steve Hockstein
Jennings Wins Homer Hazel Award
Dec 04 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – LB Deion Jennings took home the Homer Hazel Award as the Rutgers football most valuable player at the annual banquet held Sunday at the Hilton East Brunswick. The Scarlet Knights recognized the 2022 senior class at the event.
2022 Rutgers Football Awards
Home Hazel Award: LB Deion Jennings
MVP – Defense: Christian Izien & DL Aaron Lewis
MVP – Offense: OL J.D. DiRenzo
MVP – Special Teams: P Adam Korsak
Paul Robeson Award: QB Noah Vedral
David Bender Award: DL Wesley Bailey
Iron Knight Award: DB Avery Young
HOMER HAZEL AWARD: DEION JENNINGS
Awarded to the team's Most Valuable Player.
Jennings collected a team-high 91 tackles on the season, recording 8.5 for loss with six pass breakups. The 8.3 tackles per game ranked seventh in the league, posting four games with at least 10 to be selected honorable mention All-Big Ten. The linebacker capped the season with 12 stops, three tackles-for-loss, a sack and two pass breakups at Maryland.
MVP – DEFENSE: CHRISTIAN IZIEN & AARON LEWIS
Awarded to the individuals whose performance had the greatest impact on the Rutgers defensive unit.
Izien garnered All-Big Ten recognition for the third-straight season after totaling 84 tackles with five for loss, four pass breakups and a blocked punt. Starting all 12 games, he had two games recording double-digit stops with a high of 15 versus Iowa and became the 14th player in program history to reach 300 career tackles (303). The defensive back ended his career starting 41 consecutive games.
Lewis emerged on the defensive line with 55 tackles with eight for loss in 2022. He posted a career high with 11 tackles, two in the backfield, and a forced fumble in the road win over Temple, adding sacks versus Nebraska and Penn State. The performance earned Third Team All-Big Ten in the coaches' vote.
MVP – OFFENSE: J.D. DIRENZO
Awarded to the individual whose performance had the greatest impact on the Rutgers offensive unit.
DiRenzo started all 12 games for the Scarlet Knights in his first season with the program, including nine at left guard and three at left tackle. He helped RU rush for 212 yards in the season-opening win at Boston College that saw the offense put together a go-ahead, 96-yard drive all on the ground. Then versus Indiana, the unit allowed no sacks and held the ball for 38:53 in the victory. DiRenzo moved to left tackle at Michigan State as the offense totaled 460 yards, most against a Big Ten opponent in regulation since 2015, with RB Kyle Monangai setting a program record for rushing yards (162) in a Big Ten game.
MVP – SPECIAL TEAMS: ADAM KORSAK
Awarded to the individual whose performance had the greatest impact on the Rutgers special teams unit.
A finalist for the Ray Guy Award, Korsak led the country with 32 punts downed inside the 20 and -11 return yards against, ranking third in net punt average (43.57). He is the NCAA all-time leader in punting attempts (349) and yardage (15,318), a three-time captain for the Scarlet Knights and tied for the program record with 58 games played. Korsak was selected Second Team All-Big Ten in the coaches' vote.
PAUL ROBESON AWARD: NOAH VEDRAL
Awarded to the individual whose performance, leadership and dedication on and off the field has had the greatest impact on Rutgers football.
A two-time captain for the Scarlet Knights, Vedral ranks seventh in program history in both completions (337) and total offense (3,876), being 12th in passing yards (3,340). He repeated as a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, also being selected to the AFCA Good Works Team for exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field. The quarterback is also a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
DAVID BENDER AWARD: WESLEY BAILEY
Awarded to the top lineman on the team.
A first-year starter, Bailey started all 12 games at defensive end and totaled 30 tackles with eight for loss and a team-high 3.5 sacks. He recorded three fumble recoveries to lead the Big Ten. In the win over Indiana, the Canadian produced a quarterback hurry late in the late to lead to a game-sealing pick-six.
IRON KNIGHT AWARD: AVERY YOUNG
Presented to the player who has demonstrated an exceptionally high level of mental and physical toughness throughout the year.
Playing in 57 games for the Scarlet Knights with 54 starts, the most on offense or defense in program history, Young finishes his career with 326 tackles, 10th-most in the RU record book. He earned honorable mention twice, including this past season after registering 84 tackles at safety. The team captain added an interception, four pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
2022 Rutgers Football Awards
Home Hazel Award: LB Deion Jennings
MVP – Defense: Christian Izien & DL Aaron Lewis
MVP – Offense: OL J.D. DiRenzo
MVP – Special Teams: P Adam Korsak
Paul Robeson Award: QB Noah Vedral
David Bender Award: DL Wesley Bailey
Iron Knight Award: DB Avery Young
HOMER HAZEL AWARD: DEION JENNINGS
Awarded to the team's Most Valuable Player.
Jennings collected a team-high 91 tackles on the season, recording 8.5 for loss with six pass breakups. The 8.3 tackles per game ranked seventh in the league, posting four games with at least 10 to be selected honorable mention All-Big Ten. The linebacker capped the season with 12 stops, three tackles-for-loss, a sack and two pass breakups at Maryland.
MVP – DEFENSE: CHRISTIAN IZIEN & AARON LEWIS
Awarded to the individuals whose performance had the greatest impact on the Rutgers defensive unit.
Izien garnered All-Big Ten recognition for the third-straight season after totaling 84 tackles with five for loss, four pass breakups and a blocked punt. Starting all 12 games, he had two games recording double-digit stops with a high of 15 versus Iowa and became the 14th player in program history to reach 300 career tackles (303). The defensive back ended his career starting 41 consecutive games.
Lewis emerged on the defensive line with 55 tackles with eight for loss in 2022. He posted a career high with 11 tackles, two in the backfield, and a forced fumble in the road win over Temple, adding sacks versus Nebraska and Penn State. The performance earned Third Team All-Big Ten in the coaches' vote.
MVP – OFFENSE: J.D. DIRENZO
Awarded to the individual whose performance had the greatest impact on the Rutgers offensive unit.
DiRenzo started all 12 games for the Scarlet Knights in his first season with the program, including nine at left guard and three at left tackle. He helped RU rush for 212 yards in the season-opening win at Boston College that saw the offense put together a go-ahead, 96-yard drive all on the ground. Then versus Indiana, the unit allowed no sacks and held the ball for 38:53 in the victory. DiRenzo moved to left tackle at Michigan State as the offense totaled 460 yards, most against a Big Ten opponent in regulation since 2015, with RB Kyle Monangai setting a program record for rushing yards (162) in a Big Ten game.
MVP – SPECIAL TEAMS: ADAM KORSAK
Awarded to the individual whose performance had the greatest impact on the Rutgers special teams unit.
A finalist for the Ray Guy Award, Korsak led the country with 32 punts downed inside the 20 and -11 return yards against, ranking third in net punt average (43.57). He is the NCAA all-time leader in punting attempts (349) and yardage (15,318), a three-time captain for the Scarlet Knights and tied for the program record with 58 games played. Korsak was selected Second Team All-Big Ten in the coaches' vote.
PAUL ROBESON AWARD: NOAH VEDRAL
Awarded to the individual whose performance, leadership and dedication on and off the field has had the greatest impact on Rutgers football.
A two-time captain for the Scarlet Knights, Vedral ranks seventh in program history in both completions (337) and total offense (3,876), being 12th in passing yards (3,340). He repeated as a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, also being selected to the AFCA Good Works Team for exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field. The quarterback is also a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
DAVID BENDER AWARD: WESLEY BAILEY
Awarded to the top lineman on the team.
A first-year starter, Bailey started all 12 games at defensive end and totaled 30 tackles with eight for loss and a team-high 3.5 sacks. He recorded three fumble recoveries to lead the Big Ten. In the win over Indiana, the Canadian produced a quarterback hurry late in the late to lead to a game-sealing pick-six.
IRON KNIGHT AWARD: AVERY YOUNG
Presented to the player who has demonstrated an exceptionally high level of mental and physical toughness throughout the year.
Playing in 57 games for the Scarlet Knights with 54 starts, the most on offense or defense in program history, Young finishes his career with 326 tackles, 10th-most in the RU record book. He earned honorable mention twice, including this past season after registering 84 tackles at safety. The team captain added an interception, four pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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