2001 Football Awards

[Dement-ed]

Now that the season is over, it's time for the analysis to begin, and for the new coach to get in and start landing recruits. So, to help kick-off the postseason, here are my awards for the 2001 season.

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Offensive MVP: ShanDerrick Charles - Anyone who says they saw that kind of performance coming from the "too small" freshman from Port Arthur is lying.

Defensive MVP: Jonas Rutledge - Might have made more big plays this year than the rest of the team combined.

Special teams MVP: Jonas Rutledge - Most dangerous SMU return man since Jacoby Rhinehart, if not before.

Unsung hero: Chris Post - The guy hasn't gotten much pub this year, or really since he's been at SMU. But he was invaluable as a run-stuffer and became more and more effective as the season went on knocking down passes. Great season by Post.

Hard-luck player of the year: Vic Viloria - Carrying superhuman expectations based on his past performance, Viloria never really got healthy this year and didn't have the season we all expected, even though (I think) he led the team in tackles again.

Most reliable player: Chris Cunningham - The Comet just kept getting open and kept making catches, leading the team in receptions ... again.

Breakout player: ShanDerrick Charles - Talk about an impact freshman!

Team Player Award: Keylon Kincade - Reportedly got upset with ShanDerrick Charles became the focus of the offense, and easily could have quit working and pouted. Instead, he buckled down, had a great game at Tulsa and showed that he also deserves the ball. He and Charles will be a great pair.

Projected 2002 breakout player: Rico Harris. Just has the look/build of a killer safety, and absolutely destroyed people in practice. Will play a lot with the graduation of Shane O'Neill.

[Kiper]

Comeback player of the year: (thanks for the reminder, Okienole)
Judson Davis. The guy battled serious knee injuries and came back to play well this year.