Miami Hurricanes gave out 2019 football awards in ceremony. One was very surprising.
The University of Miami had its annual “Football Award Show,’’ which “honored the 2019 senior class while also recognizing individuals who contributed on and off the field this season,’’ according to Canes Football’s Twitter posts late Sunday night.
Various trophies are sponsored by different individuals or companies, or named for former Canes, such as The Nick Chickillo Most Improved Player Awards which went to receiver Dee Wiggins and tackle Zion Nelson on offense and tackle Nesta Jade Silvera and safety Gurvan Hall on defense and long snapper Clay James on special teams.
The coaching staff chose the award winners.
The most baffling award was marked more by who it didn’t go to as opposed to who won it.
The Offensive Most Valuable Player went to sophomore offensive right tackle DJ Scaife — not to running back DeeJay Dallas (or at least by process of elimination sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan).
Dallas, a junior, finished the season with 693 rushing yards on 115 carries in 10 games for a 6-yards-per-carry average. Dallas’ average currently ranks 26th nationally out of 166 players ranked for rushing yards per carry. The nation’s leader is Clemson’s Travis Etienne (8.2).
Dallas also led Miami with 10 touchdowns, eight of them rushing.
Dallas dislocated his left elbow in the loss to FIU on Nov. 22, taking him out of the rest of the season. A knee injury took him out of the Pittsburgh game, the only other game he missed. But Dallas, a leader on offense, came to both games to cheer on his teammates.
Jordan was one of three Mackey Award finalists for the trophy that is given to the nation’s top tight end. Harris Bryant of FAU won it. Jordan, who had (and might have reinjured his foot at Duke) an injury that kept him out nearly the entire past three games, nonetheless leads UM in receiving yards with 495, and has repeatedly been praised for his outstanding blocking.
But really, Dallas was the guy.
Scaife, who started every game, is definitely a talented young man. But UM’s offensive line allowed 47 sacks in 12 regular-season games, the third-worst showing in the nation out of 130 teams ranked in sacks allowed. In the Duke regular-season finale, UM allowed nine sacks.
Here are the awards:
Kelly UTough Award: quarterback N’Kosi Perry and defensive end Trevon Hill
Jack Harding Team Most Valuable Player: linebacker Shaq Quarterman
Defensive Most Valuable Player: linebacker Michael Pinckney
Offensive Most Valuable Player: offensive lineman Scaife
Special Teams Most Valuable Player: punter Lou Hedley
Captains of the Year: Quarterman, Dallas, receiver K.J. Osborn, Pinckney
Hard Hitter: center Corey Gaynor, safety Amari Carter
Plumer Award for Leadership, Motivation & Spirit: receiver Mike Harley Jr.
R. Dale Melching Leadership: Dallas, defensive tackle Pat Bethel and special teams standout Jimmy Murphy.
Unsung Hero: Jordan, striker Romeo Finley, punter/holder Jack Spicer
Albert Bentley Most Valuable Walk-Ons: Ryan Ragone and Michael Parrott
Newcomer of the Year: offensive lineman Jakai Clark, defensive end Greg Rousseau, defensive back Christian Williams
Community Service Man of the Year: Zach McCloud
Walt Kichefski Hurricane Award (commitment, consistency, hard work ethic): K.J. Osborn and safety Rob Knowles
Training Room Comeback Player of the Year: Rousseau
Strength Training Athletes of the Year: Osborn, cornerback Al Blades, Spicer
Scout Team Players of the Year: Ryan Rizk, Shawn Walker Jr. and Joshua Neeley, Suleman Burrows
Mariutto Family Scholar Athlete Award: Parrott.
This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 9:43 AM.
