Football Seniors, Award Winners Honored at Annual Banquet
Foster, Phillips, McLaughlin take home MOP honors; 24 seniors recognized for commitment to IllinoisCHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini football team, families and friends gathered Sunday at the iHotel and Conference Center to honor the program's 24 seniors and the season's award winners at the 115th annual football banquet.
The following are the Illini award winners from the 2016 Illinois Football Banquet:
Kendrick Foster – Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Foster, a redshirt junior, had a breakout 2016 season, leading the team in rushing yards (720), rushing touchdowns (7), total touchdowns (9) and all-purpose yards (1,328). Foster had three runs of 50+ yards and averaged 5.71 yards per carry, the third-best ypc in the Big Ten. He had three 100-yard games on the season, with all three coming on Illini wins – 118 v.s Murray State, 108 at Rutgers, 146 vs. Michigan State.
Carroll Phillips – Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Phillips had a monster senior season, earning first team All-Big Ten honors, the first Illini to do so since 2011, after racking up 56 tackles, 20.0 TFLs, 9.0 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery on the season. He ranked fifth in FBS in TFLs per game (1.7) and his 20.0 TFLs tied for the fifth-most in a season in Illinois history.
Chase McLaughlin – Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
McLaughlin earned the starting PK job during training camp and proceeded to hit 12-of-17 field goals and 26-of-26 on extra points for a team-high 62 points scored in 2016. He was 7-of-8 on field goals inside 40 yards and hit a 53-yard field goal against Minnesota, the fourth-longest FG in program history and tied for the longest in the Big Ten during the regular season. He also averaged 61.8 yards on 34 kickoffs with 15 touchbacks.
Justin Hardee – Wright Commitment to Excellence Award
The Wright Commitment to Excellence Award is presented each year to a senior who has exemplified persistence in the face of obstacles to achieve success. Hardee overcame the loss of his mother, Estella Perryman, following the 2013 season and a knee injury that kept him out of the entire 2015 season before returning in 2016 to be a key contributor at WR and team leader.
Hardee excelled especially off the field, earning a bachelor's degree in communication in December 2014 and a master's degree in the recreation, sport and tourism in May 2016. He's currently on pace to earn a second master's degree in education policy, organization and leadership in 2017.
Dawuane Smoot – Bruce Capel Award
The Bruce Capel Award is given to the Illini player who displays the most courage, dedication and accomplishment throughout the season. Smoot elected to stay at Illinois for his senior season after flirting with the NFL draft and battled several nagging injuries to start 24 straight games over the last two years and play virtually every defensive snap in 2016.
Smoot was a force in the defensive backfield, posting 56 tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 10 QB hurries, one PBU, two forced fumbles in 2016 to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. He finished his UI career ranked sixth in program history in career TFLs (38.5) and eighth in career sacks (16.5).
Scholar-Athlete Award » DT Rob Bain
Service Above Self Award » C Joe Spencer
Offense Unsung Hero Award » WR Zach Grant & OT Austin Schmidt
Defense Unsung Hero Award » DB Darius Mosely & LB Hardy Nickerson
Offense Newcomer of the Year » RB Reggie Corbin
Defense Newcomer of the Year » S Stanley Green
Offense Scout Team Player of the Year » RB Christian Bobak
Defense Scout Team Player of the Year » DT Tymir Oliver
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year » TE Griffin Palmer
2016 Fighting Illini Captains
QB Wes Lunt
LB Hardy Nickerson
DE Dawuane Smoot
C Joe Spencer
