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SENIORS, AWARD WINNERS HONORED at Annual @IlliniFootball Banquet
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini football team, families and friends gathered Saturday at the iHotel and Conference Center to honor the program's 22 seniors and the season's award winners at the 114th annual football banquet.
The following are the Illini award winners from the 2015 Illinois Football Banquet:
Josh Ferguson – Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Ferguson was the most electric player on offense for the Illini, averaging 6.0 yards per touch. The senior running back led the team with 988 all-purpose yards, despite missing three games with an injury. Ferguson finished second in Illinois history in all-purpose yards (4,474), third in receptions (168), sixth in rushing yards (2,586) and seventh in career touchdowns (26).
Clayton Fejedelem – Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Fejedelem led the Big Ten with 140 tackles, the most by an Illini since J Leman had 152 tackles in 2006. After starting one game last season, the former walk-on transfer emerged as one of the best safeties in the Big Ten. He started every game this season and recorded seven pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble, 4.5 TFLs and a touchdown on a blocked punt vs. Middle Tennessee.
V'Angelo Bentley – Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
Bentley was the Fighting Illini's primary kickoff and punt returner in 2015. He ranked third in the Big Ten in combined return yards with 743 (505 kickoff return, 238 punt return), while averaging 22.0 yards per kickoff return and 9.2 yars per punt return, second in the Big Ten. Bentley is the Illinois all-time kick return yardage leader (1,860 yards) and is the only player in program history with a kickoff return, punt return, interception return and fumble return for a touchdown in his career.
Jihad Ward – 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. A junior-college transfer from Globe Tech (NY), Ward started all 25 games he played in as an Illini. The Philadelphia native had 53 tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery to earn All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Ward has an interesting story, as one of five children of a single mother who had him at the age of 17 – the reason he wears No. 17 on the field. A receiver and safety in high school, Ward hit a growth spurt during his senior year and moved to defensive line. He went to Globe Institute of Technology in Manhattan, taking on the role of big brother to the teammates he lived with in Staten Island. He helped the group navigate the two-hour journey to Globe's campus near Times Square via bus, ferry, train and foot every day, often leaving their housing at 4 a.m. and not returning home until as late as 11:30 p.m.
Chris Boles – Bruce Capel Award
The Bruce Capel Award is given to the Illini player who displays the most courage, dedication and accomplishment throughout the season. After playing only a handful of snaps in his first four years at Illinois, Boles started every game in 2015 at left guard and was an anchor on an offensive line that allowed just 1.67 sacks per game.
2015 Fighting Illini Captains
Josh Ferguson
Clayton Fejedelem
Mason Monheim
Ted Karras
Scholar-Athlete Award » Mason Monheim
Service Above Self Award » Geronimo Allison
Illini Warrior Effort Award (Weight Room) » Ted Karras
Offense Unsung Hero Award »Pat Flavin
Defense Unsung Hero Award »Eaton Spence
Offense Newcomer of the Year »Ke'Shawn Vaughn
Defense Newcomer of the Year »Tre Watson
Offense Scout Team Player of the Year »Cameron Tucker
Defense Scout Team Player of the Year »Cameron Watkins
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year »Austin Roberts
2015 Fighting Illini Seniors
Geronimo Allison
V'Angelo Bentley
Chris Boles
Tim Clary
Clayton Fejedelem
Josh Ferguson
Eric Finney
Pat Flavin
Joe Fotu
Ted Karras
Davontay Kwaaning
Nelson Lugo
Mason Monheim
Kenny Nelson
Jim Nudera
Chris O'Connor
Leslie Poole
Eaton Spence
Cameron Tucker
Jihad Ward
Sean White
Taylor Zalewski
