Eastern dishes out 2013 awards at annual football banquet

NEWS SERVICE REPORTS | Last updated Feb 27, 2014 3:55pm0

EWU count

Vernon Adams and the FCS Player of the Year trophy.

Nic Sblendorio, Jake Gall and John Kreifels, a trio of 2013 redshirts for the Eastern Washington University football team, were among the players honored Feb. 22 at the annual Eastern Washington University Awards Banquet at the Pence Union Building on the EWU campus.

Gall and Kreifels are linebackers and were selected as the team's co-Defensive Scout Team Players of the Year. Gall is a 2013 graduate of Cle Elum-Roslyn, Wash., High School, and Kreifels graduated the same year from Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, Calif. Sblendorio, a wide receiver and 2013 graduate of state powerhouse Skyline High School in Sammamish, won the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year.

Not surprisingly, All-America quarterback Vernon Adams won the team's Offensive Player of the Year honor, and All-America linebacker Ronnie Hamlin won the same award on defense. First team All-Big Conference selection Bo Schuetzle was the Special Teams Player of the Year and All-America wide receiver and Jerry Rice Award winner Cooper Kupp won accolades as the team's Freshman of the Year.

In addition, senior defensive end Jakob Pugsley was given the Pat Roberts Memorial Award for achieving academic and athletic excellence. Pugsley and Schuetzle both graduated in 2009 from Spokane area high schools, Pugsley from East Valley and Schuetzle from Shadle Park.

Receiving team captains awards from the 2013 season were Hamlin, All-America senior center Ashton Miller, senior wide receiver Ashton Clark and safety Allen Brown.

Besides the awards presented, retiring EWU President Rodolfo Arévalo and his wife Nadine were presented framed jerseys by athletic director Bill Chaves and head coach Beau Baldwin.

A complete list of honors won are listed below:

Scout Team Players of the Year

• Defense – Linebacker John Kreifels (Modesto, Calif.) & Linebacker Jake Gall (Cle Elum, Wash.)

• Offense – Wide Receiver Nic Sblendorio (Sammamish, Wash.)

Team Players of the Year

• Freshman of the Year – Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp (Yakima, Wash.)

• Offense – Quarterback Vernon Adams (Pasadena, Calif.)

• Defense – Linebacker Ronnie Hamlin (Lacey, Wash.)

• Special Teams – Bo Schuetzle (Spokane, Wash.)

Pat Roberts Memorial Award

• Jakob Pugsley (Newman Lake, Wash.)

Team Captain Awards

• Safety Allen Brown (Tacoma, Wash.)

• Linebacker Ronnie Hamlin (Lacey, Wash.)

• Wide Receiver Ashton Clark (Vancouver, Wash.)

• Center Ashton Miller (Vancouver, Wash.)

2013 SENIORS

41 - J.C. Agen - LB - 6-2 - 210 - 4L - Spokane, Wash. (Central Valley HS '09)

24 - Ronald Baines - CB - 5-10 - 195 - 4L - Tacoma, Wash. (Mount Tahoma HS '09)

30 - Demitrius Bronson - RB - 5-10 - 210 - 3L - Kent, Wa. (Kentwood HS '08 / UW)

70 - Steven Forgette - OG - 6-4 - 300 - 4L - Vancouver, Wash. (Heritage HS '09)

85 - Zack Gehring - TE - 6-4 - 240 - 4L - Castle Rock, Wash. (Castle Rock HS '09)

92 - Will Katoa - NT - 6-0 - 295 - 4L - Salt Lake City, Utah (Judge Memorial HS '09)

19 - Christian Hudnell - CB - 6-0 - 185 - 2L - Sacramento (Jesuit HS '09 / Kentucky)

83 - Cody Humphrey - TE - 6-5 - 260 - 3L - Hermiston, Ore. (Hermiston HS '09)

23 - Daniel Johnson - WR - 5-10 - 190 - 4L - San Jose (Valley Christian HS '09)

1 - Anthony Larry - DE - 6-3 - 250 - 3L - Sacramento (Luther Burbank HS '09)

31 - T.J. Lee III - CB - 5-9 - 190 - 4L - Seattle, Wash. (West Seattle HS '09)

68 - Kevin Miller - K - 6-2 - 225 - 4L - Portland, Ore. (Centennial HS '09)

77 - Brandon Murphy - OG - 6-4 - 305 - 4L - Albany, Ore. (West Albany HS '09)

25 - McKenzie Murphy - S - 5-9 - 190 - 2L - Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS '08 / WWU)

46 - Jakob Pugsley - DE - 6-3 - 235 - 3L - Newman Lake, Wash. (East Valley '09)

93 - Andru Pulu - DT - 6-2 - 290 - 2L - Federal Way, Wash. (Fed. Way HS '09 / UW)

52 - Drew Reynolds - OG - 6-1 - 300 - 3L - Tacoma, Wash. (Foss HS '09)

21 - Bo Schuetzle - CB - 6-0 - 200 - 4L - Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park HS '09)

12 - Anthony Vitto - QB - 6-1 - 195 - 4L - Simi Valley, Ca. (Chaminade Col. Prep '09)

2013 Co-Captains . . .

4 - Allen Brown - S - 5-10 - 170 - 4L - Tacoma, Wash. (Foss HS '09)

15 - Ashton Clark - WR - 5-11 - 185 - 3L - Vancouver, Wash. (Heritage HS '09)

39 - ^Ronnie Hamlin - LB - 6-2 - 235 - 3L - Lacey, Wash. (Timberline HS '09)

66 - Ashton Miller - C - 6-2 - 300 - 4L - Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen HS '09)

^Has appealed to the NCAA to receive a sixth year because of two previous seasons wiped out because of injuries.

2013 INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS

Beau Baldwin

Inland Northwest Coach of the Year (Spokane Sportswriters & Broadcasters)

Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year

On Voting List for the Eddie Robinson Award Given to Top Coach in FCS

3 - Vernon Adams

QB - 6-0 - 190 - So. - Pasadena, Calif. (Alemany HS '11)

FCS National Performer of the Year (College Football Performance Awards)

Runner-up for the Walter Payton Award Given to Top Player in FCS

First Team All-America (College Sporting News "Fabulous 50")

First Team All-America (College Sports Journal)

First Team All-America (Beyond Sports Network)

Second Team All-America (The Sports Network)

Second Team All-America (Associated Press)

Second Team All-America (College Sports Madness)

Finalist for Geico Play of the Year (game-winning TD versus Oregon State)

Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year

First Team All-Big Sky Conference (unanimous, first-team vote on all 12 ballots)

10 - Cooper Kupp

WR - 6-2 - 195 - Fr. - Yakima, Wash. (Davis HS '12)

Winner of Jerry Rice Award Given to Top Freshman in FCS

FCS Wide Receiver Award (College Football Performance Awards)

Freshman of the Year on "Fabulous 50" (College Sporting News)

Freshman of the Year (College Sports Journal)

Freshman of the Year (College Sports Madness)

First Team All-America (American Football Coaches Association)

First Team All-America (The Sports Network)

First Team All-America (Associated Press)

First Team All-America (College Sporting News "Fabulous 50")

First Team All-America (College Sports Journal)

First Team All-America (Walter Camp Football Foundation)

First Team All-America (College Sports Madness)

First Team All-America (Beyond Sports Network)

Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year

First Team All-Big Sky Conference (unanimous, first-team vote on all 12 ballots)

EWU Athletics Scholar-Athlete for Month of December

31 - T.J. Lee III

CB - 5-9 - 170 - Sr. - Seattle, Wash. (West Seattle HS '09)

First Team All-America (American Football Coaches Association)

First Team All-America (College Sporting News "Fabulous 50")

First Team All-America (College Sports Journal)

First Team All-America (College Sports Madness)

First Team All-America (Beyond Sports Network)

Second Team All-America (The Sports Network)

Second Team All-America (Associated Press)

First Team All-Big Sky Conference (only three in school history and 48 in the 50-year history of the Big Sky Conference with at three)

66 - Ashton Miller

C - 6-2 - 300 - Sr. - Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen HS '09)

First Team All-America (Associated Press)

First Team All-America (Walter Camp Football Foundation)

First Team All-America (College Sports Journal)

First Team All-America (Beyond Sports Network)

Second Team All-America (College Sports Madness)

First Team All-Big Sky Conference

FCS Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star Team

Big Sky Conference All-Academic (business administraton/MBA)

EWU Athletics Scholar-Athlete for Month of January

39 - Ronnie Hamlin

LB - 6-2 - 235 - Sr. - Lacey, Wash. (Timberline HS '09)

12th in Voting for the Buck Buchanan Award Given to Top Def. Player in FCS

Second Team All-America (College Sports Madness)

Second Team All-Big Sky Conference

FCS Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star Team

Big Sky Conference All-Academic (technology major)

EWU Athletics Scholar-Athlete for Month of November

91 - Samson Ebukam

DL - 6-3 - 230 - Fr. - Portland, Ore. (David Douglas HS '13)

Second Team Freshman All-America (College Sports Journal)

Big Sky Conference All-Academic (major undeclared)

21 - Bo Schuetzle

CB - 6-0 - 200 - Sr. - Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park HS '09)

First Team All-Big Sky Conference (special teams)

15 - Ashton Clark

WR - 5-11 - 185 - Sr. - Vancouver, Wash. (Heritage HS '09)

Second Team All-Big Sky Conference

Big Sky Conference All-Academic (recreation management major)

EWU Athletics Scholar-Athlete for Month of October

70 - Steven Forgette

OG - 6-4 - 300 - Sr. - Vancouver, Wash. (Heritage HS '09)

Second Team All-Big Sky Conference

Big Sky Conference All-Academic (exercise science major)

78 - Clay DeBord

OT - 6-6 - 290 - So. - Asotin, Wash. (Asotin HS '11)

Second Team All-Big Sky Conference

93 - Andru Pulu

DT - 6-2 - 290 - Sr. - Federal Way, Wash. (Federal Way HS '09 /UW)

Second Team All-Big Sky Conference

85 - Zack Gehring

TE - 6-4 - 240 - Sr. - Castle Rock, Wash. (Castle Rock HS '09)

Third Team All-Big Sky Conference

Big Sky Conference All-Academic (exercise science major)

22 - Quincy Forte

RB - 5-11 - 185 - Jr. - Fairfield, Calif. (Vacaville HS '11)

Third Team All-Big Sky Conference

1 - Anthony Larry

DE - 6-3 - 250 - Sr. - Sacramento, Calif. (Luther Burbank HS '09)

Third Team All-Big Sky Conference

7 - Tevin McDonald

S - 5-11 - 190 - Jr. - Fresno, Calif. (Edison HS '10 & UCLA)

Third Team All-Big Sky Conference

9 - Shaq Hill

WR/KR - 5-10 - 180 - Jr. - Stockton, Ca. (Brookside Christian HS '11)

Honorable Mention All-Big Sky Conference (wide receiver)

4 - Allen Brown

S - 5-10 - 170 - Sr. - Tacoma, Wash. (Foss HS '09)