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Welcome back to the Tigers Football Insider, where we bring you the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s Frank Bonner II, Geoff Calkins and John Martin each week.
With the regular season already wrapped up, Memphis held its annual banquet on Sunday, Dec.12, where it gave out its individual team awards.
Fourteen players were given awards after four honors were split between two people. Here is the full list of Tigers who were honored during the banquet.
MVP: JJ Russell
Linebacker JJ Russell was the Tigers’ most consistent player on defense. He acted as a leader in the locker room and on the field. Russell finished the regular season with a team-high 123 tackles, one interception, one sack, one forced fumble and a pass deflection. He also led the team with eight quarterback hurries and had 6.5 tackles for loss.
Offensive Player of the Year: Calvin Austin III and Sean Dykes
Receiver Calvin Austin III and Sean Dykes split the offensive player of the year award after leading the Tigers in receiving. Austin led the team with 74 catches, 1,149 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Dykes was behind him in all three categories totaling 48 receptions for 657 yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jacobi Francis and Quindell Johnson
Defensive backs Jacobi Francis and Quindell Johnson helped anchor the defensive secondary. Johnson had the second-most tackles (104) and pass deflections (11) on the team. He also had an interception, a fumble recovery and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Francis tied a team-high of two interceptions and his seven pass deflections were the third-most on the team. He also finished the regular season with 4.5 tackles for loss.
Most Improved Defensive Player: Wardalis Ducksworth
Defensive lineman Wardalis Ducksworth was awarded most improved defensive player of the year after improving his 19 total tackles from 2020 to 34 tackles this season. He recovered two fumbles and had four tackles for loss this season after not having any fumble recoveries in the last two years.
Other team awards
Most Improved Offensive Player: Jacob Likes, OL
Special Teams Player of the Year: Marquavius Weaver, RB
True Tiger Award: Preston Brady (LS) and John Tate IV (DL)
The True Tiger Award is given to the player who displays the values of service, sacrifice and respect on the field and in the community.
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Rush Lansdell (LB) and Tyrell Raby, (DB)
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Jeremiah Oatsvall, WR
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year: Braxton Crouse, WR
More from your Insider:
Linebacker Thomas Pickens said the time off is the best thing after a rough, injury-filled season.
Placekicker Riley Patterson has been successful on all of his field goals and extra points this season for the Lions.
Warren Peeples is the Tigers’ fourth JUCO commit in three days.
The wide receiver, who has a likely NFL future, battled through an ankle injury for most of this season.
The former Whitehaven High standout Devon Robinson joined the Tigers in January and didn’t play any snaps this season.
Coach Ryan Silverfield lands three junior college commitments in two days for the University of Memphis football program.
Memphis is looking to replace this season’s second-leading pass catcher in tight end Sean Dykes.
This will be the Memphis defensive coordinator’s third head coaching job of his career.
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