Ball State University Athletics
Football Announces Award Winners at Honors Banquet
January 19, 2015 | Football
Ball State's football team, under the direction of head coach Pete Lembo, honored the 2014 Cardinals at the team's annual Honors Banquet at the Horizon Convention Center in downtown Muncie, Ind.
Running back Jahwan Edwards, a senior on the 2014 football team, received the John Magnabosco Award as the team's most valuable player. The Magnabosco Award is named in honor of Ball State's head football coach from 1935-52. Magnabosco is the winningest football coach in Ball State history with 68 victories.
Edwards finished his Ball State career as the school's all-time leader in rushing yards (4,558), rushing touchdowns (51), total touchdowns (51) and rushing attempts (884). He ranks fifth in Mid-American Conference history in career rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, while ranking sixth in rushing attempts. The 5-10, 219-pound senior rushed for 100 or more yards six times in his final season and 18 times in his career. In 2014, Edward tallied 262 rushes for 1,252 yards and 12 touchdowns, while averaging 104.3 rushing yards a game in his 12 starts. He became only the second player in Cardinals' history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons after rushing for 1,410 in 2012, 1,110 in 2013 and 1,252 in 2014.
The John Hodge Award, which goes to the team's most valuable freshman, went to Corey Lacanaria on offense and Dedrick Cromartie on defense. The award is given in memory of the 1974 Cardinal Varsity Club chairman who passed away in 1977
Lacanaria, a wide receiver, played in 11 games and had a career high five catches for career best 37 yards at Central Michigan. He managed his first career touchdown catch on a 13-yard pass vs. Eastern Michigan and tallied a career long 26 yard catch vs. Western Michigan. Cromartie, a safety, played in 11 games and started five. He started his first career game at Central Michigan and managed five tackles and one pass breakup. Cromartie had a career high 11 tackles vs. Eastern Michigan and managed interceptions at Toledo and at Massachusetts.
Scott Secor received the Bill Reynolds Special Teams Award. The award is named in memory of Reynolds, who spent 31 years as a volunteer in the Ball State athletics department with an emphasis on the football program prior to his death in the summer of 2000.
Secor was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year and to the All-MAC First Team. He led all MAC kickers with 109 points and ranked 20th in the nation in scoring. He connected on 25-of-30 field goal attempts in 2014, which tied the MAC and Ball State record for field goals made in a single season. Secor ranked second nationally with 2.08 field goals per game and 13th in the nation with a .833 field goal percentage, while his 25 made field goals ranked as the second highest total in the country this season. In his career, Secor finished sixth on Ball State's all-time scoring list with 226 career points, while his 109 this season is the sixth highest single-season total in Cardinals' history. He made 44-of-54 field goals in his career for a .815 percentage, which ranks as the fourth best career mark in MAC history.
Taylor Hoke, a senior offensive lineman, was named the winner of the Gene Booker Academic Award. The award has been given annually since 1978 and was named in honor of Gene Booker for the first time in 2011. Booker was a member of Ball State's 1949 football team, which is the only unbeaten and untied team in the school's history.
Hoke owns a 3.483 cumulative grade-point average on Ball State's 4.0 scale and tallied a 3.67 mark last semester. Hoke graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer technology in December. He played in three games last season and was part of an offensive line that blocked for Ball State all-time leading rusher Jahwan Edwards. The offensive line ranked in the nation's top-20 in fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed.
Brian Jones, a senior safety, received the Mark Hays Inspiration Award, which is given to the person who demonstrates the greatest ability to motivate and inspire his teammates. The award is given in the memory of the late son of Kermit and the late Mary Ellen Hays, who spent their lives as fans and supporters of Ball State's athletics program.
Jones, a 2014 team captain, started 11 games and managed a season high seven tackles vs. Eastern Michigan. He posted six tackles vs. Indiana State and vs. Western Michigan plus had five or more tackles in eight games.
Nick Miles, a senior team captain in 2014, was awarded the Paul Schudel Strength and Conditioning Award, which is given to honor Ball State's football coach from 1985-94 who led the Cardinals to the 1989 and 1993 MAC Championships. He guided Ball State to its first ever NCAA Division IA bowl games with appearances in the 1989 California Raisin Bowl and the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl. Schudel completed his career with 60 wins, which was second in Ball State history, and ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference with 47 victories.
Miles started 11 games and managed a season high seven tackles vs. Northern Illinois. He registered sacks vs. Indiana State, vs. Northern Illinois and at Bowling Green plus was credited with one pass breakup vs. Eastern Michigan.
The Bill Meitzler Scout Team Players of the Year were David Morrison on offense and Joshua Posley on defense. The award is given in honor of the former Cardinal Varsity Club Board member and longtime fan and supporter of Ball State football.
Jacob Richard, a junior center, received the Dave McClain Leadership Award. The McClain Award is given in memory of the deceased Dave McClain, who was Ball State's head football coach from 1971-77 and guided the Cardinals to a 46-25-3 overall record. He guided the Cardinals into the Mid-American Conference and NCAA Division I football. McClain led Ball State to the 1976 MAC Championship in only the Cardinals' second season in the conference. McClain's final three Ball State teams posted a combined 26-7 overall mark and a 13-4 MAC mark.
Richard, a 2013 and 2014 All-MAC Third Team selection, was on the 2014 Lombardi Award Watch List for an honor that goes to the nation's top lineman. A 2014 Ball State team captain, Richard started all 12 games and anchored the Cardinals' outstanding offensive line.
Dylan Curry, a junior tight end, received the Ray Louthen Award. This award, which honors the memory of Louthen, who was Ball State's head football coach from 1962-67 and the school's athletics director from 1970-81 was given to the team's most improved player.
Curry played in 12 games with six starts to earn his third letter. He had a career high two catches vs. Indiana State and vs. Western Michigan and a career best 47 receiving yards vs. Indiana State. Curry made his first career touchdown reception at Army and added touchdown grabs vs. Western Michigan and vs. Eastern Michigan.
For the first time, a 12th Man Award was presented and the inaugural recipient was Pat Quinn, Ball State's deputy athletic director for compliance and operations. Quinn has been a member of the Ball State athletics staff since 1983. He served as the Cardinals' baseball coach until 1995 when he completed his coaching career as the school's all-time winningest coach. Since 1995, Quinn has served as an athletics administrator for Ball State.
