Ball State University Athletics
KeVonn Mabon, James Gilbert Share MVP Award at Football Team’s Honors Banquet
December 10, 2016 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State football team officially wrapped up its first season under head coach Mike Neu Saturday night with the team's annual Honors Banquet, which was held downtown at the Horizon Convention Center.
Wide receiver KeVonn Mabon and running back James Gilbert took home the headline award as the team's most valuable players, the John Magnabosco Award. The Magnabosco Award is named in honor of Ball State's head football coach from 1935-52. Magnabosco's 68 victories as the Cardinals' head coach is still the program record.
Mabon earned all-league accolades for the third consecutive year in 2016. He established a new school record for career receptions (244) in the season finale against Miami. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Mabon led Ball State in receptions in 10 of the 12 games and ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in receptions per game (7.1). Mabon leaves Ball State with 2,862 career receiving yards, which ranks third in the program annals.
Gilbert led the league with 12 rushing touchdowns. The native of Indianapolis, Indiana, piled up 1,332 rushing yards this fall, the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player. Gilbert reached the 100-yard mark seven times, including a stretch of five consecutive games in the middle of the year. The sophomore notched 264 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win over Buffalo on Oct. 15. His 264 yards are the second highest total in the Ball State single game record book.
The John Hodge Award, which goes to the team's most valuable freshman, went to wide receiver Damon Hazelton Jr. He finished second on the team in both receptions (51) and receiving yards (505) as a true freshman. Hazelton's best day as a Cardinal thus far came at Toledo on Nov. 16 when he finished with 12 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Punter Kyle Schmidt 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. Schmidt's four-year punting average of 41.0 yards ranks third in the Ball State annals. He handled both the punting and kickoff duties as a junior and senior.
Drake Miller, 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. Miller is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and finished his career with 32 consecutive starts in the trenches. The health and physical education major currently carries a 3.532 grade-point average.
Senior captains Martez Hester and Teddy Williamson were honored with the Mark Hays Inspiration Award, which is given to the person(s) 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. Hester was a starter in the defensive backfield each of the last two years while Williamson played in 46 games and carried the ball 172 times in his Ball State career.
Defensive lineman Kyle Seger picked up the Paul Schudel Strength and Conditioning Award, which is given in honor of the former Ball State football coach (1985-94), who led the Cardinals to the 1989 and 1993 MAC championships. Schudel guided Ball State to its first-ever NCAA Division I FBS bowl games with appearances in the 1989 California Raisin Bowl and the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl.
The Bill Meitzler Scout Team Players of the Year were running back David Keeling and linebacker Jaylin Thomas. The award is given in honor of the former Cardinal Varsity Club board member as well as longtime fan and supporter of Ball State football.
Senior linebacker Sean Wiggins was the recipient of 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 oversaw the Cardinals during the transition 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 record.
Wiggins, a 2016 captain, ranked fifth in the league in tackles per game (9.1) on the way to earning All-MAC accolades for a second consecutive season. He led Ball State in tackles in six games and also reached double-figure stops in four contests. On Oct. 8 at Central Michigan, Wiggins finished with a team season-high as well as a personal-best 15 tackles.
Versatile offensive lineman Vinnie Palazeti took home the Ray Louthen Award. This award, which honors the memory of the former Ball State head football coach (1962-67) and school's athletics director (1970-81), is bestowed upon the team's most improved player(s).
Palazeti was forced into action as the team's center this fall. A natural offensive guard, Palazeti started all 12 games on the offensive line with 11 starts at the center position.
A new award was unveiled during the banquet – the Willie Snead True Cardinal Award, which is meant to honor a player who goes above and beyond the call of a collegiate football student-athlete. Snead, who concluded his Cardinals career in 2013, racked up 2,991 receiving yards in his three years on the team, the second most in Ball State history. Undrafted out of college, Snead was let go by two NFL teams before finding a home with the New Orleans Saints. Snead is now a starter on the Saints offense that ranks second in the NFL in scoring.
Linebacker Zack Ryan, who tallied 42 starts and 319 tackles over his four-year Ball State career, was selected for the Willie Snead True Cardinal Award.
Finally, Marlene Mitchell was surprised with a Lifetime Cardinal Award. Mitchell, the team's administrative assistant, has been working with the football staff since February 1998. She is planning to retire at the end of the academic year.
Ball State concluded the 2016 season with a 4-8 overall record and 1-7 mark in the MAC. Four of Ball State's seven league losses were by seven points or less.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Wide receiver KeVonn Mabon and running back James Gilbert took home the headline award as the team's most valuable players, the John Magnabosco Award. The Magnabosco Award is named in honor of Ball State's head football coach from 1935-52. Magnabosco's 68 victories as the Cardinals' head coach is still the program record.
Mabon earned all-league accolades for the third consecutive year in 2016. He established a new school record for career receptions (244) in the season finale against Miami. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Mabon led Ball State in receptions in 10 of the 12 games and ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in receptions per game (7.1). Mabon leaves Ball State with 2,862 career receiving yards, which ranks third in the program annals.
Gilbert led the league with 12 rushing touchdowns. The native of Indianapolis, Indiana, piled up 1,332 rushing yards this fall, the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player. Gilbert reached the 100-yard mark seven times, including a stretch of five consecutive games in the middle of the year. The sophomore notched 264 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win over Buffalo on Oct. 15. His 264 yards are the second highest total in the Ball State single game record book.
The John Hodge Award, which goes to the team's most valuable freshman, went to wide receiver Damon Hazelton Jr. He finished second on the team in both receptions (51) and receiving yards (505) as a true freshman. Hazelton's best day as a Cardinal thus far came at Toledo on Nov. 16 when he finished with 12 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Punter Kyle Schmidt 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. Schmidt's four-year punting average of 41.0 yards ranks third in the Ball State annals. He handled both the punting and kickoff duties as a junior and senior.
Drake Miller, 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. Miller is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and finished his career with 32 consecutive starts in the trenches. The health and physical education major currently carries a 3.532 grade-point average.
Senior captains Martez Hester and Teddy Williamson were honored with the Mark Hays Inspiration Award, which is given to the person(s) 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. Hester was a starter in the defensive backfield each of the last two years while Williamson played in 46 games and carried the ball 172 times in his Ball State career.
Defensive lineman Kyle Seger picked up the Paul Schudel Strength and Conditioning Award, which is given in honor of the former Ball State football coach (1985-94), who led the Cardinals to the 1989 and 1993 MAC championships. Schudel guided Ball State to its first-ever NCAA Division I FBS bowl games with appearances in the 1989 California Raisin Bowl and the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl.
The Bill Meitzler Scout Team Players of the Year were running back David Keeling and linebacker Jaylin Thomas. The award is given in honor of the former Cardinal Varsity Club board member as well as longtime fan and supporter of Ball State football.
Senior linebacker Sean Wiggins was the recipient of 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 oversaw the Cardinals during the transition 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 record.
Wiggins, a 2016 captain, ranked fifth in the league in tackles per game (9.1) on the way to earning All-MAC accolades for a second consecutive season. He led Ball State in tackles in six games and also reached double-figure stops in four contests. On Oct. 8 at Central Michigan, Wiggins finished with a team season-high as well as a personal-best 15 tackles.
Versatile offensive lineman Vinnie Palazeti took home the Ray Louthen Award. This award, which honors the memory of the former Ball State head football coach (1962-67) and school's athletics director (1970-81), is bestowed upon the team's most improved player(s).
Palazeti was forced into action as the team's center this fall. A natural offensive guard, Palazeti started all 12 games on the offensive line with 11 starts at the center position.
A new award was unveiled during the banquet – the Willie Snead True Cardinal Award, which is meant to honor a player who goes above and beyond the call of a collegiate football student-athlete. Snead, who concluded his Cardinals career in 2013, racked up 2,991 receiving yards in his three years on the team, the second most in Ball State history. Undrafted out of college, Snead was let go by two NFL teams before finding a home with the New Orleans Saints. Snead is now a starter on the Saints offense that ranks second in the NFL in scoring.
Linebacker Zack Ryan, who tallied 42 starts and 319 tackles over his four-year Ball State career, was selected for the Willie Snead True Cardinal Award.
Finally, Marlene Mitchell was surprised with a Lifetime Cardinal Award. Mitchell, the team's administrative assistant, has been working with the football staff since February 1998. She is planning to retire at the end of the academic year.
Ball State concluded the 2016 season with a 4-8 overall record and 1-7 mark in the MAC. Four of Ball State's seven league losses were by seven points or less.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
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