University of North Texas Athletics
NT Hands Out Awards At Football Banquet
12/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
DENTON, Texas - The 2011 North Texas football team awards were announced at the team's annual banquet on Friday night. Senior running back Lance Dunbar, who became the all-time leading rusher in school history this season, was named the team MVP as he received the Odus Mitchell Award for the third straight year.
Dunbar passed Patrick Cobbs to become the all-time leading rusher in the final game as he also broke the school and Sun Belt Conference record with 313 yards rushing against Middle Tennessee.
Quarterback Derek Thompson won the Steven Ramsey Award for Outstanding Offensive Player while Dunbar also received the Ja'Quay Wilburn Award as the Outstanding Offensive Back.
Linebacker Zach Orr won the Joe Greene Award as the Defensive MVP. Orr was the leading tackler for the Mean Green this season despite missing the final three games with an injury.
Offensive lineman Matt Tomlinson was named the Phillip Armour Award winner and Brandon Akpunku won the Bill Bishop Award as the best defensive lineman. Forlando Johnson won the outstanding linebacker award and Ryan Downing won the Bill Brashier Award for most outstanding defensive back.
Wide Receiver Ivan Delgado and defensive lineman Ryan Boutwell shared the Shawn Kramer Award for the Most Inspirational players this season.
The sellout crowd at the Gateway Center heard from North Texas head coach Dan McCarney as the Mean Green finished out their first season under Coach McCarney winning three of their last five games.
Coach McCarney had the most wins by a first-year head coach at North Texas since 1994 and North Texas finished the season with five wins, the most in a single season since 2004.
2011 North Texas Football Award Winners
Odus Mitchell , Team MVP - Lance Dunbar
Steve Ramsey, Outstanding Offensive Player - Derek Thompson
Joe Greene, Outstanding Defensive Player - Zach Orr
Abner Haynes, Outstanding Special Teams Player - Will Atterberry
JaQuay Wilburn, Outstanding Offensive Back - Lance Dunbar
Phillip Armour, Outstanding Offensive Lineman - Matt Tomlinson
Byron Gross, Outstanding Linebacker - Forlando Johnson
Bill Brashier, Outstanding Defensive Back - Ryan Downing
Bill Bishop, Outstanding Defensive Lineman - Brandon Akpunku
Shawn Kramer, Most Inspirational - Ivan Delgado and Ryan Boutwell
Newcomer of the Year - Cyril Lemon
Scout Team Offense MVP- Marcus Smith
Scout Team Defense MVP - Mike Ladner
