Football Awards Presented at Annual Banquet

Jan. 22, 2005

LUBBOCK, Texas - In a vote taken by the Red Raider Football team, linebacker Mike Smith was selected as the squad's Most Valuable Player for the 2004 season. Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach presented the honor to Smith at the annual Football Awards Banquet at The Stadium Club in Jones SBC Stadium on Saturday evening.

Smith, who also was given top position honors with the Linebacker Award, finished the season tied atop the tackles list with 83 and also had seven and a half tackles for loss and a sack. He also broke up four passes, while leading a defensive unit that improved 58 spots in the rankings from 2003 to last season.

Quarterback Sonny Cumbie and defensive end Adell Duckett claimed offensive and defensive MVP honors, respectively. Cumbie established the sixth-best single-season passing yardage total in NCAA history with 4,742 yards and helped lead the program to its third-straight NCAA passing title. Duckett finished his career as the second-leading sacks leader in school history with 28 and also has single-season records in sacks (14 in 2003) and single-season tackles for loss (23 in 2003).

Offensive lineman Cody Campbell and linebacker Geremy Woods shared the Academic Award as both were two of six players to play their final season with bachelor's degrees in hand. Campbell earned his master's degree in finance prior to playing in the Holiday Bowl.

Receiver Trey Haverty entered the season as a backup at the Y receiver position and capped the season as an Associated Press Third-Team All-America selection. Haverty, who walked-on his first season at Tech, was presented the Most Courageous Award after finishing the season with a team-leading 77 receptions, 1,019 yards and six touchdowns.

Although injured during the final four games of the regular season, Nehemiah Glover returned for the bowl game to cap his career at Tech as one of the program's all-time leading receivers, earning him the team's Most Inspirational Award. Glover finished his career in second place on the all-time Tech touchdown receptions list with 21 and third in career receptions with 223.

Receiver David Schaefer and linebacker Ty Linder were named the offensive and defensive Scout Team MVP's, while defensive lineman Calvin Bradshaw was honored with the team's Commitment Award, given annually to the player who has demonstrated a selfless attitude along with a tremendous work ethic.

Center Dylan Gandy, who stepped in a took over the reins at the position for his senior season, was presented with the Most Conditioned Award, while running back Johnnie Mack was named Most Improved. Mack finished the season with eight touchdowns, including five on the ground.

Newcomer honors went to cornerback Khalid Naziruddin, who walked on to the program last January and emerged as the starter at left corner during preseason workouts in August. Naziruddin tied Smith for the team lead with 83 tackles.

Among the position awards, Josh Rangel picked up the Defensive Back Award, after stepping in for an injured Chad Johnson early in the season and logging 54 tackles and three pass breakups. Seth Nitschmann, who complimented Duckett from the opposite end position, recording 44 tackles and four and a half tackles for loss, was given the Defensive Line Award.

Offensively, Jarrett Hicks was presented the Wide Receiver Award after turning in one of the greatest seasons by a receiver in school history. Hicks set a sophomore record with 1,177 receiving yards, which also is tied in second place on the Tech single-season list. His 13 touchdown receptions established a new single-season record, breaking the old mark of 12, set by Lloyd Hill in 1992.

Taurean Henderson earned the Offensive Back Award after leading the team in rushing for the third-straight season and leading the team in scoring with 108 points on 18 touchdowns. He rushed for 16 scores, the fourth-best total in school history, and the most since Donny Anderson's 17 in 1965.

Daniel Loper and Gandy shared the Offensive Line Award. The duo was a key component in the success of the Red Raider offensive attack last season. Loper's performance in the Holiday Bowl against Cal's All-American defensive end earned him a spot on ESPN.com's All-Bowl Team.

Newcomer Danny Amendola exploded onto the scene for the Red Raiders as one of the top punt returners in the Big 12 Conference. Awarded the Special Teams Award, Amendola finished the season with 29 returns for 371 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 12.8 yards per return and finished second in the Big 12.

Other awards included the Captain Award, given annually to the team's four captains. This year's group included Duckett, Glover, Loper and Smith. Clay McGuire was honored with the Dare to Be Great Award, given annually to the player that displays the most improvement physically and transfers it to the field. The squad's 20 seniors also were recognized.

TEAM AWARDS (Presenter)Academic - Cody Campbell, Geremy Woods (Darren Fort)Captains - Adell Duckett, Nehemiah Glover, Daniel Loper, Mike Smith (Kevin Curtis)Commitment - Calvin Bradshaw (Ruffin McNeill)Most Courageous - Trey Haverty (Dana Holgorsen)Most Inspirational - Nehemiah Glover (Team Captains)Dare to Be Great - Clay McGuire (Dave Brown)Offensive Scout Team - David Schaefer (Cody Shipley)Defensive Scout Team - Ty Linder (David Nichol)Special Teams - Danny Amendola (Roy Rodriquez)Most Conditioned - Dylan Gandy (Bennie Wylie)Most Improved - Johnnie Mack (Tommy McVay)Newcomer - Khalid Naziruddin (Dave Emerick)Defensive Back - Josh Rangel (Carlos Mainord)Wide Receiver - Jarrett Hicks (Sonny Dykes)Linebacker - Mike Smith (John Jennings)Offensive Back - Taurean Henderson (Bill Bedenbaugh)Defensive Line - Seth Nitschmann (Charlie Sadler)Offensive Line - Daniel Loper, Dylan Gandy (Kliff Kingsbury)Defensive MVP - Adell Duckett (Lyle Setencich)Offensive MVP - Sonny Cumbie (Mike Leach)Team MVP - Mike Smith (Mike Leach)

Texas Tech University Athletics

Football Awards Presented at Annual Banquet

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David Schaefer

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