Williams named Aggie Heart Award winner at 2015 Texas A&M Football Banquet
Dec 11, 2015 | Football
COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Brandon Williams, a defensive back from Brookshire, Texas, was the heart and soul of the Texas A&M football team and he was named the Aggie Heart Award winner, the highest honor for a Texas A&M senior football player. The award was presented at the annual Texas A&M football banquet held Friday at the Hall of Champions inside Kyle Field to honor the 2015 Aggie football team and especially the senior class.
The Heart Award is presented to a senior who has completed his eligibility and displays the intangibles such as effort, desire, determination, competitiveness, leadership and courage. The Aggie Heart Award winner is the player who extends himself to the fullest every time he dons his football gear, regardless of the situation, be it in practice or a game. All of the awards, including the Heart Award, are voted upon by the players of the football team.
"Brandon has been the heartbeat of this team this year," Aggie head football coach Kevin Sumlin said. "When he arrived on campus he said he wanted to do what he could to help the team win. He has been a running back, a special teams standout and started every game this year at cornerback. One of the hardest workers in the weight room and he will walk the stage next week with his degree from Texas A&M. He is very worthy of the Aggie Heart Award."
The senior captain became the first two-way player since Dave Elmendorf and Ross Brupbacher in 1968 to see action on both sides of the ball when he played running back and defensive back against Nevada. He has started all 12 regular season games at cornerback, played on special teams and recorded 34 tackles and had seven passes broken up.
The senior class of 2015 for Aggie football has a chance to win four straight bowl games, just like the previous senior class. In addition, 12 of the 19-member class has earned an Aggie degree with several others set to graduate this May, 2016.
Seniors from the team include: Brandon Alexander, Taylor Bertolet, Devonta Burns, Tra Carson, Joseph Cheek, Brice Dolezal, De'Vante Harris, Sabian Holmes, Drew Kaser, Nathan Kellman, Ryan Lindblade, Mike Matthews, Sam Moeller, Julien Obioha, Caden Smith, Blaine Townsend, Alonzo Williams, Brandon Williams and Kevin Wilson.
Just before the Aggie Heart Award was presented, head coach Kevin Sumlin presented the Coaches' Choice Award to senior punter Drew Kaser from Strongsville, Ohio. Kaser will leave as the Texas A&M and SEC all-time record holder with an average over 46 yards for his career and has a chance to become the NCAA all-time punter. He is .01 away from Todd Sauerbrun's record of 46.31. This award is voted upon by the Aggie coaching staff and is presented to a senior who has completed his eligibility and who represented the foundation and cornerstones on which Texas A&M Football is established—integrity with mental toughness, respect, trust and loyalty. The winner has inspired the coaching staff and his teammates through a career of service, both on and off of the field, and has given more to the Aggie football program than he takes away.
The offensive MVP was a senior, running back Tra Carson from Texarkana, Texas. Carson topped the 1,000-yard rushing plateau becoming only the 11th Aggie to accomplish that feat and the first running back since Cyrus Gray in 2011. Carson needs 31 yards in the bowl game to reach 2,000 for his career. He was also the fourth leading receiver for the Aggies with 28 receptions this season.
The defensive MVP was a repeat winner from the 2014 banquet, Aggie All-American Myles Garrett from Arlington, Texas. Garrett finished the regular season leading the SEC with 11.5 quarterback sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles, ranking in the national top five in every category. He had 57 tackles, seven quarterback hurries, a blocked punt and an interception. Garrett was named the Bill Willis Award winner by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio, was a finalist for the Lombardi and Hendricks Awards.
The special teams Co-MVPs were senior 12th Man Sam Moeller from San Antonio and senior defensive back Devonta Burns from Arlington, Texas. Moeller walked on to the Aggie football team and this fall earned his fourth letter playing on special teams. He has worn the 12th Man jersey in a record 38 straight games entering the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl and recorded 15 tackles in 2015, blocked a kick, forced a fumble and broke up one pass. Burns was virtually unblockable on kickoff and punt coverage units and posted an impressive 12 special teams tackles.
A redshirt freshmen earned scout team MVP honors for the defense as linebacker Mac Labhart from Dallas was recognized. The scout team offensive MVP was junior transfer running back Keith Ford. Both young men provided great looks for the starting units.
The permanent team captains for the 2015 squad are: senior offensive tackle Germain Ifedi from Houston; sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett from Arlington; senior center Mike Matthews from Missouri City and senior defensive back Brandon Williams from Brookshire, Texas. Senior 12th Man Sam Moeller from San Antonio is the special teams captain.
True sophomore Qualen Cunningham, a defensive lineman from Chandler, Arizona, was honored for his academic excellence and hard work in the classroom. He was presented the award by Director of Football Academics Dan Childs.
Larry Jackson, a four-year Aggie football letterman and the current Director of Sports Performance for Aggie football, presented the weight room off-season MVP award to none other than Brandon Williams.
2015 AGGIE FOOTBALL BANQUET HONOREES:
Heart Award: Brandon Williams, Sr., DB, Brookshire, TX
Coaches' Choice Award: Drew Kaser, Sr., P, Strongsville, OH
Offensive MVP: Tra Carson, Sr., RB, Texarkana, TX
Offensive Captains:
Germain Ifedi, Sr., OL, Houston, TX
Mike Matthews, Sr., C, Missouri City, TX
Defensive MVP: Myles Garrett, So., DL, Arlington, TX
Defensive Captains:
Myles Garrett, So., DL, Arlington, TX
Brandon Williams, Sr., DB, Brookshire, TX
Special Teams MVP: Sam Moeller, Sr., DB, San Antonio, TX, Devonte Burns, Sr., DB, Arlington, TX
Special Teams Captain: Sam Moeller, Sr., DB, San Antonio, TX
Offensive Scout Team MVP: Keith Ford, Jr., RB, Cypress, TX
Defensive Scout Team MVP: Mac Labhart, Fr-RS, LB, Dallas, TX
Academic Excellence: Qualen Cunningham, So., DL, Chandler, AZ
Weight Room MVP: Brandon Williams, Sr., DB, Brookshire, TX
The Heart Award is presented to a senior who has completed his eligibility and displays the intangibles such as effort, desire, determination, competitiveness, leadership and courage. The Aggie Heart Award winner is the player who extends himself to the fullest every time he dons his football gear, regardless of the situation, be it in practice or a game. All of the awards, including the Heart Award, are voted upon by the players of the football team.
"Brandon has been the heartbeat of this team this year," Aggie head football coach Kevin Sumlin said. "When he arrived on campus he said he wanted to do what he could to help the team win. He has been a running back, a special teams standout and started every game this year at cornerback. One of the hardest workers in the weight room and he will walk the stage next week with his degree from Texas A&M. He is very worthy of the Aggie Heart Award."
The senior captain became the first two-way player since Dave Elmendorf and Ross Brupbacher in 1968 to see action on both sides of the ball when he played running back and defensive back against Nevada. He has started all 12 regular season games at cornerback, played on special teams and recorded 34 tackles and had seven passes broken up.
The senior class of 2015 for Aggie football has a chance to win four straight bowl games, just like the previous senior class. In addition, 12 of the 19-member class has earned an Aggie degree with several others set to graduate this May, 2016.
Seniors from the team include: Brandon Alexander, Taylor Bertolet, Devonta Burns, Tra Carson, Joseph Cheek, Brice Dolezal, De'Vante Harris, Sabian Holmes, Drew Kaser, Nathan Kellman, Ryan Lindblade, Mike Matthews, Sam Moeller, Julien Obioha, Caden Smith, Blaine Townsend, Alonzo Williams, Brandon Williams and Kevin Wilson.
Just before the Aggie Heart Award was presented, head coach Kevin Sumlin presented the Coaches' Choice Award to senior punter Drew Kaser from Strongsville, Ohio. Kaser will leave as the Texas A&M and SEC all-time record holder with an average over 46 yards for his career and has a chance to become the NCAA all-time punter. He is .01 away from Todd Sauerbrun's record of 46.31. This award is voted upon by the Aggie coaching staff and is presented to a senior who has completed his eligibility and who represented the foundation and cornerstones on which Texas A&M Football is established—integrity with mental toughness, respect, trust and loyalty. The winner has inspired the coaching staff and his teammates through a career of service, both on and off of the field, and has given more to the Aggie football program than he takes away.
The offensive MVP was a senior, running back Tra Carson from Texarkana, Texas. Carson topped the 1,000-yard rushing plateau becoming only the 11th Aggie to accomplish that feat and the first running back since Cyrus Gray in 2011. Carson needs 31 yards in the bowl game to reach 2,000 for his career. He was also the fourth leading receiver for the Aggies with 28 receptions this season.
The defensive MVP was a repeat winner from the 2014 banquet, Aggie All-American Myles Garrett from Arlington, Texas. Garrett finished the regular season leading the SEC with 11.5 quarterback sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles, ranking in the national top five in every category. He had 57 tackles, seven quarterback hurries, a blocked punt and an interception. Garrett was named the Bill Willis Award winner by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio, was a finalist for the Lombardi and Hendricks Awards.
The special teams Co-MVPs were senior 12th Man Sam Moeller from San Antonio and senior defensive back Devonta Burns from Arlington, Texas. Moeller walked on to the Aggie football team and this fall earned his fourth letter playing on special teams. He has worn the 12th Man jersey in a record 38 straight games entering the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl and recorded 15 tackles in 2015, blocked a kick, forced a fumble and broke up one pass. Burns was virtually unblockable on kickoff and punt coverage units and posted an impressive 12 special teams tackles.
A redshirt freshmen earned scout team MVP honors for the defense as linebacker Mac Labhart from Dallas was recognized. The scout team offensive MVP was junior transfer running back Keith Ford. Both young men provided great looks for the starting units.
The permanent team captains for the 2015 squad are: senior offensive tackle Germain Ifedi from Houston; sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett from Arlington; senior center Mike Matthews from Missouri City and senior defensive back Brandon Williams from Brookshire, Texas. Senior 12th Man Sam Moeller from San Antonio is the special teams captain.
True sophomore Qualen Cunningham, a defensive lineman from Chandler, Arizona, was honored for his academic excellence and hard work in the classroom. He was presented the award by Director of Football Academics Dan Childs.
Larry Jackson, a four-year Aggie football letterman and the current Director of Sports Performance for Aggie football, presented the weight room off-season MVP award to none other than Brandon Williams.
2015 AGGIE FOOTBALL BANQUET HONOREES:
Heart Award: Brandon Williams, Sr., DB, Brookshire, TX
Coaches' Choice Award: Drew Kaser, Sr., P, Strongsville, OH
Offensive MVP: Tra Carson, Sr., RB, Texarkana, TX
Offensive Captains:
Germain Ifedi, Sr., OL, Houston, TX
Mike Matthews, Sr., C, Missouri City, TX
Defensive MVP: Myles Garrett, So., DL, Arlington, TX
Defensive Captains:
Myles Garrett, So., DL, Arlington, TX
Brandon Williams, Sr., DB, Brookshire, TX
Special Teams MVP: Sam Moeller, Sr., DB, San Antonio, TX, Devonte Burns, Sr., DB, Arlington, TX
Special Teams Captain: Sam Moeller, Sr., DB, San Antonio, TX
Offensive Scout Team MVP: Keith Ford, Jr., RB, Cypress, TX
Defensive Scout Team MVP: Mac Labhart, Fr-RS, LB, Dallas, TX
Academic Excellence: Qualen Cunningham, So., DL, Chandler, AZ
Weight Room MVP: Brandon Williams, Sr., DB, Brookshire, TX
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballThe Pulse #12.3 | Here Come the Aggies
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