COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Alex Sezer Jr., a defensive back from Orange, 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 Saturday at the Hall of Champions inside Kyle Field to honor the 2016 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. The Heart Award is voted upon by the players of the football team.
"Alex has played with a huge heart and has been a key component of our overall team," Aggie head football coach Kevin Sumlin said. "As a senior captain, he has led not only by example, but speaks up when necessary. Alex is someone you can always count on. We are very proud he walks the stage next week with his degree. He is very worthy of the Aggie Heart Award."
At 5-9, 180 pounds, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School product has served as a captain each week and has been on every special teams unit. Alex has played in all 12 regular season games on special teams and as a reserve defensive back playing nickel and cornerback. He started in the defensive backfield against New Mexico State. Sezer was also honored as a special teams MVP. He is scheduled to graduate next week with a degree in industrial distribution.
Seniors from the team include: Jermaine Eluemunor, Justin Evans, Avery Gennesy, Claude George, Daeshon Hall, Trevor Knight, Conner McQueen, Boone Niederhofer, Will Paulhill, Edward Pope, Josh Reynolds, Alex Sezer, Jr., Jeremy Tabuyo, Hardreck Walker, and Shaan Washington.
Just before the Aggie Heart Award was presented, head coach Kevin Sumlin presented the Coaches' Choice Award to senior linebacker Shaan Washington from Alexandria, Louisiana. 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.
Washington was a defensive team captain and led the Aggies with 93 tackles this season including six tackles for losses of 31 yards. He also broke up six passes and had eight quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
The offensive MVP award was presented to a potent senior tandem of quarterback Trevor Knight and wide receiver Josh Reynolds, both of San Antonio.
Knight, who played at Reagan High School in San Antonio, transferred to Texas A&M for his senior year of eligibility after earning a business degree from Oklahoma. Knight is in the process of earning an MBA from the Mays Business School. As quarterback, Knight was also an offensive team captain and rushed for 594 yards and 10 touchdowns before a shoulder injury limited his play down the stretch. He threw for 2,122 yards and 16 scores.
One of his favorite targets was wide receiver and MVP Josh Reynolds from Jay High School in San Antonio. Reynolds caught 49 passes for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns including a long touchdown reception of 92 yards. Reynolds caught a pass in every game he played in an Aggie uniform, 37 games entering the bowl contest.
The defensive MVP was shared between senior safety Justin Evans and junior defensive end Myles Garrett.
Evans, from Wiggins, Mississippi, was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award for the nation's top defensive back. He led the Aggies with four interceptions. He was named Nagurski and Thorpe National Player of the Week following the UCLA game when he picked off two passes, broke up another pass and recorded eight tackles. Was also named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his play against Auburn when he recorded 12 tackles and broke up a pass.
Garrett, from Arlington, Texas, was a defensive team captain and was a finalist for the Bednarik Award for the Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-America honors for the second year in a row. Despite being injured for most of the season, Garrett still recorded 8.5 sacks to move his career total to 32.5 sacks in just three seasons. This is the third consecutive year for Garrett to earn Defensive MVP honors from his team.
The 2016 12th Man for all 12 regular season games was Cullen Gillaspia from Katy, Texas. Gillaspia was named a special teams MVP as he played on every unit and ended the season with nine tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered.
A redshirt freshman earned scout team MVP honors for the offense as wide receiver Matthew Kirchner from Plano High School was recognized. The scout team defensive MVP was true freshman linebacker Braden White from Florence, Alabama. Both young men provided great looks for the starting units.
The permanent team captains for the 2016 squad were junior defensive end Myles Garrett from Arlington; senior quarterback Trevor Knight from San Antonio; junior wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones from Sealy; senior defensive back and special teams standout Alex Sezer, Jr. from Orange; and senior linebacker Shaan Washington from Alexandria, Louisiana.
Redshirt freshman defensive back Roney Elam, from Newton, Texas, 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 Shaan Washington.
2016 AGGIE FOOTBALL BANQUET HONOREES:
Heart Award: Alex Sezer, Jr., Sr., DB, Orange, TX
Coaches' Choice Award: Shaan Washington, Sr., LB, Alexandria, LA
Offensive MVPs: Trevor Knight, Sr., QB, San Antonio, TX
Josh Reynolds, Sr., WR, San Antonio, TX
Offensive Captains: Trevor Knight, Sr., QB, San Antonio, TX
Ricky Seals-Jones, Jr., WR, Sealy, TX
Defensive MVPs: Justin Evans, Sr., DB, Wiggins, MS
Myles Garrett, Jr., DL, Arlington, TX
Defensive Captains: Myles Garrett, Jr., DL, Arlington, TX
Shaan Washington, Sr., LB, Alexandria, LA
Special Teams MVPs: Cullen Gillaspia, So., LB, Katy, TX
Alex Sezer, Jr., Sr., DB, Orange, TX
Special Teams Captain: Alex Sezer, Jr., Sr., DB, Orange, TX
Offensive Scout Team MVP: Matthew Kirchner, Fr-RS, WR, Plano, TX
Defensive Scout Team MVP: Braden White, Fr-HS, LB, Florence, AL
Academic Excellence: Roney Elam, Fr-RS, DB, Newton, TX
Weight Room Off-Season MVP: Shaan Washington, Sr., LB, Alexandria, LA
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. The Heart Award is voted upon by the players of the football team.
"Alex has played with a huge heart and has been a key component of our overall team," Aggie head football coach Kevin Sumlin said. "As a senior captain, he has led not only by example, but speaks up when necessary. Alex is someone you can always count on. We are very proud he walks the stage next week with his degree. He is very worthy of the Aggie Heart Award."
At 5-9, 180 pounds, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School product has served as a captain each week and has been on every special teams unit. Alex has played in all 12 regular season games on special teams and as a reserve defensive back playing nickel and cornerback. He started in the defensive backfield against New Mexico State. Sezer was also honored as a special teams MVP. He is scheduled to graduate next week with a degree in industrial distribution.
Seniors from the team include: Jermaine Eluemunor, Justin Evans, Avery Gennesy, Claude George, Daeshon Hall, Trevor Knight, Conner McQueen, Boone Niederhofer, Will Paulhill, Edward Pope, Josh Reynolds, Alex Sezer, Jr., Jeremy Tabuyo, Hardreck Walker, and Shaan Washington.
Just before the Aggie Heart Award was presented, head coach Kevin Sumlin presented the Coaches' Choice Award to senior linebacker Shaan Washington from Alexandria, Louisiana. 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.
Washington was a defensive team captain and led the Aggies with 93 tackles this season including six tackles for losses of 31 yards. He also broke up six passes and had eight quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
The offensive MVP award was presented to a potent senior tandem of quarterback Trevor Knight and wide receiver Josh Reynolds, both of San Antonio.
Knight, who played at Reagan High School in San Antonio, transferred to Texas A&M for his senior year of eligibility after earning a business degree from Oklahoma. Knight is in the process of earning an MBA from the Mays Business School. As quarterback, Knight was also an offensive team captain and rushed for 594 yards and 10 touchdowns before a shoulder injury limited his play down the stretch. He threw for 2,122 yards and 16 scores.
One of his favorite targets was wide receiver and MVP Josh Reynolds from Jay High School in San Antonio. Reynolds caught 49 passes for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns including a long touchdown reception of 92 yards. Reynolds caught a pass in every game he played in an Aggie uniform, 37 games entering the bowl contest.
The defensive MVP was shared between senior safety Justin Evans and junior defensive end Myles Garrett.
Evans, from Wiggins, Mississippi, was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award for the nation's top defensive back. He led the Aggies with four interceptions. He was named Nagurski and Thorpe National Player of the Week following the UCLA game when he picked off two passes, broke up another pass and recorded eight tackles. Was also named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his play against Auburn when he recorded 12 tackles and broke up a pass.
Garrett, from Arlington, Texas, was a defensive team captain and was a finalist for the Bednarik Award for the Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-America honors for the second year in a row. Despite being injured for most of the season, Garrett still recorded 8.5 sacks to move his career total to 32.5 sacks in just three seasons. This is the third consecutive year for Garrett to earn Defensive MVP honors from his team.
The 2016 12th Man for all 12 regular season games was Cullen Gillaspia from Katy, Texas. Gillaspia was named a special teams MVP as he played on every unit and ended the season with nine tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered.
A redshirt freshman earned scout team MVP honors for the offense as wide receiver Matthew Kirchner from Plano High School was recognized. The scout team defensive MVP was true freshman linebacker Braden White from Florence, Alabama. Both young men provided great looks for the starting units.
The permanent team captains for the 2016 squad were junior defensive end Myles Garrett from Arlington; senior quarterback Trevor Knight from San Antonio; junior wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones from Sealy; senior defensive back and special teams standout Alex Sezer, Jr. from Orange; and senior linebacker Shaan Washington from Alexandria, Louisiana.
Redshirt freshman defensive back Roney Elam, from Newton, Texas, 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 Shaan Washington.
2016 AGGIE FOOTBALL BANQUET HONOREES:
Heart Award: Alex Sezer, Jr., Sr., DB, Orange, TX
Coaches' Choice Award: Shaan Washington, Sr., LB, Alexandria, LA
Offensive MVPs: Trevor Knight, Sr., QB, San Antonio, TX
Josh Reynolds, Sr., WR, San Antonio, TX
Offensive Captains: Trevor Knight, Sr., QB, San Antonio, TX
Ricky Seals-Jones, Jr., WR, Sealy, TX
Defensive MVPs: Justin Evans, Sr., DB, Wiggins, MS
Myles Garrett, Jr., DL, Arlington, TX
Defensive Captains: Myles Garrett, Jr., DL, Arlington, TX
Shaan Washington, Sr., LB, Alexandria, LA
Special Teams MVPs: Cullen Gillaspia, So., LB, Katy, TX
Alex Sezer, Jr., Sr., DB, Orange, TX
Special Teams Captain: Alex Sezer, Jr., Sr., DB, Orange, TX
Offensive Scout Team MVP: Matthew Kirchner, Fr-RS, WR, Plano, TX
Defensive Scout Team MVP: Braden White, Fr-HS, LB, Florence, AL
Academic Excellence: Roney Elam, Fr-RS, DB, Newton, TX
Weight Room Off-Season MVP: Shaan Washington, Sr., LB, Alexandria, LA