COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Donovan Wilson, a senior defensive back from Shreveport, Louisiana, 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 Sunday at the Ford Hall of Champions inside Kyle Field to honor the 2018 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, accountability, 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.
"Dono (Donovan) is what the Aggie Heart Award is all about," Aggie head football coach Jimbo Fisher said. "He has given everything he has to this program and our football team. For him to bounce back from an injury that kept him out all of last season, to accepting a new head coach and coaching staff to being a team leader, Donovan Wilson is very worthy of the Aggie Heart Award."
"This senior class means the world to me," Fisher explained. "They didn't have to buy in, but they did across the board and helped lay a great foundation for our future success. I can't thank them enough."
OVERALL TEAM
OFFENSE AWARDS
DEFENSE AWARDS
SPECIAL TEAMS AWARDS
ACADEMICS
(Award based on attitude and commitment in the classroom, as well as attitude on the field)
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
The Heart Award is presented to a senior who has completed his eligibility and displays the intangibles such as effort, desire, determination, competitiveness, accountability, 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.
"Dono (Donovan) is what the Aggie Heart Award is all about," Aggie head football coach Jimbo Fisher said. "He has given everything he has to this program and our football team. For him to bounce back from an injury that kept him out all of last season, to accepting a new head coach and coaching staff to being a team leader, Donovan Wilson is very worthy of the Aggie Heart Award."
"This senior class means the world to me," Fisher explained. "They didn't have to buy in, but they did across the board and helped lay a great foundation for our future success. I can't thank them enough."
2018 AGGIE FOOTBALL BANQUET HONOREES
OVERALL TEAM
- Heart Award: Donovan Wilson, Sr., DB, Shreveport, LA
- Mr. Versatile Award: Kingsley Keke, Sr., DL, Richmond, TX
- Captains: Erik McCoy, Jr., OL, Lufkin, TX; Trayveon Williams, Jr., RB, Houston, TX; Donovan Wilson, Sr., DB, Shreveport, LA
OFFENSE AWARDS
- Most Improved Award: Kellen Mond, So., QB, San Antonio, TX
- Leadership Award: Erik McCoy, Jr., C, Lufkin, TX; Trayveon Williams, Jr., RB, Houston, TX
- Unselfish Leadership Award: Connor Lanfear, Sr., OL, Buda, TX
- Top Newcomer Award: Jace Sternberger, Jr., TE, Kingfisher, OK
- Attitude Award: Jhamon Ausbon, So., WR, Houston, TX
- Skill Blocker Award: Jhamon Ausbon, So., WR, Houston, TX
- Offensive MVP Award: Erik McCoy, Jr., OL., Lufkin, TX; Kellen Mond, So., QB, San Antonio, TX; Jace Sternberger, Jr., TE, Kingsfisher, OK; Trayveon Williams, Jr., RB, Houston, TX
- Defensive Scout Team Player Award: Kiante McCoy, Fr., LB, Sweetwater, TX
- Most Improved Lineman: Keaton Sutherland, Sr., OL, Flower Mound, TX
DEFENSE AWARDS
- Most Improved Award: Daylon Mack, Sr., DL, Gladewater, TX
- Leadership Award: Donovan Wilson, Sr., DB, Shreveport, LA
- Unselfish Leadership Award: Otaro Alaka, Sr., LB, Houston, TX
- Top Newcomer Award: Bobby Brown, Fr., DL, Arlington, TX
- Attitude Award: Landis Durham, Sr., DL, Plano, TX
- Defensive Playmaker Award: Tyrel Dodson, Jr., LB, Franklin, TN
- Defensive MVP Award: Justin Madubuike, So., DL, McKinney, TX
- Offensive Scout Team Player Award: Justin Dworaczyk, Sr., OL, Houston, TX
- Mr. Dependable Skill Award: DeShawn Capers-Smith, Sr., DB, New Orleans, LA
SPECIAL TEAMS AWARDS
- Most Improved Award: Riley Garner, Sr., LB, College Station, TX; Roshauud Paul, So., WR, Bremond, TX
- Newcomer Award: Jashaun Corbin, Fr., RB, Rockledge, FL; Brian Johnson, Fr., LB, Manvel, TX; Seth Small, Fr., PLK, Katy, TX; Max Wright, Fr., DL, Katy, TX
- Most Impactful Award: Cullen Gillaspia, Sr., FB, Katy, TX
- Special Teams MVP Award: Braden Mann, Jr., P/KOS, Houston, TX
- Mr. Dependable: Austin Frey, Sr., DS, Tomball, TX
ACADEMICS
(Award based on attitude and commitment in the classroom, as well as attitude on the field)
- Freshman: Luke Matthews, OL, Missouri City, TX
- Sophomore: Dan Moore Jr., OL, Beaumont, TX
- Junior: Erik McCoy, OL, Lufkin, TX
- Senior: Keaton Sutherland, OL, Flower Mound, TX
- Community Service Award: Riley Garner, Sr., LB, College Station, TX
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
- Top Conditioned Athlete Award: Kellen Mond, So., QB, San Antonio, TX; Braden White, So., LB, Florence, AL; Trayveon Williams, Jr., RB, Houston, TX
- Offensive Aggie Award: Jhamon Ausbon, So., WR, Houston, TX; Erik McCoy, Jr., OL, Lufkin, TX; Jace Sternberger, Jr., TE, Kingfisher, OK
- Defensive Aggie Award: Otaro Alaka, Sr., LB, Houston, TX; Keldrick Carper, So., DB, Plain Dealing, LA; Kingsley Keke, Sr., DL, Richmond, TX
- Specialist Aggie Award: Braden Mann, Jr., P/KOS, Houston, TX
- Newcomer of the Year: Trevor Wood, Sr., TE, Scottsdale, AZ
- Freshman Aggie Award: Jashaun Corbin, RB, Rockledge, FL; Seth Small, PLK, Katy, TX; Max Wright, DL, Katy, TX