Making sense of the 2019 Miami football team awards
The Miami football team gave out their awards for the 2019 season on Sunday. One award, in particular, was tough to ponder.
The awards earned by Miami football players ranged from expected ones like Team, offensive, defensive and special teams MVPs to awards for toughness, best walkon and newcomer of the year. Several of the awards were named for former Miami players and others were sponsored.
The awards mostly were handed out as expected. One could use some explaining to the thought process behind it. The major award winners were linebackers Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney as the team and defensive MVPs and offensive lineman Delone Scaife as the offensive MVP. That was the head-scratcher.
Scaife and center Corey Gaynor were the Hurricanes’ best offensive linemen in 2019. Scaife was the most versatile offensive lineman on the Miami football team. The sophomore started the season-opening loss to Florida at right guard before moving back to right tackle for the remainder of the 2019 season.
Scaife started seven games at right tackle in 2019. He was a critical part of the Miami offensive line. The Hurricanes needed Scaife’s versatility, but the offensive line was inconsistent throughout the 2019 season and at times porous. Miami finished 127th in the nation with 47 sacks allowed this season.
Tonight's Football Award Show honored the 2019 senior class while also recognizing individuals who contributed on and off the field this season. pic.twitter.com/QhT0CD3tSB
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) December 16, 2019
A more logical choice for offensive MVP would have been running back DeeJay Dallas, tight end Brevin Jordan or wide receiver K.J. Osborn. Dallas ran for 694 yards and eight touchdowns and added 140 yards on 14 receptions with two more TDs. He was lost for the season with a dislocated elbow against FIU.
Jordan has also missed two late-season games. He is expected back next week for the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech. The sophomore from Las Vegas leads Miami with 495 receiving yards on 35 receptions with two TDs. Osborn leads Miami with 45 receptions and five receiving TDs with 491 receiving yards.
- Kelly UTough Award: quarterback N’Kosi Perry and defensive end Trevon Hill
- Jack Harding Team Most Valuable Player: linebacker Shaq Quarterman
- Defensive Most Valuable Player: linebacker Michael Pinckney
- Offensive Most Valuable Player: offensive lineman Scaife
- Special Teams Most Valuable Player: punter Lou Hedley
- Captains of the Year: Quarterman, Dallas, receiver K.J. Osborn, Pinckney
- Hard Hitter: center Corey Gaynor, safety Amari Carter
- Plumer Award for Leadership, Motivation & Spirit: receiver Mike Harley Jr.
- R. Dale Melching Leadership: Dallas, defensive tackle Pat Bethel and special teams standout Jimmy Murphy.
- Unsung Hero: Jordan, striker Romeo Finley, punter/holder Jack Spicer
- Albert Bentley Most Valuable Walk-Ons: Ryan Ragone and Michael Parrott
- Newcomer of the Year: offensive lineman Jakai Clark, defensive end Greg Rousseau, defensive back Christian Williams
- Community Service Man of the Year: Zach McCloud
- Walt Kichefski Hurricane Award (commitment, consistency, hard work ethic): K.J. Osborn and safety Robert Knowles
- Training Room Comeback Player of the Year: Rousseau
- Strength Training Athletes of the Year: Osborn, cornerback Al Blades, Spicer
- Scout Team Players of the Year: Ryan Rizk, Shawn Walker Jr. and Joshua Neeley, Suleman Burrows
- Mariutto Family Scholar-Athlete Award: Parrott.
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Pinckney ahead of Rosseau was the defensive MVP was also questionable. The senior LB had 15 more tackles, but Rousseau finished with 18 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. The redshirt freshman led the ACC in both of those categories. Pinckney had 12.5 and five. D.J. Ivey led the Miami defense with three interceptions.