Marine Named MVP, 21 Honored at Bucknell Football Awards Banquet

Photo by: Jon Lambert

Marine Named MVP, 21 Honored at Bucknell Football Awards Banquet

12/2/2018 7:22:00 PM | Football

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bryan Marine earned the Bison Gridiron Club Award as Team MVP, and 21 of his teammates were recognized with awards, at the 57th annual Bison Gridiron Club Awards Banquet on Sunday evening in the Terrace Room inside the Langone Center.

Marine, who also received the Keating-Rieu Memorial Award as the outstanding player of the Colgate game and shared the Captains Award with Pat Finn, Joe Lauro and Alex Pechin, was previously selected as a William V. Campbell Trophy® semifinalist and named to the All-Patriot League Second Team and Academic All-Patriot League Team.

Marine was one of four Bison who took home multiple awards at the Bison Gridiron Club Awards Banquet, joining his fellow senior captains. The banquet was attended by more than 200 members of the Bucknell football team and supporters of the program.

Marine registered 85 tackles (69 solo), three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2018. The cornerback also served as Bucknell's primary return man, posting the third-most punt return yards (296) and seventh-most kickoff return yards (603) in school history. He finished his career with 242 tackles (192 solo), 8.5 tackles for a loss, 42 passes defended, 10 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 40 career games, 35 of which were starts; he is one of only 12 Bison who reached the double digits in career interceptions and will graduate tied for eighth in the Bucknell annals.

In addition, Marine was among the FCS leaders in combined kick returns, solo tackles and punt returns as a senior. At the end of the regular season, he stood fourth in combined kick returns (899), fifth in solo tackles and solo tackles per game (6.3) and 17th in punt returns (11.0). He was also the Patriot League leader in combined kick returns, solo tackles and solo tackles per game.

This year's Tom Gadd Coaches' Award winners were Finn, Alex Twiford, Drew Newcomb and Chanse Riley. Finn, who was previously named to the All-Patriot League Second Team, also took home the John Campana Award as Bucknell's outstanding offensive lineman. The center started 10 of the Bison's 11 games, missing one due to injury. A leader in the trenches and a force to be reckoned with up the middle, he started 20 of Bucknell's 22 games over the past two campaigns after spending his first two years as a reserve. In 2018, Twiford started 10 of Bucknell's 11 games at tight end, posting 94 yards on 16 catches and making an impact as a blocker.

Despite battling injuries over the course of the season, Newcomb and Riley were key senior leaders for the Bison at safety. Newcomb, the lone Lewisburg native on the roster, returned from breaking his hand in the 2018 opener to start three of Bucknell's final six games while Riley made four starts despite missing chunks of time to injury.

In 2018, Bucknell's Leadership Award was renamed to honor Theodore S. Ratkus '65. It will be awarded annually to the member of the football team who best exemplifies the highest qualities of character, courage and commitment to team play. In addition, the honoree will display enthusiasm for the game and fine sportsmanship so characteristic of Ratkus. The first recipient of the renamed award was Brandon Sanders, who led the Bison in receptions (44) and receiving yards (516) while starting five of his 10 appearances. His impressive freshman resume also included a rushing touchdown and 73 yards on five kickoff returns.

Joe Schiano was honored as Bucknell's most inspirational player with the C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award. As a senior, he overcame injuries that held him out of the lineup for his first three years to become a vital member of the defensive line. He played in all 11 games, starting three, and totaled 14 tackles (11 solo), 1.5 tackles for a loss and one sack. Most notably, his strip sack against William & Mary led to a Bison touchdown.

Matt Robinson received the Moxie Award for special contribution to the program. The senior class leader with 41 career games played, he seized a starting spot at linebacker as a senior after spending his first three years on special teams. He finished 2018 with 74 tackles (37 solo), 1.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and three forced fumbles, all new career-best totals.

Fisayo Oluleye captured the Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award for commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship. Like Robinson, he spent his first three years at Bucknell primarily on special teams; a starting cornerback as a senior, he posted 20 tackles (16 solo), three tackles for a loss and two interceptions, one of which he returned 54 yards for a score against Sacred Heart.

Jared Cooper and Grayson Cherubino shared the Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award as Bucknell's outstanding newcomers. Cooper, who was thrust into a starting role as a freshman after the two running backs ahead of him on the preseason depth chart went down with injuries, rushed for 525 yards and two touchdowns on 161 carries in 10 games, nine of which he started. He added 287 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 38 receptions. Cherubino made a big impact on the Bison defensive line, starting six of his 11 appearances. He finished his strong freshman campaign with 35 tackles (17 solo), seven tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

Alan Butler, also an All-Patriot League Second Team honoree, was recognized as Bucknell's outstanding back or receiver with the Big Blue Award. The lone Bison to start all 22 games over the past two seasons, he set career-best totals in receiving yards (297) and touchdowns (3) as a senior; he will graduate with 966 yards and five touchdowns on 85 catches, starting 31 of his 39 career games.

Roger Mellado earned the Roger Rieu Award as Bucknell's outstanding defensive lineman. The sophomore started all 11 games at defensive end, running his starting streak to 17 games. He finished the year with 33 tackles (11 solo), 5.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries while emerging as a key anchor on the defensive line.

For the second-straight year, Lauro captured the Clarke Hinkle Award as Bucknell's outstanding defensive back or linebacker. He led the team with a career-best 86 tackles (54 solo) and also recorded 3.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in his 11 starts. Known for his hard-hitting play, he will graduate with 235 tackles (150 solo), 8.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 38 career games, 28 of which were starts.

Pechin was named the Special Teams MVP for the second year in a row. One of the finest punters in Bucknell history, he stood first in the FCS in punts (81) and punting yards (3,606) and fourth in punting average (44.5) at the end of the regular season; the only punter in the FCS's top five with at least 65 punts, he broke the school record in punts while posting the second-best punting average in Bison history.

A three-time All-Patriot League First Team selection and two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Pechin owns Bucknell's record in career punting average (43.7) and its top-three single-season averages of 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); he also booted the third- (71) and fifth- (70) longest punts in school history over the course of the 2018 campaign.

Logan Bitikofer earned the George L. McGaughey Memorial Award as the outstanding player of the Lafayette game after completing 19 of 27 passes for a team season-best 267 yards and three touchdowns. Sterling Deary and Rick Mottram shared the Sledge Hammer Award while Dominic Lyles, Ryan Brida and Maanik Lal were honored as the Scout Team Players of the Year.

In total, 62 Bison were awarded letters in 2018, including 26 first timers. Eight seniors—Butler, Alex Jordan, Lauro, Marine, Oluleye, Andrew Owers, Pechin and Robinson—became four-time letterwinners while five juniors—Justin Bethea, John Chiarolanzio, Sam Chitty, Jon Fox and John Hunt—will enter the 2019 campaign with the chance to become the same.

Bucknell also recognized its 2018 All-Patriot League award winners: Page (1st), Pechin (1st, Academic), Butler (2nd), Finn (2nd), Marine (2nd, Academic) and Mottram (Academic).

Bison Gridiron Club Award (Team MVP): Bryan Marine
Tom Gadd Coaches' Award (Offense): Pat Finn and Alex Twiford
Tom Gadd Coaches' Award (Defense): Drew Newcomb and Chanse Riley
Captains Award: Pat Finn, Joe Lauro, Bryan Marine and Alex Pechin
Theodore S. Ratkus Football Leadership Award: Brandon Sanders
     - For character, courage and commitment to team play
C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award: Joe Schiano
     - Most inspirational player
Moxie Award: Matt Robinson
     - For special contribution to the Bucknell football program
Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award: Fisayo Oluleye
      - For commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship
Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award: Jared Cooper and Grayson Cherubino
     - Outstanding newcomer
John Campana Award: Pat Finn
     - Outstanding offensive lineman
Big Blue Award: Alan Butler
     - Outstanding back or receiver
George Rieu Award: Roger Mellado
     - Outstanding defensive lineman
Clarke Hinkle Award: Joe Lauro
      - Outstanding defensive back or linebacker
Special Teams Award: Alex Pechin
George L. McGaughey Memorial Award: Logan Bitikofer
     - Outstanding player in the Lafayette game
Keating-Rieu Memorial Award: Bryan Marine
     - Outstanding player in the Colgate game
Sledge Hammer Award: Sterling Deary and Rick Mottram
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Dominic Lyles
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): Ryan Brida
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Maanik Lal