Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Simeon Page Named MVP, 18 Honored with Bucknell Football Team Awards
5/10/2021 9:15:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Simeon Page earned the Bison Gridiron Club Award as Team MVP, and 18 of his teammates were recognized with Bucknell football post-season awards.
Page, who became the fifth Bison to make four career All-Patriot League Teams, shared the Captains Award with P.J. Barr, Brandon Benson and Rick Mottram. Page's fellow captains each also received an additional individual award.
Page wrapped up his storied career with 160 tackles, 40 tackles for a loss of 219 yards, 26.5 sacks for a loss of 179 yards, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and one interception in 31 career games. He entered his abbreviated senior campaign with 22.5 career sacks, three shy of a Bucknell school record unmatched since 1995; he recorded a sack in each of the Bison's four games to seize sole possession of this record. Along with making four All-Patriot League Teams, the final three of which were First Team nods, he earned a spot on the 2021 Spring Academic All-Patriot League Team for his academic success as an English-Creative Writing major.
Barr took home the John Campana Award as Bucknell's outstanding offensive lineman for the second-straight season while Benson captured the Clarke Hinkle Award as Bucknell's outstanding defensive back or linebacker for the second year in a row. Rick Mottram, the 2021 Spring Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a 2020 Campbell Trophy semifinalist, earned the Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award for commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship.
This year's Tom Gadd Coaches' Award winners were John McGuire, Roger Mellado, Clay Myers, Alex Twiford and Gerrit Van Itallie. Ryan Brida was presented the Theodore S. Ratkus Football Leadership Award while Conner Romango was honored as the C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award recipient.
Nnamdi Unachukwu earned the George Rieu Award as Bucknell's outstanding defensive lineman while Dominic Lyles received the Big Blue Award as Bucknell's outstanding back or wide receiver. Ethan Torres was tabbed as the Special Teams Award winner while Coleman Bennett captured the Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award as Bucknell's outstanding newcomer.
Alex Barnard (Offense), Cooper Kim (Defense) and Ryan Schatzel (Special Teams) were honored as the Scout Team Players of the Year. Brandon Sanders earned the George L. McGaughey Memorial Award for his banner day against Lafayette.
In total, 50 Bison were awarded letters following the 2021 spring campaign, including 14 first timers. Eight seniors—Barr, Benson, Mellado, Mottram, Page, Torres, Twiford and Van Itallie—became four-time letterwinners while six juniors—Grayson Cherubino, Jared Cooper, Micah Dennis, Tarrin Earle, Michael Killiri and Lyles—will enter the 2021 season with the chance to become the same.
Tom Gadd Coaches' Award (Offense): Alex Twiford and John McGuire
Tom Gadd Coaches' Award (Defense): Roger Mellado, Gerrit Van Itallie and Clay Myers
Captains Award: P.J. Barr, Brandon Benson, Rick Mottram and Simeon Page
Theodore S. Ratkus Football Leadership Award: Ryan Brida
    - For character, courage and commitment to team play
C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award: Conner Romango
    - Most inspirational player
Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award: Rick Mottram
     - For commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship
Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award: Coleman Bennett
    - Outstanding newcomer
John Campana Award:Â P.J. Barr
    - Outstanding offensive lineman
Big Blue Award: Dominic Lyles
    - Outstanding back or receiver
George Rieu Award: Nnamdi Unachukwu
    - Outstanding defensive lineman
Clarke Hinkle Award: Brandon Benson
     - Outstanding defensive back or linebacker
Special Teams Award: Ethan Torres
George L. McGaughey Memorial Award: Brandon Sanders
    - Outstanding player in the Lafayette game
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Alex Barnard
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): Cooper Kim
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Ryan Schatzel
2021 Spring Bucknell Football Letterwinners
Sophomore LB Ben Allen (2)
Freshman DL Tyler Alston (1)
Freshman P Ruben Anderson (1)
Senior OL P.J. Barr (4)
Senior TE Simon Behr (3)
Freshman RB Coleman Bennett (1)
Senior S Brandon Benson (4)
Senior QB Logan Bitikofer (3)
Senior OL Alex Bolinger (2)
Senior LB Ryan Brida (2)
Freshman DL Mike Bright Jr. (1)
Senior CB Eric Butler (3)
Freshman DL Connor Carretta (1)
Junior DL Grayson Cherubino (3)
Senior LS Mike Colantuono (3)
Junior RB Jared Cooper (3)
Junior CB Micah Dennis (3)
Junior QB Tarrin Earle (3)
Senior RB Joe Fex (2)
Senior WR Blais Herman (2)
Sophomore CB Eric Holsinger (2)
Sophomore S Brent Jackson (2)
Junior OL Michael Killiri (3)
Sophomore LB Cooper Kim (2)
Senior Simon Krizak (3)
Freshman LB Blake Leake (1)
Freshman S Quentin Lemon (1)
Junior WR Dominic Lyles (3)
Sophomore WR Matt McCreight (1)
Senior WR John McGuire (3)
Senior DL Roger Mellado (4)
Freshman RB Danny Meuser (1)
Senior LB Rick Mottram (4)
Senior DL Clay Myers (3)
Senior LB Simeon Page (4)
Freshman WR Andrew Passero (1)
Senior OL Justis Peppers (3)
Freshman OL Ethan Pitzel (1)
Freshman H Ben Popko (1)
Sophomore CB Gavin Pringle (2)
Sophomore S Jonathan Searcy (2)
Junior WR Brandon Sanders (3)
Freshman OL Casey Stephenson (1)
Senior S Conner Romango (3)
Junior OL Jacob Russ (2)
Freshman WR Christian Tait (1)
Senior K Ethan Torres (4)
Senior TE Alex Twiford (4)
Senior DL Nnamdi Unachukwu (3)
Senior LB Gerrit Van Itallie (4)
Page, who became the fifth Bison to make four career All-Patriot League Teams, shared the Captains Award with P.J. Barr, Brandon Benson and Rick Mottram. Page's fellow captains each also received an additional individual award.
Page wrapped up his storied career with 160 tackles, 40 tackles for a loss of 219 yards, 26.5 sacks for a loss of 179 yards, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and one interception in 31 career games. He entered his abbreviated senior campaign with 22.5 career sacks, three shy of a Bucknell school record unmatched since 1995; he recorded a sack in each of the Bison's four games to seize sole possession of this record. Along with making four All-Patriot League Teams, the final three of which were First Team nods, he earned a spot on the 2021 Spring Academic All-Patriot League Team for his academic success as an English-Creative Writing major.
Barr took home the John Campana Award as Bucknell's outstanding offensive lineman for the second-straight season while Benson captured the Clarke Hinkle Award as Bucknell's outstanding defensive back or linebacker for the second year in a row. Rick Mottram, the 2021 Spring Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a 2020 Campbell Trophy semifinalist, earned the Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award for commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship.
This year's Tom Gadd Coaches' Award winners were John McGuire, Roger Mellado, Clay Myers, Alex Twiford and Gerrit Van Itallie. Ryan Brida was presented the Theodore S. Ratkus Football Leadership Award while Conner Romango was honored as the C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award recipient.
Nnamdi Unachukwu earned the George Rieu Award as Bucknell's outstanding defensive lineman while Dominic Lyles received the Big Blue Award as Bucknell's outstanding back or wide receiver. Ethan Torres was tabbed as the Special Teams Award winner while Coleman Bennett captured the Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award as Bucknell's outstanding newcomer.
Alex Barnard (Offense), Cooper Kim (Defense) and Ryan Schatzel (Special Teams) were honored as the Scout Team Players of the Year. Brandon Sanders earned the George L. McGaughey Memorial Award for his banner day against Lafayette.
In total, 50 Bison were awarded letters following the 2021 spring campaign, including 14 first timers. Eight seniors—Barr, Benson, Mellado, Mottram, Page, Torres, Twiford and Van Itallie—became four-time letterwinners while six juniors—Grayson Cherubino, Jared Cooper, Micah Dennis, Tarrin Earle, Michael Killiri and Lyles—will enter the 2021 season with the chance to become the same.
Bucknell also recognized its 2021 Spring All-Patriot League award winners: Barr (1st), Benson (1st), Cooper (1st), Page (1st, Academic), Gavin Pringle (1st), Sanders (1st), Unachukwu (1st), Logan Bitikofer (2nd), Eric Holsinger (2nd), Lyles (2nd), Van Itallie (2nd) and Mottram (Academic). The Bison set a school record with seven All-Patriot League First Team honorees during the 2021 spring campaign; their 11 total All-Patriot League selections was one shy of their school standard.
Dave Cecchini was voted as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for leading Bucknell to a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game. The Bison, who were picked to finish last in the Patriot League preseason poll, knocked off Pennsylvania rivals Lafayette (38-13) and Lehigh (6-0) to earn a date with defending champion Holy Cross. In addition, Cecchini was selected as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented by STATS to the FCS Coach of the Year, for the second time in his career.
Tom Gadd Coaches' Award (Offense): Alex Twiford and John McGuire
Tom Gadd Coaches' Award (Defense): Roger Mellado, Gerrit Van Itallie and Clay Myers
Captains Award: P.J. Barr, Brandon Benson, Rick Mottram and Simeon Page
Theodore S. Ratkus Football Leadership Award: Ryan Brida
    - For character, courage and commitment to team play
C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award: Conner Romango
    - Most inspirational player
Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award: Rick Mottram
     - For commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship
Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award: Coleman Bennett
    - Outstanding newcomer
John Campana Award:Â P.J. Barr
    - Outstanding offensive lineman
Big Blue Award: Dominic Lyles
    - Outstanding back or receiver
George Rieu Award: Nnamdi Unachukwu
    - Outstanding defensive lineman
Clarke Hinkle Award: Brandon Benson
     - Outstanding defensive back or linebacker
Special Teams Award: Ethan Torres
George L. McGaughey Memorial Award: Brandon Sanders
    - Outstanding player in the Lafayette game
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Alex Barnard
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): Cooper Kim
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Ryan Schatzel
2021 Spring Bucknell Football Letterwinners
Sophomore LB Ben Allen (2)
Freshman DL Tyler Alston (1)
Freshman P Ruben Anderson (1)
Senior OL P.J. Barr (4)
Senior TE Simon Behr (3)
Freshman RB Coleman Bennett (1)
Senior S Brandon Benson (4)
Senior QB Logan Bitikofer (3)
Senior OL Alex Bolinger (2)
Senior LB Ryan Brida (2)
Freshman DL Mike Bright Jr. (1)
Senior CB Eric Butler (3)
Freshman DL Connor Carretta (1)
Junior DL Grayson Cherubino (3)
Senior LS Mike Colantuono (3)
Junior RB Jared Cooper (3)
Junior CB Micah Dennis (3)
Junior QB Tarrin Earle (3)
Senior RB Joe Fex (2)
Senior WR Blais Herman (2)
Sophomore CB Eric Holsinger (2)
Sophomore S Brent Jackson (2)
Junior OL Michael Killiri (3)
Sophomore LB Cooper Kim (2)
Senior Simon Krizak (3)
Freshman LB Blake Leake (1)
Freshman S Quentin Lemon (1)
Junior WR Dominic Lyles (3)
Sophomore WR Matt McCreight (1)
Senior WR John McGuire (3)
Senior DL Roger Mellado (4)
Freshman RB Danny Meuser (1)
Senior LB Rick Mottram (4)
Senior DL Clay Myers (3)
Senior LB Simeon Page (4)
Freshman WR Andrew Passero (1)
Senior OL Justis Peppers (3)
Freshman OL Ethan Pitzel (1)
Freshman H Ben Popko (1)
Sophomore CB Gavin Pringle (2)
Sophomore S Jonathan Searcy (2)
Junior WR Brandon Sanders (3)
Freshman OL Casey Stephenson (1)
Senior S Conner Romango (3)
Junior OL Jacob Russ (2)
Freshman WR Christian Tait (1)
Senior K Ethan Torres (4)
Senior TE Alex Twiford (4)
Senior DL Nnamdi Unachukwu (3)
Senior LB Gerrit Van Itallie (4)
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