Bennett Named MVP, 23 Honored at 61st Annual Bison Gridiron Club Awards Banquet

Bennett Named MVP, 23 Honored at 61st Annual Bison Gridiron Club Awards Banquet

12/3/2023 8:48:00 PM | Football

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Coleman Bennett was named the 2023 Bison Gridiron Club Award winner as Team MVP, and 22 other student-athletes were recognized at the 61st annual Bison Gridiron Club Awards Banquet Sunday evening.

Bennett's career culminates with the program's most notable team award after he put together his most impressive season for the Orange & Blue. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native received First Team All-Patriot League honors as a return specialist and Second Team All-League honors as a running back. He racked up 1,377 all-purpose yards, good enough for 12th in the FCS, and his 137.7 all-purpose yards per game ranked sixth.

Bennett scored four touchdowns and posted two 100-yard rushing games. His 541 kick return yards rank 10th in the Bucknell record book for a single season. The sociology major was also named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team and was a William V. Campbell Trophy® Semifinalist.

10 Bison – four offensive players, four defensive players, and two special teamers, received the Tom Gadd Coaches' Award: Ethan Pitzel, Damian Harris, Kyle Dowgin, Ryan Schatzel, Christian Tait, Quentin Lemon, Sean Quarterman, Caleb Gillen, Connor Carretta and Tyler Alston.

Senior offensive lineman Zack Tarburton, who battled through injury throughout the season and remained an integral starter at right tackle, received the Bub Morgan Award for Tenacity. Team captain Blake Leake was awarded the Theodore S. Ratkus Leadership Award for character, courage and commitment to team play. Fellow captain Nick Semptimphelter received the Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award for commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship.

Wide receiver Eric Weatherly took home both the George L. McGaughey Memorial Award as the outstanding player in the Lafayette game and the Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award as the outstanding newcomer. Weatherly led the team with seven touchdown receptions and totaled 603 receiving yards, averaging 14.4 yards per reception during his first season in Lewisburg. He posted two 100-yard games and scored two touchdowns twice. Against the Leopards, Weatherly hauled in 10 catches for 132 yards and two scores.

Quarterback Ralph Rucker received the Keating-Rieu Award as the outstanding player in the Colgate game and the Big Blue Award as the outstanding back or receiver. Rucker broke program records in single-game passing yards (387), single-season passing yards (2,537), single-season passing completions (211), and he tied the single-season passing touchdowns record (21). His game against the Raiders in which he went 33 for 44 for 387 yards and four touchdowns was among the greatest games played by a Bison quarterback and sparked a four-game offensive explosion by the team. Over the last four weeks of the season, Rucker passed for 1,314 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Sophomore center John Ohnegian was named the John Campana Award winner as the outstanding offensive lineman after starting all 11 games, and Mike Bright Jr. earned the George Rieu Award as the outstanding defensive lineman after tying for the team lead in sacks and registering seven tackles for loss with six quarterback hurries.

Second Team All-Patriot League selection Brad Jamison received the Clarke Hinkle Award as the outstanding defensive back or linebacker for leading the Bison and ranking sixth in the Patriot League with 78 tackles.

Earning the Special Teams MVP Award was punter Ruben Anderson. The senior is the only Bison to play in all 37 of the team's games over the last four years, and he finishes his career ranked fifth in program history in career punting average. Offensive lineman Casey Stephenson received the C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award as the most inspirational player. Stephenson, a senior captain, battled through injuries in his career but was a mainstay on the offensive line, starting 19 games for the Orange & Blue.

Lastly, two freshmen and one senior earned Scout Team Players of the Year recognition – wide receiver Sam Milligan (offense), defensive lineman Jack Inserra (defense) and linebacker Tyler Bower (special teams).

63 Bison in total were awarded letters following the 2023 campaign, including 18 first timers. 11 seniors – Tarburton, Alston, Anderson, Bennett, Bright, Carretta, Leake, Lemon, Danny Meuser, Pitzel and Tait – became four-time letterwinners.

Bison Gridiron Club Award (Team MVP): Coleman Bennett
Tom Gadd Coaches' Award: Tyler Alston, Connor Carretta, Kyle Dowgin, Caleb Gillen, Damian Harris, Quentin Lemon, Ethan Pitzel, Sean Quarterman, Ryan Schatzel, Christian Tait
Captains Award: Coleman Bennett, Blake Leake, Nick Semptimphelter, Casey Stephenson

Theodore S. Ratkus Football Leadership Award: Blake Leake
     - For character, courage and commitment to team play
C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award: Casey Stephenson
     - Most inspirational player
Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award: Nick Semptimphelter
      - For commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship
Bub Morgan Award for Tenacity: Zack Tarburton
Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award: Eric Weatherly
     - Outstanding newcomer
John Campana Award: John Ohnegian
     - Outstanding offensive lineman
Big Blue Award: Ralph Rucker
     - Outstanding back or receiver
George Rieu Award: Mike Bright Jr.
     - Outstanding defensive lineman
Clarke Hinkle Award: Brad Jamison
      - Outstanding defensive back or linebacker
Special Teams Award: Ruben Anderson
George L. McGaughey Memorial Award: Eric Weatherly
     - Outstanding player in the Lafayette game
Keating-Rieu Memorial Award: Ralph Rucker
     - Outstanding player in the Colgate game
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Sam Milligan
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): Jack Inserra
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Tyler Bower