BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University football team announced its team awards at its annual season ending banquet in the Strosacker Hall on the BW campus.
Third-year Head Coach Jim Hilvert and his staff recognized a total of 159 student-athletes for their efforts during the season. 11 players were honored with varsity awards and three student-athletes were recognized for contributions on the scout team.
The 11 top honorees were senior defensive back Jordyn Johnson (Akron/North), senior defensive back Kyle Kelly (Wadsworth/St. Vincent-St. Mary), senior linebacker Josh Liberati (Lisbon/David Anderson, senior defensive back Raheem Wilson (Tampa, Fla./Gaither), junior defensive lineman Taino Arocho (Holiday, Fla./Anclote), junior linebacker Brenton Miller (Carrollton) junior wide receiver Iyan Mitchell (Tampa, Fla./Robinson), junior offensive lineman Patrick Simon (Olmsted Falls), sophomore running back Jon Murray, Jr. (Cincinnati/Withrow), sophomore linebacker Nick Pankow (Medina) and freshman placekicker Dean Sarris (Canton/GlenOak)
The three scout team award winners were sophomore wide receiver Jason Hyduke (Painesville/Lake Catholic), freshman wide receiver Michael Johnson (Girard) and freshman defensive lineman Harvey Rauch (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair).
J. Johnson was named the Outstanding Defensive Back Award recipient. He is an All-Ohio Athletic Conference selection and a 2019 team captain. Johnson appeared and started in all 10 games and led the squad and was tied for sixth in Ohio Athletic Conference with eight pass breakups. He was third on the team with a career-high 59 tackles. Johnson also recorded one forced fumble. For his career, Johnson appeared in 28 games and recorded 105 tackles, 20 pass breakups, three interceptions, 1.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
Kelly was selected as the Co-Lee Tressel Academic Award recipient and earned the honor for the third consecutive season. He is a two-time College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American and a three-time Academic All-OAC selection. Kelly has carried a 4.0 grade point average every semester and will attend physician's assistant graduate school at BW. In 2019, he appeared in nine games and recorded 14 tackles and one pass breakup. Kelly appeared in 30 career games and recorded 53 tackles, six pass break ups and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Liberati was named the Eloise Tressel J-A-C-K-E-T Award recipient. He is a two-time team captain. Liberati led the team for the second straight season and was third in the Ohio Athletic Conference with a career-best 94 tackles. He was tied for the team lead with a career-high two interceptions and was second on squad with a career-best two fumble recoveries. Liberati also recorded a career-high 6.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and 1.5 quarterback sacks. In his career, Liberati appeared in 29 games and recorded 105 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, 4.5 quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
Wilson was selected as Roy Seitz Yellow Jacket Award recipient. He appeared in the final five games of season after returning from an injury and recorded four tackles. Wilson appeared 18 career games and recorded 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one interception.
Arocho was named the Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award recipient. He is a 2019 All-Ohio Athletic Conference second-team selection. Arocho, who appeared in all 10 games, led the team with a career-high 11 tackles for loss and led the squad and was tied for sixth in the OAC with a career-best 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also recorded a career-high 47 tackles and four quarterback hurries. For his career, Arocho has appeared in 27 games and has recorded 84 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, nine quarterback sacks and eight quarterback hurries.
Miller was selected the Outstanding Linebacker Award recipient for the second year and the Ray E. Watts Most Valuable Defensive Player recipient. He is a 2019 All-Ohio Athletic Conference second-team selection. Miller appeared and started in all 10 games and tied for the team lead with a career-best two interceptions. He was fourth on the team with a career-high 56 tackles. Miller also recorded seven quarterback hurries, 5.5 tackles for loss, one quarterback sack, one pass breakup and one blocked kick. For his career, Miller has appeared in 29 games and recorded 138 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries, six quarterback sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
Mitchell was named the Outstanding Receiver Award recipient. He is a 2019 All-Ohio Athletic Conference second-team selection. Mitchell led the team and was fourth in the OAC with a career-best 809 yards, led the squad and was sixth in the league with a career-best 46 receptions and led the team and was tied for 10th in the OAC with a career-high seven touchdowns. He also led the squad with career-highs in kick returns with 19 and kick return yards with 350 yards. In addition, Mitchell carried the ball nine times for 37 yards with one touchdown. He has appeared in 13 career games and has caught 49 passes for 865 yards with seven touchdowns. Mitchell has 13 career rushes for 44 yards with one touchdown. He has also returned 19 career kickoffs for 350 yards and one punt for 17 yards.
Simon was selected as the Dick Van Alman Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award recipient and the Ray E. Watts Most Valuable Offensive Player Award recipient. He is a 2019 All-Ohio Athletic Conference second-team selection, a two-time Academic All-OAC pick and a 2019 team captain. Simon appeared and started in all 10 games on a Yellow Jacket team that averaged 391.4 yards per game and 32.3 points per contest. In his three seasons, Simon has appeared and started in 30 games at every spot on the offensive line in which BW has averaged 426.8 yards per game and 34.2 points per contest.
Murray, Jr. was selected as the Outstanding Offensive Back Award recipient for the second straight season. He is a two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference second-team selection. Murray, Jr. led the team for the second straight season and was sixth in the OAC with career-bests in rushing yards with 757 and carries with 170. He led the squad and was sixth in the OAC with eight touchdowns. Murray, Jr. also Had career-highs in receiving with 119 yards and 15 receptions. In his career, Murray, Jr. has appeared in 20 games and has rushed for 1,480 yards on 298 carries with 17 touchdowns. He has caught 24 passes for 210 yards with one touchdown.
Pankow was named the Co-Lee Tressel Academic Award recipient. He carries a perfect 4.0 grade point average in management. Pankow, who is a Dean's List student, appeared in all 10 games in his first season in the Brown and Gold. He was second on the team and 12th in the Ohio Athletic Conference with 78 tackles. Pankow also recorded six tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and recovered one fumble.
Sarris was selected as the Most Valuable Special Teams Player Award recipient. He set a school-record and a George Finnie Stadium record when he nailed a 49-yard field vs. John Carroll University on November 16. Sarris, who appeared in all 10 games, led the team with 58 points as he converted 37-of 38 extra points and 7-of-11 field goals. He recorded 56 kickoffs for 3,277 yards with 16 touchbacks. Sarris recorded his first career tackle vs. Capital University on October 5.
Hyduke was selected as the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year Award recipient. M. Johnson was named the Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Year recipient. Rauch was selected the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year Award recipient.
BW finished the 2019 campaign with an overall record of 7-3 and third place finish in the OAC with a mark of 6-3. The Yellow Jackets will open the 2020 season at home on Saturday, September 5 with their lone non-conference game against Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College.