Team Honors Team Awards
The first four of these awards were established in 1986. The Academic Award was established in 2007. Each award recognizes a Golden Eagle player for his unique contributions to the Golden Eagles during the season.
Golden Eagle / Tech Pride Award
Sonny Allen Leadership Award
Presented to the player who best exemplifies the “Pride” in Tech Pride:
Presented to the most inspirational member of the team:
1986..............James Coney, WR 1987..............Jimmy Isom, FS 1988..............Sam Brooks, WR 1989..............John Webb, FB 1990..............Sam Brooks, WR 1991..............Shane Queen, DE 1992..............Mike Stewart, CB 1993..............Maurice Draine, LB 1994..............Willie Queen, TB 1995..............Chris Madewell, FB 1996..............Robert Taylor, CB 1997..............Andre Caballero, QB 1998..............Brad Taylor, TE T.J. Christian, FB 1999..............Jeff Hunnicutt, LB 2000..............D.J. Bleisath, DE 2001..............D.J. Bleisath, DE 2002..............Burt Shurette, OC 2003..............Danny Wentzel, LB Anton Thomison, WR 2004..............Brett Vavra, LB 2005..............John Jackson, DL 2006..............Anthony Ash, TB 2007..............Larry Shipp, WR/RS 2008..............Derrian Waters 2009..............Derrian Waters
1986..............Kevin Sharpe, DE 1987..............Bruce Hatfield, LB 1988..............Jon Barksdale, DE 1989..............Gerald Dossett, LB 1990..............Jerry Jared, C Travis Wilson, DT 1991..............Ricky Sanders, DT 1992..............Marrio Thomas, LB 1993..............Maurice Draine, LB 1994..............Tracy Russell, C 1995..............Michael Penix, TB 1996..............Adam Wright, DT 1997..............Josh Symonette, ROV Branon Vaughn, DE 1998..............Josh Harris, DT 1999..............Branon Vaughn, DE 2000..............Nick Solomon, TB 2001..............Grant Swallows, QB 2002..............Ben Mebane, LB 2003..............Burt Shurette, OG 2004..............Tommy Harrison, LB 2005..............Shaun Sherrill, OL 2006..............Anthony Ash, TB 2007..............Brandon Barnes, OT 2008..............Scott Eller, OL 2009..............Taron Ryce, DB
Headliner Award Presented to the player most exciting to cover and accessible by the media:
1986..............Nate Hooks, WR 1987..............Lorenza Rivers, RB 1988..............Sam Brooks, WR 1989..............Thomas DeBow, QB 1990..............Bert Browne, QB 1991..............Marshall Hale, WR 1992..............Shane Queen, DE 1993..............Mike Jones, QB 1994..............Michael Penix, TB 1995..............Michael Penix, TB 1996..............Robert Taylor, CB 1997..............Jeff Norman, LB 1998..............Branon Vaughn, DE 1999..............Branon Vaughn, DE 2000..............Chad Evitts, LB 2001..............Grant Swallows, QB D.J. Bleisath, DL 2002..............Derek Lee, WR 2003..............Jason Ballard, RB 2004..............Perry Kyles, CB 2005..............Larry Shipp, WR 2006..............Larry Shipp, WR 2007..............Larry Shipp, WE 2008..............Lee Sweeney, QB Henry Sailes, RB 2009 Lee Sweney, QB
Team Player/ Unsung Hero Award Presented to the non-starter, redshirt or player who doesn’t receive many headlines, yet has made a major contribution to the team through daily effort:
1986..............Eddie Hayward, RB 1987..............Mike Thornton, DB Terry Goodloe, WR 1988..............James Hird, FB 1989..............John Webb, FB 1990..............Mark Wattenbarger, TE 1991..............Jerry Boyd, DB Norman Drake, DE 1992..............Gerald Bentley, WR 1993..............Troy Petersen, LB 1994..............Willie Queen, TB 1995..............Gerald Bentley, WR 1996..............David Clem, C 1997..............Al Bohannon, DE T.J. Christian, FB 1998..............Sant. McKeever, FS 1999..............Zach Reed, DL 2000..............Tommy McDaniel, FS 2001..............Tony Gomez, DT 2002..............Marcus Stone, DL 2003..............Tommy Harrison, LB 2004..............Drew Hixon, WR Curt Williams, S 2005..............Curt Williams, S 2006..............Curt Williams, S 2007..............Curt Williams, FB 2008..............Derrian Waters 2009..............Brendon Fisher, DL
Academic Award Presented to the player with the highest cumulative GPA:
2007..............John Jackson, DT 2008..............Bradley Thompson, DE 2009..............Taylor Askew, DE
Derrian Waters
Offensive Player of the Year 2009..............Tim Benford, WR
Special Teams Player of the Year 2009..............Josh Paz, DB
Defesive Player of the Year 2009..............Dustin Dillehay, DB
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TENNESSEE TECH FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE F 2010