DENTON (1/21/06) The North Texas football team held its annual postseason banquet on Saturday night, with head coach Darrell Dickey announcing the team’s individual award winners.
First-team All-Sun Belt running back Patrick Cobbs was named the Odus Mitchell Award winner as the team’s most valuable player. Cobbs, the 2003 national rushing champion, ran for 1,154 yards in 2005 to finish as North Texas’ all-time leading rusher with 4,050 yards. Cobbs posted the school-record for 100-yard rushing games with 21, and finishes his career tops in rushing touchdowns and attempts as well.
Cobbs, a member of the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football Second Team, also took home the Steve Ramsey Award, given to the most outstanding offensive player.
Sophomore Aaron Weathers was also a multiple award winner, earning the Joe Greene Award for the most outstanding defensive player and the Bill Brashier Award as the team’s top defensive back. Weathers was named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year after hauling in 113 tackles in 2005, the second most by defensive back in the nation.
Johnny Quinn added the Ja’Quay Wilburn Award, given to the most outstanding offensive back, and the Shawn Kramer Award, given to the most inspirational player, to his already impressive resume. The junior was named to the All-Sun Belt second team for the second straight year after leading the Mean Green with 591 receiving yards. Quinn, one of the team’s most valued leaders, also led North Texas with nearly eight yards per punt return.
The Sun Belt’s most bruising blocker, Dylan Lineberry, garnered the Phillip Armour Award as North Texas’ top offensive lineman. A first-team All-Sun Belt selection, Lineberry paved the way for his second straight 1,000-yard rusher in 2005. Lineberry graded out as the Mean Green’s top lineman in 10 of the 11 last games.
The Byron Gross Award for the team’s top linebacker was given to Maurice Holman. The Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt selection racked up 86 tackles and led the team in quarterback hurries. The sophomore earned conference player of the week honors for his 99-yard game-tying interception return for a touchdown against Middle Tennessee.
Jeremiah Chapman was honored with the Bill Bishop Award, given to North Texas’ most outstanding defensive lineman. The sophomore led the Mean Green with nine tackles for loss and four sacks in 2005, earning him a second team All-Sun Belt nod.
Truman Spencer was the recipient of the Abner Haynes Award as the most outstanding special teams player. In his first season in Denton the freshman averaged 38 yards per punt, including 16 downed inside the 20-yard line.
The most underrated members of the Mean Green football team, Isaiah Smith and Isaac Thomas, were given the offensive and defensive Scout Team awards.
The Mean Green will begin spring drills on February 13, with the 2006 season opener at Texas on Sept. 2.
