TicketsDec. 1, 2007
CINCINNATI -- Head Coach Brian Kelly closed the University of Cincinnati's annual football banquet by announcing the 2007 Claude Rost Award would be split between Ben Mauk and Haruki Nakamura. Mauk and Nakamura were the final two honorees at the annual event held at the Tangeman University Center on the UC campus.
A three-year starter for the Bearcats, Nakamura keys a unit that is ranked 12th in the country in scoring defense allowing 18.6 points per game and 16th against the run at 105.7 yards per game. Nakamura leads the Bearcats defense with 86 tackles. The senior safety garnered BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week honors after forcing two fumbles and an interception, along with 11 tackles at USF.
Mauk handled the controls of the Bearcats' offense that set program records in points (441), touchdowns (52), and touchdown passes (32). The quarterback set a UC single-season record with 27 touchdowns. In the regular-season finale, Mauk completed 29-of-42 passes for 431 yards and four touchdowns on his way to his second BIG EAST Player of the Week recognition of the year.
Redshirt freshman Marcus Barnett, who set a school record with 13 touchdown catches this season, was honored as the Newcomer of the Year. Barnett totaled 60 catches for a team-high 845 yards during the regular season.
The team leader with six interceptions, Mike Mickens received the Brig Owens Award. Mickens, a two-time all-BIG EAST choice, has 10 career interceptions and 35 career pass breakups.
A second-generation member of the Bearcats, Dominick Goodman was honored with the Receiver of the Year Award. Goodman leads the Bearcats with 61 catches for 771 yards and has snagged six touchdowns.
Senior offensive tackle Digger Bujnoch was presented the C Club Strothman Award for Academic Excellence. Bujnoch also took home the John Pease Outstanding Lineman Award for an offense that is listed No. 15 nationally in scoring at 36.8 points per game.
A three-year starter at defensive tackle, Terrill Byrd garnered the John Pease Outstanding Lineman Award recognition for the defensive side. Byrd registered 14 tackles for loss and six sacks during the regular season. The junior was an integral part of a unit that set a school record with 11 sacks at Syracuse.
The nation's leading punter, at 46.9 yards per effort, the Special Teams Player of the Year Award was given to junior punter Kevin Huber. Huber set a Cincinnati single-game record with a 59.7 yards per punt average on three kicks against Marshall.
The 2007 Scout Team Player of the Year honors were split between sophomore running back John Goebel and freshman linebacker Alex Delisi. For Goebel, it is his second-straight Scout Team Player of the Year award.
Junior quarterback Dustin Grutza was honored with the Glenn Sample Community Service Award. Grutza completed 39-of-55 passes for 432 yards and four touchdowns in three games the last two games.
The Jim Kelly Coaches Spirit Award went to two players who exemplified the winning attitude of the trophy's namesake. Seniors Mike Daniels and Jon Carpenter shared the honor.
Rated No. 20 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 23 in the most recent Bowl Championship Series Poll, Cincinnati concluded the regular season with a record of 9-3 and is headed to the Papajohns.com Bowl on Dec. 22, 2007 in Birmingham, Ala., to play the University of Southern Mississippi. It marks the second consecutive season in which UC finishes the season in a bowl game and its sixth trip to a bowl game in the past eight years.
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