University of Delaware Seniors Honored at Annual Blue Hen Touchdown Club Banquet; Marcorelle, Devlin, Walters Earn Top Awards
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January 29, 2011
Top Photo: Blue Hen Seniors; Below: Anthony Walters with K.C. Keeler; Bottom: Siddiq Haynes with Keeler (Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell)
NEWARK, Del. -- The 22 seniors on the University of Delaware football team that advanced all the way to the NCAA Division I Football Championship game in January were honored Friday evening at the annual Blue Hen Touchdown Club Awards Banquet held at the Executive Banquet & Conference Center.
Head coach K.C. Keeler introduced each of the seniors in attendance and saluted a group that capped their careers at Delaware by leading the Blue Hens to a record of 12-3, a share of the Colonial Athletic Association team title, and a berth in the national championship where they fell to top-ranked Eastern Washington 20-19 in Frisco, Texas. In February the Blue Hens will be honored as the ECAC Team of the Year and the Meadowlands Lambert Trophy winners.
Delaware sixth-year senior linebacker and defensive end Matt Marcorelle was the big winner Friday night as he earned four awards, including the Co-Outstanding Senior on Defense award, the Winnie Mayer Outstanding Senior at End award, the Captain’s Award, and the 63rd annual Baker Taylor Award for leadership, dedication, and determination.
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Quarterback Pat Devlin was named the Outstanding Senior on Offense, cornerback Anthony Walter shared the Outstanding Senior on Defense award, wide receiver Mark Mackey earned the Newark Elks Club Award as the top scholar-athlete, offensive tackle Kevin Uhll earned the Outstanding Senior Offensive Lineman Award, punter Ed Wagner received the Outstanding Senior Special Teams Player, and tight end and long snapper Zack Reed was the recipient of the Unsung Hero Award.
Devlin, the 2010 ECAC and Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year, and cornerback Tyrone Grant shared the Captain’s Award with Marcorelle.
Devlin and Marcorelle were both unable to attend the banquet as each is training - Devlin in California and Marcorelle in Florida - in preparation for the 2011 National Football League Draft in April.
Marcorelle, the only six-year player and four-year captain in school history, capped an outstanding career in 2010 as he anchored a unit that led the nation in scoring defense and was ranked fifth in total defense, allowing just 12.1 points and 280.7 yards per game. A three-time All-CAA pick, he earned second team honors this fall when he registered 83 tackles and led the team with 10.5 tackles for loss.
Devlin enjoyed a stellar season and was rated among the nation’s top-rated quarterbacks after passing for 3,032 yards and 22 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He earned All-American honors by Phil Steele College Football, Associated Press, and the College Sporting News, was named the FCS National Performer of the Year by CollegePerformance.com, played in the East-West Shrine Game, and was a top 10 finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the top senior quarterback in the country. He also was named to the ESPN/CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic first team.
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Walters shared the Outstanding Defensive Player Award with Marcorelle after an outstanding 2010 campaign that saw him earn All-American honors by the Associated Press, Phil Steele College Football, and the College Sporting News while also being named the FCS Co-Defensive Back of the Year by CollegePerformance.com. A two-time All-CAA selection, he posted 75 tackles, seven interceptions, and eight pass breakups in 2010 and finished his career ranked No. 2 all-time at UD with 31 pass breakups and fifth with 15 interceptions. He will play in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game on Feb. 5 in San Antonio, Tex.
Grant earned second team All-CAA honors in 2010 after collecting 81 tackles, eight pass breakups, and five interceptions. He set a school record with three career touchdowns off interceptions.
Mackey was a four-year letterwinner who was a two-time ESPN/CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic first team selection. An economics and math major, he carries a 3.75 grade point index.
Reed was a four-year letterwinner who was the team’s deep snapper on punts and placements all four years and was a backup tight end. He played a key role in Wagner and kicker Mike Perry each earning All-CAA honors and set a school record himself by playing in 53 career games - never missing a game in four years of action. A fitness management major, he earned ESPN/CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic first team honors this season.
Uhll was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter who anchored an offensive line that helped pave the way for Devlin and 2010 CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year running back Andrew Pierce. As a team, Delaware ranked second in the CAA and in the top 40 nationally for rushing offense, total offense, and scoring offense. He matched Marcorelle and Reed in setting a new Delaware record with 53 career games played.
Wagner, who earned second team All-CAA honors for the second straight year this fall, completed his career as one of Delaware’s all-time leading punters as he averaged 40.3 yards per punt this season to rank third in the CAA and 27th in the nation. He was named the Blue Hen Touchdown Club Special Teams Player of the Year five time this season.
Other seniors recognized at the banquet were linebacker Chuck Anderson, defensive tackle Carl Batson, safety Anthony Bratton, tight end Sam Burrows, defensive back Cody Cipalla, wide receiver Tommy Crosby, offensive lineman Chris Daino, defensive tackle Siddiq Haynes, offensive lineman Chad Horton, defensive tackle Justin Johnson, safety Darryl Jones, linebacker Benard Makumbi, wide receiver Phillip Thaxton, and linebacker Brian Void.
Anderson, Burrows, Cipalla, Daino, Horton, and Void did not play this season due to injuries.
