Football Spring Practice Award Winners Chosen
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football coaching staff announced the 2011 Bulldog football team's spring practice award winners upon the conclusion of the team's annual spring drills.
This spring represents the fifth consecutive year that the FSU spring football awards have been issued after they debuted in 2007. The honors are awarded on an annual basis and serve for recognition purposes only as no trophies or plaques are to be distributed to the recipients at this time.
Ferris State held its annual Crimson and Gold Spring Game on April 21 at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich. The visiting team, which was made up of the number one defense and number two offense, topped the home team consisting of the top offense and second defensive unit by a 10-7 count in the contest.
Junior linebacker Zachary Rosman and junior tight end Kevin Guirand were named the recipients of the Most Improved Player Award for showing the most improvement in spring practice.
The Bulldog Award went to sophomore defensive back Jonathan Flynn on defense and junior offensive lineman Taylor Sprague on offense. The Bulldog Award is presented to both an offensive and defensive player who exemplifies and sustains tenacity along with intense play throughout spring ball.
The Newcomer Award, which is given to both an offensive and defensive player in their first year who makes the most progress in spring practice, was handed out to redshirt freshman defensive lineman Michael Perdue. The offensive honor was shared by a trio of players, including redshirt freshman fullback Jamaal Jackson, senior transfer receiver Will Frazier and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Tyler Prybylla.
Finally, senior defensive tackle Muneer Bawayeh and senior receiver Damien Miller were named the winners of the Crimson and Gold Spring Game Players Award. The award honors both an offensive and defensive player who were selected as the most outstanding players in the annual spring gridiron contest.
Ferris State kicks off its 103rd season of varsity competition this fall by hosting Hillsdale in a non-conference matchup on Friday, Sept. 2, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Top Taggart Field. FSU and Hillsdale are not scheduled to play each other as part of the GLIAC schedule this season.
The Bulldogs, who will play an 11-game regular-season schedule, open GLIAC action the following week at Saginaw Valley State in their first road contest on Saturday, Sept. 10, at SVSU's Wickes Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET).
The Bulldogs' 2011 schedule features alternating home and away games throughout the year as FSU will not play consecutive contests either at home or on the road at any point during the campaign.
Ferris State is expected to return nearly 50 letterwinners for the 2011 campaign, including almost 19 full-time starters with nine on the defensive side of the ball and eight coming back offensively along with two kicking specialists.