At a banquet held Sunday afternoon for the IU football team, IU Coach Kevin Wilson not only recognized the 20 players leaving the program, but gave out awards in seven other categories. They included:
Special Ops Player of the Year
Greg Heban, sophomore cornerback. Heban was third on the team in tackles with 62 total, while leading the team in interceptions with two. Both interceptions were against Virginia in the second game of the season.
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year
Isaiah Roundtree, redshirt freshman running back. The Morehead State University transfer from Indianapolis was named Scout Team Player of the Week numerous times this season and looks to find a spot in the running back rotation next season.
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year
John Laihinen, redshirt freshman defensive end. The 6-foot-4-inch, 240 pound Mequon, Wisc. native was named Scout Team Player of the Week once last year and continued his strong performance in practice this season.
Outstanding Walk-On Player of the Year
Collin Rahrig, redshirt freshman offensive lineman. Wilson expressed faith in Rahrig all season long, but especially when junior center Will Matte suffered an injury midseason. Rahrig filled in for Matte for three games while Matte was sidelined, then started at right guard for the final two games of the season.
Academic Excellence
Junior defensive tackle Adam Replogle, Heban and senior quarterback Teddy Schell. Both Replogle and Heban earned spots on the Capital One Academic All-District V team this season. Replogle is a criminal justice major, Heban is an exercise science major and Schell is double majoring in English and philosophy.
Teammate of the Year
Leon Beckum, senior linebacker. Despite suffering a knee injury in the opening game of the season against Ball State, Beckum was fourth on the team in tackles with 53 total. He also compiled 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. When Co-Defensive Coordinator Mike Ekeler asked Beckum what he would give to have taken the field in IU's home opener against South Carolina State, Beckum said he would have given his soul. He is good friends with fellow senior linebacker Jeff Thomas and both Ekeler and multiple linebackers said he is an important component to the linebacking corps.
Team Captains
Senior tight end Max Dedmond and Replogle. Dedmond played in all 12 games and totaled seven catches for 75 yards. He contributed to the blocking scheme that allowed IU rushers to run for 1,932 yards, an improvement from 1,204 last season. Replogle led the team with four sacks and was second with seven tackles for loss this season.
