La'el Collins Named MVP at Football Banquet

Article by  Michael Bonnette Photo by:Steve Franz, LSU Athletics Staff Photographer
BATON ROUGE – Offensive tackle La'el Collins was named the recipient of the Charles McClendon Award as LSU's most valuable player here Sunday night at the annual LSU Football Banquet.
Collins, who was recently named the recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the outstanding offensive lineman in the SEC, was one of many Tigers honored as LSU celebrated its 8-4 season and a No. 23 national ranking in 2014. The Tigers will go after win No. 9 on Dec. 30 against Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl in Nashville.
Collins, who returned to LSU for his senior season, earned first-team All-SEC honors this year as well as being a second-team All-America selection by USA Today. Collins led all LSU offensive linemen in both snaps (792) and knockdowns (84.5). He didn't allow a sack all season.
The Percy E. Roberts Outstanding Offensive Award was shared by Collins and fullback Connor Neighbors. Neighbors, along with Collins, played key roles in LSU averaging 219.5 rushing yards per game.
Defensive end Jermauria Rasco and linebacker Kwon Alexander shared the Percy E. Roberts Outstanding Defensive Player award for the Tigers. Alexander led the Tigers with 76 tackles, to go with 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while Rasco had the best year of his career with 63 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 4.0 sacks.
As a unit, LSU's defense led the SEC in total defense with 305 yards per game. The Tigers were also No. 2 in scoring defense in the league (16.4) and No. 2 in pass defense (162.3).
The National L-Club permanent team captains were awarded to La'el Collins and running back Terrence Magee on offense, Rasco and Alexander on defense, and punter Jamie Keehn on special teams.
Safety Ronald Martin and defensive end Danielle Hunter were named the winners of the George Wallace Memorial Award, which goes to the players who distinguished themselves by performance, leadership and commitment to the team. Martin, a second team All-SEC pick, had 66 tackles and two interceptions, while Hunter had 64 tackles, a team-best 12.0 tackles for loss and six pass breakups.
Defensive back Jamal Adams, linebacker Deion Jones, cornerback Tre'Davious White, snapper Reid Ferguson, Keehn, and linebacker D.J. Welter were named the recipients of the Special Teams Coaches Award, while linebacker Duke Riley was named the winner of the Wild Tiger Championship Trophy for accumulating the most production points on special teams coverage units.
Chad LaBorde received the Dr. Charles E. Coates Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.
The Butch Duhe Award, which goes to those players who personify the idea of unselfishness, dependability and commitment to the team, was given to running back Kenny Hilliard, offensive lineman Ethan Pocic, safety Jalen Mills, defensive tackle Quentin Thomas, center Elliott Porter, linebacker Kendell Beckwith and offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins.
Other awards handed out on the banquet on Sunday night include:

Tight end Logan Stokes, tight end Travis Dickson, tight end Dillon Gordon, offensive guard Evan Washington, cornerback Jalen Collins, wide receiver Travin Dural and linebacker Lamar Louis as recipients of the Jeff Boss Unsung Hero Award; Magee, Welter and La'el Collins as the winners of the Alvin Roy Strength and Conditioning Award; and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, running back Leonard Fournette, and Adams as the winners of the LSU Newcomer Award.
2014 LSU Football Awards
Wild Tiger Club (for special teams performance):
LB Duke Riley, DB Jamal Adams, LB Deion Jones, SNP Reid Ferguson, PK Colby Delahoussaye, CB Tre'Davious White, TE Dillon Gordon, P Jamie Keehn, LB Kendell Beckwith, TE Travis Dickson, RB Terrence Magee, CB Ed Paris, DB Rickey Jefferson, TE Logan Stokes, CB Jalen Collins, PK Trent Domingue
Special Teams Coaches Award:
DB Jamal Adams, LB Deion Jones, CB Tre'Davious White, SNP Reid Ferguson, P Jamie Keehn, LB D.J. Welter
Wild Tiger Championship Trophy:
LB Duke Riley
Jeff Boss Unsung Hero Award:
TE Logan Stokes, TE Travis Dickson, TE Dillon Gordon, OG Evan Washington, CB Jalen Collins, WR Travin Dural, LB Lamar Louis
Dr. Charles E. Coates, Academic Award:
DB Chris LaBorde
Alvin Roy Strength and Conditioning Award:
RB Terrence Magee, LB D.J. Welter, OT La'el Collins
Butch Duhe Award:
RB Kenny Hilliard, OL Ethan Pocic, CB Jalen Mills, DT Quentin Thomas, C Elliott Porter, LB Kendell Beckwith, OT Jerald Hawkins
George M. Wallace Memorial Award:
S Ronald Martin, DE Danielle Hunter
Newcomers Award:
DT Davon Godchaux, DB Jamal Adams, RB Leonard Fournette
National L-Club Permanent Team Captains:
Offense: OT La'el Collins, RB Terrence Magee
Defense: DE Jermauria Rasco, LB Kwon Alexander
Special Teams: P Jamie Keehn
Percy E. Roberts Outstanding Offensive Player Award:
OT La'el Collins, FB Connor Neighbors
Percy E. Roberts Outstanding Defensive Player Award:
DE Jermauria Rasco, LB Kwon Alexander
Charles McClendon Most Valuable Player Award:
OT La'el Collins

Football Trio Garners All-SEC Freshman Team Honors

Article by Matt Dunaway. Photo by Madeline VeZain, LSU Photography Intern

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – LSU safety Jamal Adams, wide receiver Malachi Dupre and running back Leonard Fournette earned spots on the All-SEC Freshman Team as announced Thursday by the league office.

The teams were voted upon by the SEC's 14 head coaches who were unable to vote for their own players. LSU's three selections were tied with Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee for the conference lead. The Tigers have had 20 players secure All-SEC Freshman-Team accolades during the Les Miles era.

Adams collected 56 tackles which is sixth on LSU's defense, and he started two of the final three games of the season. He garnered eight tackles on two occasions, most recently at Texas A&M. Adams also was a valuable member of LSU's special teams where he tallied a team-leading nine stops. He was named a captain for the ULM game, the first freshman to earn that honor under Miles. 

Dupre hauled in 14 receptions for 318 yards and five touchdowns. The five TDs are the most for a LSU true freshmen receive since Michael Clayton registered six scores in 2001. He caught a season-high four passes for a season's best 120 yards and two touchdowns against Mississippi State. He was the first LSU player to catch two-plus TDs during a SEC opener since Josh Reed at Auburn in 2000 and is one of 10 freshmen nationally with multiple TD catches in the same game.

Fournette, a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree, amassed a team-leading 891 rushing yards on 176 carries and eight rushing touchdowns. His 891 yards are third most by a LSU freshman only behind Dalton Hilliard (1982 – 901 yards) and Justin Vincent (2003 – 1,001 yards). Fournette registered a quartet of 100-yard rushing games highlighted by 146 yards at Texas A&M. He also serves as LSU's primary kickoff returner and averages 126.8 all-purpose yards per game which ranks fourth in the SEC.

No. 22 LSU will make its first trip to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 when the Tigers face Notre Dame in Nashville, Tenn. Kickoff from LP Field is slated for 2 p.m. CT.

Tickets to the bowl game are on sale at www.LSUtix.net. Tickets in the lower section of LP Field, which is the home of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, are $85, while club level seats are $120. All tickets include a processing fee.

For more information, call the LSU Ticket Office at 225-578-2184.