Dye, Herbert Share Team MVP Award

Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto

12/15/19 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley

Honored at Sunday's postseason banquet, seniors Troy Dye and Justin Herbert joined Marcus Mariota as the only three-time team MVPs in Oregon football history.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Justin Herbert and Troy Dye joined the UO football program as freshmen together in 2016, they led the Ducks from a four-win season all the way to the Rose Bowl together, and at Sunday's Oregon football awards banquet they made team history together as well.

Herbert and Dye shared the Skeie's Award as the Ducks' 2019 team MVP, it was announced at the program's postseason banquet hosted by The Graduate hotel in downtown Eugene. Each shared team MVP honors for the third time in his career, joining 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota as the only players to do so in the 80-year history of the award.

In addition, Herbert received the Elmer Sahlstrom Award as the program's outstanding senior scholar. Earlier in the week, Herbert was in New York City to be awarded the Campbell Trophy as college football's most outstanding scholar-athlete.

Dye shared the Skeie's Award with running back Tony Brooks-James as a freshman in 2016, and he and Herbert shared it as sophomores in 2017. Herbert shared the honor with Ugochukwu Amadi in 2018, and this season Dye and Herbert were back on the awards dais together as seniors.

In addition, Dye on Sunday received the Duane J. Cargill Memorial Award as Oregon's defensive MVP for 2019, giving him top honors on the UO defense all four years of his career. He was also named the Ducks' top linebacker for the year. Sophomore running back CJ Verdell shared the Cargill Award with Dye and was named offensive MVP.

Outside linebacker Mase Funa, cornerback DJ James, receiver Mycah Pittman, defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux and cornerback Mykael Wright shared the Len Casanova Award as freshmen of the year. The Dudley Randolph Clarke Memorial Award as most improved player was shared by running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio, tight end Hunter Kampmoyer, safety Verone McKinley III and outside linebacker Bryson Young.

Senior defensive lineman Drayton Carlberg received the Wilford Gonyea Award as the most inspiring player, and the Todd Doxey Award — for a senior whose contributions best reflect the award's namesake — was shared by offensive lineman Brady Aiello, safety Brady Breeze, safety Nick Pickett and offensive lineman Dallas Warmack.

Junior nose tackle Jordon Scott received the Joe Schaffeld Award as defensive lineman of the year, and sophomore left tackle Penei Sewell received the Ed Moshofsky Award as the Ducks' outstanding offensive lineman, three days after becoming Oregon's first Outland Trophy winner as the nation's best interior lineman.

Center Jake Hanson received an offensive achievement award for playing "a critical role in the effectiveness and consistency of this unit," and nickel Jevon Holland received a similar award for defense. Receivers Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd shared offensive skill player of the year honors, and starting cornerbacks Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir were named defensive backs of the year.

Offensive linemen Shane Lemieux and Calvin Throckmorton shared a career achievement award for starting all 51 games the past four years.

Breeze and linebacker Sampson Niu shared the Gordon E. Wilson Award as special teams player of the year, and Wright was honored with a new award as return specialist of the year. Punter Blake Maimone, a graduate student in accounting, received an award for "commitment to academic excellence."

The Bob Officer Award for contributions despite injuries was shared by tight end Jake Breeland and Carlberg. Receiver Juwan Johnson and defensive lineman Austin Faoliu received the Iron Duck Award for their commitment to the strength and conditioning program.

Unsung Hero Awards were presented to tight end Ryan Bay and running back Travis Dye on offense, linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia on defense and long snapper Karsten Battles on special teams. The developmental-squad players of the year were offensive lineman Sam Poutasi and receiver Jack Vecchi, defensive linemen Kristian Williams and Brandon Dorlus, and — for contributions on special teams — linebacker Nick Wiebe and cornerback Jordan Adeyemi-John.