BATON ROUGE – Running back Leonard Fournette was named the recipient of the Charles McClendon Award as LSU’s most valuable player and was selected as one of four permanent team captains as the Tigers handed out awards here Sunday night at the annual Senior Football Banquet.
Fournette, a consensus All-America and the nation’s leading rusher, was joined as National L Club permanent team captains by offensive tackle Vadal Alexander, linebacker Deion Jones, and punter Jamie Keehn.
Fournette along with Alexander were named the winners of the Percy E. Roberts Outstanding Offensive Player Award, while Jones and safety Jamal Adams claimed the Percy E. Roberts Outstanding Defensive Player Award.
Fournette set the LSU single-season rushing record in 2015 with 1,741 yards to go with 18 touchdowns. Alexander, a second team All-America selection, helped pave the way for Fournette and an LSU offense that led the SEC in rushing with 245.9 yards a game.
Jones paced the LSU defense with a career-high 92 tackles to go with 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and six quarterback hurries. Jones also intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown in a win over Eastern Michigan. Adams finished with 60 tackles and led LSU with four interceptions.
Safety Tommy LeBeau earned the Charles E. Coates Academic Award, which is presented to the football player who has demonstrated the highest commitment to scholarly work in combination with excellence on the football field.
Safety Jalen Mills and defensive end Lewis Neal were presented with the George M. Wallace Award, which is given annually to the players who distinguished themselves by performance, leadership and commitment to the team. Mills, a four-year starter, missed the first five games of the season with a broken ankle but still managed to record 30 tackles and a sack in five games. Neal, in his first full season as a starter, led the Tigers and ranked among the SEC in leaders in both sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (9.5).
The Butch Duhe Award, which is given to those players whose character and contributions to the LSU football team most personify the idea of unselfishness, dependability and commitment, was presented to tight end Colin Jeter, linebacker Kendell Beckwith, center Ethan Pocic, wide receiver Malachi Dupre, and offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins.
Snapper Reid Ferguson and linebacker Duke Riley were named LSU’s Special Teams Player of the Year, while the Jeff Boss Unsung Hero Award was given to tight end Dillon Gordon, tight end J.D. Moore, tight end DeSean Smith, wide receiver Travin Dural, quarterback Brad Kragthorpe, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, and defensive tackle Christian LaCouture.
2015 LSU Football Awards
Alvin Roy Strength and Conditioning Award
CB Tre’Davious White, DE Lewis Neal, S Jamal Adams, C Ethan Pocic, TE J.D. Moore, TE Colin Jeter, LB Christian Pittman, LB Grant Leger, LB Deion Jones, Jalen Mills
Dr. Charles E. Coates Academic
DB Tommy LeBeau
Wild Tiger Club (for special teams performance):
LB Lamar Louis, PK Trent Domingue, LB Duke Riley, P Jamie Keehn, LB Devin Voorhies, RB Derrius Guice, SNP Reid Ferguson, HOLD Brad Kragthorpe, S Jamal Adams, LB Deion Jones, CB Tre’Davious White, LB Donnie Alexander
Special Teams Coaches Award
SNP Reid Ferguson, LB Duke Riley
Wild Tiger Championship Trophy
LB Lamar Louis
Jeff Boss Unsung Hero Award
TE Dillon Gordon, TE J.D. Moore, TE DeSean Smith, WR Travin Dural, HOLD Brad Kragthorpe, DT Davon Godchaux, DT Christian LaCouture
Butch Duhe Award
TE Colin Jeter, LB Kendell Beckwith, C Ethan Pocic, WR Malachi Dupre, OT Jerald Hawkins
George M. Wallace Memorial Award
S Jalen Mills, DE Lewis Neal
Newcomers Award
DE Arden Key, CB Donte Jackson, RB Derrius Guice, OG Maea Teuhema, OL Toby Weathersby, OG William Clapp, CB Kevin Toliver II, FB Bry’Kiethon Mouton, TE Foster Moreau
National L Club Permanent Team Captains (Voted by Team)
Offense: Leonard Fournette, Vadal Alexander
Defense: Deion Jones
Special Teams: Jamie Keehn
No. 18 Award
CB Tre’Davious White
Percy E. Roberts Outstanding Offensive Player Award
OT Vadal Alexander, RB Leonard Fournette
Percy E. Roberts Outstanding Defensive Player Award
LB Deion Jones, S Jamal Adams
Charles McClendon Most Valuable Player Award
RB Leonard Fournette