Gators Wrap Up Season With 2013 Football Banquet
Sunday, December 15, 2013 | Football
The University of Florida football team gathered this evening at the Grand Ballroom in the Reitz Union to look back on the 2013 season with its annual awards banquet.
At the banquet, the Gators handed out team awards as voted on by the coaching staff and student-athletes, including the Fergie Ferguson Award, the James W. Kynes Award and the Ray Graves Award.
The Fergie Ferguson Award, which has been given annually since 1954 to the player who displays outstanding leadership, character and courage, was awarded to a trio of seniors – Jeremy Brown, Kyle Koehne and Darrin Kitchens.
Jon Halapio and Dominique Easley were named the James W. Kynes Award winners. The Kynes Award has been presented annually since 1986 to the Gator who best exemplified the mental and physical toughness and “iron-man” determination that Kynes exhibited as a Gator athlete.
The Ray Graves award, given since 1990 to the team's Most Valuable Player as selected by a vote of the entire squad, went to senior wide receiver Solomon Patton.
A complete list of all the award winners can be found below.
2013 Banquet Award Winners
Coaches' Choice Awards
President's Academic Award: Mike McNeely
Gene Elleson Community Service Award: Jaylen Watkins, Mark Herndon and Darrin Kitchens
Iron Gator Strength and Conditioning Award: Solomon Patton
Chris Patrick Courage Award: Solomon Patton, Damien Jacobs, Jon Halapio, Neiron Ball and Ronald Powell
Most Valuable Offensive Scout Team Award: Antonio Riles, Tim Clark and Caleb Brantley
Most Valuable Defensive Scout Team Award: Case Harrison, Adam Lane and Cam Dillard
Most Valuable Special Teams Scout Team Award: Chris Thompson and Ryan Parrish
Players' Choice Awards
Rex Farrior Most Team Spirited Offense: Jon Harrison
Rex Farrior Most Team Spirited Defense: Mike Taylor
Greg See Tenacity Award Offense: Jon Halapio and Jon Harrison
Greg See Tenacity Award Defense: Dominique Easley
Most Valuable Special Teams Player: Jarrad Davis
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Solomon Patton
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Dante Fowler, Jr.
James W. Kynes Award (Best Mental/Physical Toughness): Jon Halapio and Dominique Easley
Ray Graves Award (Team MVP): Solomon Patton
Fergie Ferguson Leadership Award: Jeremy Brown, Kyle Koehne and Darrin Kitchens
Team Captains: Jon Halapio, Jon Harrison, Solomon Patton, Trey Burton and Dominique Easley
