University of Memphis Athletics
Lynch Named Tigers’ MVP
Dec 06, 2015 | Football
2015 season celebrated at Memphis Football Banquet
On the day in which the Tigers learned their postseason destination is the Birmingham Bowl, the team celebrated the 2015 regular season Sunday during the University of Memphis Football Banquet.
Memphis junior quarterback Paxton Lynch was named the DeAngelo Williams Most Valuable Player of the Year to highlight individual awards given during the evening. During the 2015 season Lynch set individual records for passing yards (3,670) and touchdown passes (28) while completing 69 percent of his passes.
Lynch was one of three players recognized as Top Tigers, who all had record-setting seasons. Senior tight end Alan Cross and junior place-kicker Jake Elliott were also recognized as Top Tigers.
In addition to his season passing records, Lynch became the first Memphis quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons and set a career mark with 12, 300-yard games. Lynch tied an NCAA record with seven, first-half touchdowns in the Tigers' 63-0 shutout of SMU in the final game of the regular season.
Cross added to his touchdown reception total during the 2015 season, extending his Memphis record for most touchdowns by a tight end. He currently has scored 14. One of three players to surpass the 1,000 career receiving yard mark during the season, Cross has notched 1,050 receiving yards during his four-year career.
Elliott has established a new school record for points kicking in a season with 128 points. He has converted a school record 62 PATs this season and with 22 field goals made in 2015, would tie a school record for most field goals in a season with one in the Tigers' bowl game.
With another field goal, Elliott would tie the record set by Joe Allison in 1992. Allison was the first winner of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and Elliott was not in attendance at the banquet. Instead, he began a full week of festivities as a finalist for this year's Groza Award in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Atlanta.
Also during the Memphis Football Banquet, Elliott was named the recipient of the Joe Allison Special Teams Player of the Year Award.
Freshmen Hayden Ferrari and Tony Pollard were named the Glenn Jones Scout Team Players of the year.
Senior wide receiver Mose Frazier was named the Isaac Bruce Offensive Player of the Year. Frazier leads the Tigers with 66 catches for 750 yards and four touchdowns in 2015. For his career, Frazier ranks 10th in receiving yards at Memphis with 1,552.
Senior linebacker Leonard Pegues was named the John "Bull" Bramlett Defensive Player of the Year. Pegues will head into the 2015 Birmingham Bowl as the Tigers' leading tackler with 65 tackles. For the season, he led the Tigers with seven tackles for loss, sealed the win over Cincinnati with an interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown during the season.
Cross and senior linebacker Wynton McManis received the True Tiger Award. The recognition honors players "who represent what the program."
Also, John Stacy and Jeff Kupper were named recipients of the Highland Hundred's Bobby Wharton Labor of Love Award.
Memphis junior quarterback Paxton Lynch was named the DeAngelo Williams Most Valuable Player of the Year to highlight individual awards given during the evening. During the 2015 season Lynch set individual records for passing yards (3,670) and touchdown passes (28) while completing 69 percent of his passes.
Lynch was one of three players recognized as Top Tigers, who all had record-setting seasons. Senior tight end Alan Cross and junior place-kicker Jake Elliott were also recognized as Top Tigers.
In addition to his season passing records, Lynch became the first Memphis quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons and set a career mark with 12, 300-yard games. Lynch tied an NCAA record with seven, first-half touchdowns in the Tigers' 63-0 shutout of SMU in the final game of the regular season.
Cross added to his touchdown reception total during the 2015 season, extending his Memphis record for most touchdowns by a tight end. He currently has scored 14. One of three players to surpass the 1,000 career receiving yard mark during the season, Cross has notched 1,050 receiving yards during his four-year career.
Elliott has established a new school record for points kicking in a season with 128 points. He has converted a school record 62 PATs this season and with 22 field goals made in 2015, would tie a school record for most field goals in a season with one in the Tigers' bowl game.
With another field goal, Elliott would tie the record set by Joe Allison in 1992. Allison was the first winner of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and Elliott was not in attendance at the banquet. Instead, he began a full week of festivities as a finalist for this year's Groza Award in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Atlanta.
Also during the Memphis Football Banquet, Elliott was named the recipient of the Joe Allison Special Teams Player of the Year Award.
Freshmen Hayden Ferrari and Tony Pollard were named the Glenn Jones Scout Team Players of the year.
Senior wide receiver Mose Frazier was named the Isaac Bruce Offensive Player of the Year. Frazier leads the Tigers with 66 catches for 750 yards and four touchdowns in 2015. For his career, Frazier ranks 10th in receiving yards at Memphis with 1,552.
Senior linebacker Leonard Pegues was named the John "Bull" Bramlett Defensive Player of the Year. Pegues will head into the 2015 Birmingham Bowl as the Tigers' leading tackler with 65 tackles. For the season, he led the Tigers with seven tackles for loss, sealed the win over Cincinnati with an interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown during the season.
Cross and senior linebacker Wynton McManis received the True Tiger Award. The recognition honors players "who represent what the program."
Also, John Stacy and Jeff Kupper were named recipients of the Highland Hundred's Bobby Wharton Labor of Love Award.
Players Mentioned
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