Eric Page Named Nicholson Award Winner at 2010 Football Banquet
1/30/2011 7:01:00 PM | Football
TOLEDO - Sophomore wide receiver/kick returner Eric Page (Toledo, OH) was presented with the Jim Nicholson Award at the 2010 University of Toledo Football Banquet held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Toledo on Sunday, Jan. 30. The Nicholson Award is given annually to the player most contributing to the team's success, and is considered the team's most prestigious award.
Junior running back Adonis Thomas (Newark, NJ) was named the team's offensive MVP, while senior linebacker Archie Donald (Pittsburgh, PA) was named the team's defensive MVP.
Juniors Isaiah Ballard (Toledo, OH) and Tom Cortazzo (Irwin, PA) shared the award for special teams MVP.
The complete list of award winners is as follows:
2010 Toledo Football Team Awards
Jim Nicholson Award (Contributed most to team's success)
• Eric Page, So., WR/KR (Toledo, OH)
Page earned first-team All-America honors as a kickoff returner by the Sporting News and the Walter Camp Foundation, among others. He is the first UT football player to make first-team on any All-America team since quarterback Gene Swick was named first-team by UPI in 1975. Page also was named the College Football Performance Awards national kickoff returner of the year. He ranked third in the nation in kickoff returns (31.1 avg.) and was the only player in the Football Bowl Series (FBS) to return three kickoffs for touchdowns. As a receiver, Page was fifth in the nation with 99 receptions and gained 1,105 receiving yards. He was named the Mid-American Conference's special teams player of the year, and made first-team All-MAC as both a kickoff returner and wide receiver.
Norman Cohen Award (Top freshman)
• Terrance Owens, Fr. (R), QB (Cleveland, OH)
Owens stepped in as Toledo's starting QB vs. EMU on Oct. 30, leading the Rockets to wins in three of their final five games. He completed 97-of-163 passes for 1,244 yards and 13 TDs. His best game came in a 42-31 win over Central Michigan when he racked up 304 yards and three TDs on 24-of-32 passing, and also caught a 28-yard TD pass. He was named MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week for his performance vs. CMU.
Jon Binder Memorial Award (Top walk-on)
• Myshan Veasley-Pettis, Sr., CB, (Toledo, OH)
Veasley-Pettis played in all 13 games as a reserve cornerback, making eight tackles and grabbing one interception. He also won the Binder Award as a freshman in 2007.
Findlay Family Community Service Award (Commitment to community service)
• Johnnie Bush, Sr., RB (Cincinnati, OH)
Bush, a reserve running back, has participated in numerous community service projects in his career as a Rocket.
Daniel and Mary Jo Hanson Senior Scholar-Athlete Award (Top senior GPA)
• Kevin Kowalski, Sr., C, (Macedonia, OH)
Kowalski was selected to play in the 2011 Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL on Jan. 29. He is the first Rocket to play in the Senior Bowl since quarterback Gene Swick appeared in the 1976 game. Kowalski was a four-year starter for the Rockets, starting in 47 consecutive games in his career. He was the leader of an offensive line that ranked fourth in Mid-American Conference in total offense (365.4/game) and third in rushing yards (163.8). An education major, Kowalski has a 3.67 grade-point average and was named Academic All-MAC.
Gus Yeager Legacy Award (Spiritual leadership)
• Colin McHugh, Jr., LS (Lakewood, OH)
McHugh started all 13 games for the Rockets as the team's long snapper.
Offensive MVP ("Fire")
• Adonis Thomas, Jr., RB (Newark, NJ)
A second-team All-MAC selection, Thomas finished second in the league with 1,098 yards and led all MAC running backs with a 6.3 yards per carry average. He ran for 193 yards in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, including an 87-yard TD run.
Defensive MVP
• Archie Donald, Sr., LB (Pittsburgh, PA)
Donald led the MAC with 146 tackles, the most by a Rocket since Tom Ward's 180 stops in 2002. A second-team All-MAC pick this past season, Donald is the first Rocket ever to led the team in tackles in three consecutive seasons.
Special Team MVPs
• Isaiah Ballard, Jr., DB, (Toledo, OH)
A starter on the defense at the "star" linebacker position, Ballard was a key tackler on kickoffs and punts. He finished the season with 83 tackles, third-most on the team.
• Tim Cortazzo, Jr., WR, (Irwin, PA)
In addition to making 11 receptions at wide receiver, Cortazzo also was a key player on special teams, making three tackles.
Future Team Player Award (Scout Team MVPs)
• Cordale Scott, Jr., WR (Cleveland, OH)
• Elijah Jones, Fr., DL (Indianapolis, IN)
Unsung Heroes
• OFFENSE: Nate Cole, Sr., OL, (Trotwood, OH)
Cole started all 13 games at right guard, helping the offense rank fourth in Mid-American Conference in total offense (365.4/game) and third in rushing yards (163.8).
• DEFENSE: Alex Johnson, Sr., DL, (Lansdale, PA)
Despite missing four games with a serious facial fracture, Johnson started nine games at defensive end. He finished the season with 23 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Team Captains (Team's Best Leaders)
Archie Donald, Kevin Kowalski, Desmond Marrow, Adonis Thomas
