Football Honors 2012 Team and Seniors At Annual Banquet

LAFAYETTE, La. — Jaron Odom, Jemarlous Moten, Emeka Onyenekwu and Brett Baer were honored as the team co-MVPs and the members of the 2012 Ragin’ Cajuns football team came together to celebrate their 9-4 record and R�L Carriers New Orleans Bowl victory at the annual Senior Awards Banquet, which was held on Sunday in the Cajundome Convention Center.

The event drew a capacity crowd of almost 500 people.

“It’s exciting to honor this football team for yet another outstanding football season,” head coach Mark Hudspeth said.

“We had some players that an incredible year and some impressive performances," Hudspeth added. "It is only fitting that we have a first class event to send out these seniors and another team that has won a bowl game at UL.”

Odom, a 6-6, 300-pound offensive tackle from Carver Ranches, Fla., earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt accolades after starting every game at right tackle.  He played all but three offensive snaps during the year and was on the field for 1,577 straight plays going back to last season.  

Moten, a 5-11, 175-pound cornerback from Leland, Miss., was a first team All-Sun Belt pick after leading the Cajuns secondary with 65 tackles this season.  He was second on the team with four interceptions, including an important pick In the fourth quarter of the win over East Carolina in the R�L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, forced a pair of fumbles and returned one 56 yards for a touchdown.

Onyenekwu, a 6-3, 250-pound defensive end from New Orleans, La., emerged as one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the Sun Belt this season, picking up first team all-league honors.  He made 42 tackles (30 solo), ranking fourth in the Sun Belt with 6.5 quarterback sacks and fifth with 14 tackles for loss.

Baer, a senior from Brandon, Miss., was a first team All-Sun Belt choice as both a punter and placekicker after going 20-for-23 in field goal attempts and 53-for-56 in extra points, setting a school-record for points by a kicker with 113.  He also ranked second in the league with a 42.0 punting average and capped off his career by making all three field goal attempts, including a 50-yard attempt to close the first half in the New Orleans Bowl.

A complete listing of the team awards follows:

2012 Football Awards

MVP (Offense Skill):  Terrance Broadway

MVP (Offense Lineman):  Jaron Odom

MVP (Defense Skill):  Jemarlous Moten

MVP (Defense Linemem):  Emeka Onyenekwu

Brian Mitchell Special Teams MVP:  Brett Baer

Captains Award:  Le’Marcus Gibson, Blaine Gautier & Jaron Odom

Robert Trahan Exceptional Award:  Le’Marcus Gibson

Hardy Edmiston Sportsmanship Award:  Blaine Gautier

Gridiron Alumni Blue Collar Award:  Brady Thomas & Yobes Walker

Defensive Lineman of the Year:  Cordian Hagans

Offensive Lineman of the Year:  Leonardo Bates

Linebacker of the Year:  Justin Anderson

Offensive Skill Player of the Year:  Javone Lawson

Defensive Back of the Year:  Melvin White

“Clutch” Player Award:  Harry Peoples

Off-Season Training Award:  Jacob Maxwell & Mykhael Quave

Newcomer of the Year (Offense):  Mykhael Quave

Newcomer of the Year (Defense):  Chris Hill

Academic Achievement Award (4.0):  John Broussard & Riley Saunders

Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense):  Jeremy Sparks

Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense):  Nick Barnfield

Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams):  Tre’Maine Lightfoot

Big Hit Award:  Hunter Thibodeaux

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