MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois Leatherneck Football handed out the 2011 team awards during the annual postseason banquet on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 11).

Senior linebacker Kevin Palermo (West Chicago/Driscoll Catholic) and senior wide receiver Terriun Crump (Country Club Hills/Rich Central) were voted as the program's Most Valuable Players.

Crump, a First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, was tied for second in the league in receptions per game (5.5) and second in yards (85.8 ypg). His 61 receptions rank him fourth among the Western season 'Top 10' leaders while the 944 yards place him sixth and 85.8 yards per game stand fifth. Crump concluded his three-year career among the all-time leaders in yards (4th/2,067), touchdowns (T-10th/11), receptions (5th/135) and yards per game (8th/59.1). He also tied the season (5) and career (8) records for most 100-yard receiving games.

In his first season as starting middle linebacker, Palermo led Western making 105 tackles.  His 9.55 per game average puts him sixth in the league and tied for 39th nationally. Three times this year he matched a career-high of 14 tackles, and recorded all five of his double-digit tackle games in MVFC play. Palermo also received the Iron Leatherneck Award for leadership during the strength and conditioning workouts.

Sophomore offensive lineman Jimmy Holtschlag (Quincy/Notre Dame) received the Dr. Frank Sorenson Award for Academic Achievement, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA. Named to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District team and First Team Academic All-Missouri Valley Football Conference, Holtschlag carries a 4.0 GPA majoring in agricultural science. He started in all 10 of his appearances this season.

The Robert Blaha, Sr. Scholarship Award went to senior fullback Rick Richardson (Arlington Heights/Prospect). This annual award is given factoring in a combination of academics, team leadership and overall contributions to the team. Richardson took over as starting fullback early in the season and did not miss a game during his three-year career with the Leathernecks. He rushed three times on the year, caught five passes for 54 yards and a touchdown, and made three tackles on special teams.

After getting injured early in the season-opener, senior offensive lineman Jordan Valle (Peru/LaSalle-Peru) was thought to be out for the year. However, the preseason All-MVFC selection returned mid-season and would start in all seven of his games played at center. He received the Wes Stevens Offensive Lineman of the Year award.

Co-captains Tim Franken (Carol Stream/Driscoll Catholic) and Aaron Muhammad (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights) received the Red Miller Award. A senior defensive back, Franken started in all 11 games and was third on the team with 62 tackles. Muhammad also played in every game and set personal-highs with 13 receptions totaling 129 yards. The senior tight end was second on the team with three touchdown catches.

Senior wide receiver/punt returner Myers Hendrickson (Macomb/Macomb), junior fullback Mike Harmon (Peoria/Central) and senior linebacker Ryan Carleton (Lodi, CA/Lodi) received the Green Beret Awards honoring significant contributions to the kicking game. Hendrickson had seven tackles on special teams while serving as the holder on all PAT/field goal attempts. Carleton tied for second with Hendrickson making seven tackles on special teams, and Harmon played on multiple punt and kickoff teams.

Redshirt-freshman Larry Patterson (Tucker, AR/Principia) and sophomore Pat Smith (Quincy/Notre Dame) were selected Special Teams Player of the Year. Patterson ended the season ranked second in MVFC season 'Top 10' with 965 kickoff return yards, 82 shy of the season record. He averaged 23 yards per kickoff return, including a 90-yard return for touchdown against Missouri State. He led Western with 1,069 all-purpose yards. Smith was second on the team in scoring, converting 21-of-23 extra points and was 3-of-6 on field goal attempts. He also had three touchbacks on his kickoffs and averaged 37.7 yards on three punts.

Four Leathernecks received the Hustle Award: senior defensive backs Ryan Davis (Elk Grove, CA/Franklin) and Raynard Pamilton (Los Angeles, CA/Pacifica), senior linebacker Mike Garoppolo (Arlington Heights/Rolling Meadows) and junior quarterback Cody Reardon (Taylor Mill, KY/Holy Cross).  Davis recorded 37 tackles in 11 games started - seven at safety and four at cornerback. Pamilton had 14 tackles and two interceptions in his 11 games. Garoppolo recorded 51 tackles and shared the team lead with three sacks. Reardon played in five games and made his first collegiate start in the finale. He threw for 156 yards and two TDs on the year.

Seniors Josh Gabelmann (Bettendorf, IA/Bettendorf), Enock Presendieu (West Bradenton, FL/Southeast) and Kyle Caldwell (Capistrano Valley, CA/Capistrano Valley) were voted for the Coaches' Appreciation Awards. Gabelmann played in the first three games and scored a rushing TD before missing the remainder of the season. Presendieu started in six of his seven games played at offensive tackle, while Caldwell played in all 11 games and started 10 times at the other tackle position.

Jason Stigler (Chicago/Lincoln Park), Larry Harris (Rock Island/Rock Island) and Taylor Hill (Rochester/Rochester) were selected as the Scout Team 'Offensive Players of the Year'.

The Scout Team 'Defensive Player of the Year' award went to: Eddy Holtschlag (Quincy/Notre Dame), Anthony Ventrella (Lisle/Lisle) and Jamel Wilmore (Gaithersburg, MD/Kennedy).

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