North Carolina State University Athletics
Photo by: Brayden Holt
NC State Football Announces Annual Team Awards
12/4/2022 3:14:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State's football program held its annual awards ceremony Sunday at the Talley Student Center to honor its top performers, leaders and contributors during the 2022 campaign.
The Governor's Award, given to the team's most valuable performer, had two recipients this season: kicker Christopher Dunn and linebacker Isaiah Moore.
Dunn, who was also named the Special Teams Player of the Year, rewrote the ACC and NC State record books this season and is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award. Moore, a three-year captain, helped lead the Wolfpack defense to some of the top marks in the FBS in 2022.
For the first time in school history, the awards for offensive and defensive player of the year were given to a set of brothers. Wide receiver Thayer Thomas won the Torry Holt Offensive Player of the Year Award, named for the Wolfpack legend who was his high school coach. Thomas was the Wolfpack's leading receiver in 2022 with 53 catches. He ranked among the ACC leaders in receptions for most of the season and led the Wolfpack to victory in the win over Virginia Tech with 118 yards on 10 catches with two touchdowns.
His younger brother, linebacker Drake Thomas, earned the Mario Williams Award for Most Valuable Defensive Player. Thomas leads the team with 90 tackles and ranks first among all ACC defensive players with 13 tackles for loss in conference games. A second-team All-ACC pick, he also ranks second in the ACC with 6.5 sacks in ACC contests.
Quarterback MJ Morris was named the recipient of the Philip Rivers Award for Most Valuable Freshman. Morris came off the bench to lead the Pack to victory vs. Virginia Tech and started in the win over Wake Forest. A two-time ACC Rookie of the Week, he is one of just six true freshmen in the playoff era with 20 completions, 260 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a game.
Here's a look at the other award recipients:
Alpha Rising Award – Exceptional Improvement: Keyon Lesane, Davin Vann
Predominant Impact in the Community Award: Joe Shimko
Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award – Comeback from Injury: C.J. Clark, Cyrus Fagan, Isaiah Moore, Payton Wilson
Wolfpack Spirit Award – Special Contributor to the Program: Coach Ruffin McNeill
Hungry Wolf Award – Nutritional Improvement: Jaleel Davis
Leader of the Hunt Award – Commitment to Nutrition: Drake Thomas, Thayer Thomas
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Ben Finley, Josh Crabtree
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Nicholas Treco
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year: Torren Wright, Jamie Shaw
Michael J. Hardy Award – Player with Winning Attitude: Grant Gibson
Al Michaels Award – Team Before Self: Jakeen Harris, Darryl Jones
Bo Rein Award – Vital Contribution in an Unsung Role: Joe Shimko
Bob Warren Award - Integrity and sportsmanship: Grant Gibson, Bryson Speas
Ted Brown Award - Offensive Back of the Year: Jordan Houston
Gary Rowe Award - Receiver of the Year: Thayer Thomas
Jim Ritcher Award - Offensive Lineman of the Year: Grant Gibson, Timothy McKay
Bill Cowher Award – Linebacker of the Year: Drake Thomas
Cary Brewbaker Award - Defensive Lineman of the Year: Davin Vann
DeWayne Washington Award - Defensive Back of the Year: Aydan White
The Governor's Award, given to the team's most valuable performer, had two recipients this season: kicker Christopher Dunn and linebacker Isaiah Moore.
Dunn, who was also named the Special Teams Player of the Year, rewrote the ACC and NC State record books this season and is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award. Moore, a three-year captain, helped lead the Wolfpack defense to some of the top marks in the FBS in 2022.
For the first time in school history, the awards for offensive and defensive player of the year were given to a set of brothers. Wide receiver Thayer Thomas won the Torry Holt Offensive Player of the Year Award, named for the Wolfpack legend who was his high school coach. Thomas was the Wolfpack's leading receiver in 2022 with 53 catches. He ranked among the ACC leaders in receptions for most of the season and led the Wolfpack to victory in the win over Virginia Tech with 118 yards on 10 catches with two touchdowns.
His younger brother, linebacker Drake Thomas, earned the Mario Williams Award for Most Valuable Defensive Player. Thomas leads the team with 90 tackles and ranks first among all ACC defensive players with 13 tackles for loss in conference games. A second-team All-ACC pick, he also ranks second in the ACC with 6.5 sacks in ACC contests.
Quarterback MJ Morris was named the recipient of the Philip Rivers Award for Most Valuable Freshman. Morris came off the bench to lead the Pack to victory vs. Virginia Tech and started in the win over Wake Forest. A two-time ACC Rookie of the Week, he is one of just six true freshmen in the playoff era with 20 completions, 260 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a game.
Here's a look at the other award recipients:
Alpha Rising Award – Exceptional Improvement: Keyon Lesane, Davin Vann
Predominant Impact in the Community Award: Joe Shimko
Ken McNeill Iron Wolf Award – Comeback from Injury: C.J. Clark, Cyrus Fagan, Isaiah Moore, Payton Wilson
Wolfpack Spirit Award – Special Contributor to the Program: Coach Ruffin McNeill
Hungry Wolf Award – Nutritional Improvement: Jaleel Davis
Leader of the Hunt Award – Commitment to Nutrition: Drake Thomas, Thayer Thomas
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Ben Finley, Josh Crabtree
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Nicholas Treco
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year: Torren Wright, Jamie Shaw
Michael J. Hardy Award – Player with Winning Attitude: Grant Gibson
Al Michaels Award – Team Before Self: Jakeen Harris, Darryl Jones
Bo Rein Award – Vital Contribution in an Unsung Role: Joe Shimko
Bob Warren Award - Integrity and sportsmanship: Grant Gibson, Bryson Speas
Ted Brown Award - Offensive Back of the Year: Jordan Houston
Gary Rowe Award - Receiver of the Year: Thayer Thomas
Jim Ritcher Award - Offensive Lineman of the Year: Grant Gibson, Timothy McKay
Bill Cowher Award – Linebacker of the Year: Drake Thomas
Cary Brewbaker Award - Defensive Lineman of the Year: Davin Vann
DeWayne Washington Award - Defensive Back of the Year: Aydan White
Players Mentioned
DT
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
PK
/ Football
SAF
/ Football
QB
/ Football
C
/ Football
SAF
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LS
/ Football
OG
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
NIC
/ Football
DT
/ Football
CB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballCoach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24