SC State Football Players Presented Superlative Awards

ORANGEBURG, SC – SC State football players were presented their 2012 team and individual superlative awards Saturday (02-02-13) during the 11th annual Orangeburg Touchdown Club (OTC) banquet Monday at The Cinema.

The group also recognized an All-Area high school team as chosen by The Times and Democrat, the local newspaper
.
James Mitchell, the Director of Football Development at Duke University, was guest speaker for the event.

Only three of the team's ten (10) superlative awards went to seniors. RB Chris Merrill of Simpsonville was the recipient of the special teams Big Dog Award; DL Leon Smith of James Island took the Top Defensive Lineman honor; and LB/S Cortney Ingram of Milledgeville, Ga. was named the MVP on defense.

Others earning outstanding team awards were: r-junior QB Richard Cue of Florence, MVP on offense; junior C/OL Tristan Bellamy of Johnston, most valuable offensive lineman; sophomore RB Jalen “Scoot” Simmons of Charlotte, top running back; junior WR Tyler McDonald of Summerville, top wide receiver; junior P/PK Nick Belcher of Sumter, specialist award; sophomore LB Justin Hughes of Virginia Beach, Va., top linebacker; and sophomore defensive back Steven Murphy of Kingsland, GA., top defensive back.

Three Bulldogs were also recognized for post season honors – WR Lennel Elmore and Bellamy for earning All-MEAC honors and freshman DT Javon Hargrave, who made the College Sports Journal freshman All-America squad.

SC State head coach Buddy Pough and his staff also recognized the SC State seniors and presented game balls to an offensive and defensive player for each of the Bulldogs' five wins.

The List of Superlative Award Winners:

Top Running Back: Jalen Simmons, So., Charlotte, NC
Outstanding Receiver: Tyler McDonald, Jr, Summerville, SC
Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Tristan Bellamy, Jr., Johnston, SC
Outstanding Defensive Lineman: Leon Smith, Sr., James Island, SC
Outstanding Linebacker: Justin Hughes, So., Virginia Beach, Va.
Offensive MVP: QB Richard Cue, r-Jr, Florence, SC
Defensive MVP: LB/S Cortney Ingram, Sr., Milledgeville, GA
Outstanding DB: Steven Murphy, So., Kingsland, GA
Special Teams MVP: RB Chris Merrill, Sr., Simpsonville, SC
Specialist Award: K Nick Belcher, Jr., Sumter, SC

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION