MVP Avant Highlights Award Recipients at Football Bust

LIVONIA, Mich. -- The M-Club of Greater Detroit hosted the 85th annual University of Michigan Football Bust tonight (Monday, Nov. 28) at Laurel Manor, with senior wide receiver Jason Avant (Chicago, Ill./Carver HS) being voted the BO SCHEMBECHLER MOST VALUABLE PLAYER of the 2005 football team by his teammates. Avant was one of seven players to receive an individual award and was among the seniors who received their coveted 'M' rings.

Avant

Avant is the eighth consecutive offensive player and the 10th offensive performer in head coach Lloyd Carr's tenure to receive the team's MVP award. Avant joins Braylon Edwards (2004), Marquise Walker (2001), Tai Streets (1998), Desmond Howard (1991), Anthony Carter (1980, 1982) and Jack Clancy (1966) as the only receivers in school history to receive recognition as the team's most valuable player. The last primarily defensive player to earn the recognition was Charles Woodson in 1997.

A first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection this season, Avant led the Wolverines with career highs in receptions (74), receiving yards (936) and receiving touchdowns (eight) this season. He is second in the Big Ten in receptions and third in receiving yards this season and ranks among the top 25 nationally in every major receiving category.

The HUGH R. RADER JR. AWARD as the team's top offensive lineman was presented to fifth-year senior left tackle Adam Stenavich (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield HS). A two-time All-Big Ten first team performer, Stenavich started all 11 regular-season games at left tackle and is the team's active career leader in starts with 38.

Fifth-year senior Tim Massaquoi (Allentown, Pa./Parkland HS) was the recipient of the ROBERT P. UFER BEQUEST, presented to the senior football player who shows the most enthusiasm and love for Michigan. A second-team All-Big Ten selection this season, Massaquoi made 11 receptions for 86 yards (7.8 avg.) despite missing two-plus games with a wrist injury and playing most of the year with a protective wrap.

The RICHARD KATCHER AWARD as the team's top defensive lineman was presented to sophomore defensive end Alan Branch (Rio Rancho, N.M./Cibola HS). Branch finished the regular season with a career-best 23 stops, including five tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Senior inside linebacker David Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa Hills HS) received the ROGER ZATKOFF AWARD as the squad's top linebacker after leading the team with a career-best 80 tackles. Harris also contributed five tackles for loss and three pass breakups, forced two fumbles, and recovered one fumble.

A pair of Wolverines shared the DR. ARTHUR D. ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD as the top scholar-athlete on the football team. Fifth-year senior offensive lineman David Schoonover (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt HS) and senior defensive lineman Paul Sarantos (Portage, Mich./Northern HS) were the co-recipients of the award. Schoonover will graduate this December from the College of Literature, Science and the Arts with a major in biology. Sarantos will graduate following the spring term with a mechanical engineering degree from the College of Engineering.

Following is a list of 2005 award winners:

Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player: Jason Avant, WR
Hugh H. Rader Jr. Memorial Award: Adam Stenavich, LT
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Tim Massaquoi, TE
Richard Katcher Award: Alan Branch, DL
Roger Zatkoff Award: David Harris, ILB
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award: Paul Sarantos, DL; David Schoonover, OL