Dec. 10, 2012
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Closing out the year in style, the Stony Brook football team held the 2012 Grant Family Banquet at the Student Activities Center on campus Sunday. Head coach Chuck Priore handed out the team's awards and announced the 2013 captains.
The Ernest Owusu Offensive MVP went to senior Miguel Maysonet(Riverhead, N.Y.). Maysonet, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the outstanding player in FCS, rushed for 1,964 yards, the 11th most yards in a season in FCS history, and scored 23 total touchdowns. The 5-10, 210-pound back accounted for more than 100 rushing yards in a game six times and had three games with 200 or more yards in 2012. During a four-game span, he rushed for a career-high three times, capped by a 233-yard, two-touchdown performance at Coastal Carolina.
Senior Dominick Reyes (Hesperia, Calif.) captured the team's Defensive MVP award. Reyes finished the season with a career-best 75 tackles, becoming the Seawolves' all-time leader with 158 solo tackles. He was second on the team with 9.0 tackles for loss, starting each game for a third straight season.
Redshirt freshman Naim Cheeseboro (King of Prussia, Pa.) garnered the Ray Downey Special Teams MVP. The special teams ace made 26 tackles, often being the first player downfield on kick-off coverage. His recovery of a free kick against Villanova helped the Seawolves extend their lead in the first-round victory.
The Offensive Rookie of the Year went to junior Marcus Coker (Beltsville, Md.). Coker, a transfer from Iowa, rushed for 1,018 yards and 9 TDs, giving the Seawolves two backs with 1,000 yards for a third straight season. Eight of his nine scores were inside four yards.
Junior Leston Simpson (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) led Stony Brook with 10.0 tackles for loss en route to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Simpson, who finished second among all defensive linemen with 35 tackles, also made four sacks, and totaled a career-high seven tackles against Pace and Coastal Carolina.
Senior Kyle Essington (Chino Hills, Calif.) earned the Fred Kemp Award, given to the upperclassman who is dedicated to excellence on and off the field, while leading the team with pride and intensity. The Mark Motroni Award, which goes to the upperclassman who demonstrates great pride in the Stony Brook football program and consistently exhibits unselfish dedication to the team, was awarded to senior Chris Fenelon (Bellerose, N.Y.).
For a second straight year, senior Jonathan Coats (Elmira Heights, N.Y.) received the Frank Conti Work Horse Award and junior Victor Spinelli (Northport, N.Y.) earned the Academic Achievement Award.
Priore also announced that seniors Davonte Anderson (Corona, Calif.), Michael Bamiro (Tobyhanna, Pa.), Jawara Dudley (Roosevelt, N.Y.) and Matt Faiella (Freehold, N.J.) will be the 2013 captains.
A special thanks goes to Alphonzo Grant '93, '94 and Isis Sapp-Grant '93 for sponsoring the dinner, Mark Motroni, Jr. '88 for sponsoring the awards and Mike Derice '08 for sponsoring the coaches' table.
Thanks to John Campolettano, Jr., Chuck Downey '88, Steven Mardy '05, Jim Megna '89, Dan Michitsch '07, Stu Sharoff '88, Roberto Tillman '78, Tony Thompson '97 and Sean Van Slyck '95 for sponsoring the student-athletes.
