ALFRED, NY — The Alfred University football team announced its 2016 awards, handed out at the team banquet Saturday, Feb. 25.

Senior quarterback Tyler Johnson (East Syracuse, NY/ East Syracuse-Minoa) was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Johnson, a starter at quarterback each of his four seasons at AU, passed for 2,903 yards and 29 touchdowns and ran for 1,008 and a school-record 21 TDs. He became the first player in AU history to throw for 1,000 or more yards and run for 1,000 or more in a season.

His 3,911 yards of total offense were a new school record, as were his 50 combined pass-rush touchdowns. In the Saxons' season finale Dec. 3, a loss to Mount Union in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs, he threw for a school-record 534 yards.

Johnson was the Empire 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Year; an ECAC North Second Team All-Star; and a D3football.com East Region Offensive Player of the Year and D3football.com Second Team All-American.

Senior wide receiver Brendan Buisch (Hornell, NY/Hornell) was named recipient of the Hal Brown Award as Offensive MVP for a second straight year. Buisch set a new school single-season record with 16 TD catches and tied the school single-game mark with four touchdown receptions at Morrisville. He led the team in catches (64) and receiving yards (1,056, two yards off the school record).

Buisch was a First Team Empire 8 All-Star and was also a First Team ECAC North All-Star and Third Team D3football.com All-East Region honoree.

Junior linebacker A.J. LiCata (Lake View, NY/Frontier) received the Alex Yunevich Award as Defensive MVP. LiCata led the team in tackles (153, one off the school single-season record) and had 11 ½ tackles for loss, 4 ½ sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

LiCata was a First Team American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American, a Third Team D3football.com All-American and First Team D3football.com East Region All-Star, and a Third Team Associated Press Little All-American. He was also a First Team ECAC North All-Star and ECAC North Defensive Player of the Year; and Empire 8 Conference First Team All-Star and Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection last fall.

Other team awards presented include:   
                                           
Special Teams MVP — Junior linebacker Michael Joiner (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder).  Joiner had 17 tackles and a fumble recovery in 2016.

Bob Carley Memorial Award — Senior defensive tackle Zach Brinkley (Brockway, PA/Brockway). The Carley Award is given to a player who displays a positive attitude and exceptional work ethic. Brinkley, a team captain, finished the 2016 season with 40 tackles, including four for loss and two sacks. A CoSIDA Academic All-District selection last fall, Brinkley earned Honorable Mention from the Empire 8.

Pete DeRose Memorial Award — Senior free safety Shyheim Wingate (Jamaica, NY/Holy Cross), winner for a second straight year. The award recognizes character, heads-up play and scrappiness. Wingate, a three-year starter in the Saxons' defensive backfield and a team captain, had 56 tackles, an interception and a team-best eight pass breakups. A CoSIDA Academic All-District selection last fall, Wingate received Honorable Mention from the Empire 8.

Fred Yanni Award — Freshman linebacker Isaiah Moak (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park). The award is given to a freshman who shows great enthusiasm and love for the game and is a team player. Moak started at middle linebacker all season and finished his freshman campaign second on the team in tackles (138), including 8 ½ for loss and four sacks. He led the team in forced fumbles, with two, and had a fumble recovery and an interception. Moak was named an Honorable Mention E8 All-Star.

Gene Castrovillo Award — Senior strong safety Liam Hobbins (Saco, ME/Cheverus). The award is given to a player who exhibits perseverance, hard work and dedication. Hobbins, in his second season as a starting defensive back, had 60 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions.

Trenchman of the Year — This award, given for the first time in 2016, honors outstanding line play. The winner of the inaugural award is senior left offensive tackle Kevin LaMarque (Holliston, MA/Holliston). A four-year starter and a team captain in 2016, LaMarque was a First Team Empire 8 All-Star, a First Team D3football.com East Region All-Star; and a First Team Hero Sports All-American. He anchored a line that helped the Saxons set new single-season records for rushing yards and scoring.

Purple and Gold Awards — Given to top players on the scout teams. Freshman linebacker Merlin Thomas (Albany, NY/Albany Academy) won the award for defense and freshman quarterback Geno Iozzino (Goshen, NY/Goshen) won for offense.

Saxon Club Awards  — The award is given to players who have at least seven outstanding games throughout the season. Winners from 2016 are: LaMarque, LiCata, senior right guard David Sylvester (Perry, NY/Perry), senior center Sean Murphy (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon), junior tailback Maleke Fuentes (Olean, NY/Olean) and senior defensive end Charles Branwell (Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln).

Sylvester, Murphy, Fuentes and Branwell were all First Team Empire 8 All-Stars. Sylvester and Murphy were also ECAC North First Team All-Stars and D3football.com First Team East Region selections, with Sylvester going on to earn Second Team D3football.com All-American honors and Murphy receiving Honorable Mention. Branwell and Fuentes were named ECAC North Second Team All-Stars.

Other Empire 8 All-Stars for the Saxons were: senior fullback Brendan Tierney (Liberty, NY/Tri-Valley) and junior placekicker-punter Trevor Monk (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Second Team; and junior tackle Dave Carloni (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and junior linebacker Shaquille Muscadin (Monsey, NY/Ramapo), Honorable Mention. Senior tailback Casey Bright (Pulaski, NY/Pulaski) was named the Saxons' Empire 8 Conference Sportsperson of the Year.

AU enjoyed with winningest season in program history in 2016. The Saxons' 12 wins were the most in a season ever at AU, and Alfred became the first team in the history of the Empire 8 Conference to go through a regular season unbeaten.

AU coaches, led by head coach Bob Rankl, earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors from the Empire 8. Rankl was also named ECAC North Coach of the Year, D3football.com East Region Coach of the Year, and AFCA Division III, Region 1 Coach of the Year.

The Saxons went to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament for the second time in team history, repeating the 2010 squad's accomplishment. AU finished the year ranked 12^th in both the AFCA Division III and D3football.com national polls, the team's highest position ever in either national poll.