REY MAUALUGA NAMED USC FOOTBALL'S MVP
December 17, 2008 | Football
Dec. 17, 2008
USC senior Bednarik Award winner and All-American first team linebacker Rey Maualuga was named the Most Valuable Player of the Rose Bowl-bound Trojan football team at the annual awards banquet Wednesday night (Dec. 17) at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.
Maualuga was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year as he led the Trojans in tackles with 73 in 2008. He added 2 interceptions and 3 deflections.
Senior defensive end Kyle Moore won USC's Most Inspirational Player Award. Sophomore center Kristofer O'Dowd and senior defensive tackle Fili Moala were presented with USC's Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year Awards, respectively. Senior placekicker David Buehler and senior defensive end Clay Matthews shared USC's Special Teams Player of the Year Award.
A complete list of the 2008 awards:
Most Valuable Player: linebacker Rey Maualuga
Most Inspirational Player: defensive end Kyle Moore
Linemen of the Year: center Kristofer O'Dowd (offense), defensive tackle Fili Moala(defense)
Co-Special Teams Players of the Year: placekicker David Buehler and defensive end Clay Matthews
Service Team Players of the Year: center-offensive tackle Steve Gatena (offense), defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (defense)
Player of the Game versus Notre Dame: linebacker Kaluka Maiava
Player of the Game versus UCLA: wide receiver Patrick Turner
Jack Oakie "Rise and Shine" Award (year's longest run from scrimmage): tailback Joe McKnight (55 yards versus Notre Dame) Co-Howard Jones/Football Alumni Club Academic Award (overall academic achievement): quarterback Garrett Green, placekicker Jordan Congdon
Bob Chandler Award (underclassman with outstanding athletic ability, academic achievement and character): safety Taylor Mays
John McKay Award (underclassman with the most competitive spirit): wide receiver Damian Williams
Courage Award: offensive guard-center Jeff Byers
Co-Lifters Award: linebacker Brian Cushing, safety Kevin Ellison, defensive end Clay Matthews
Team Captains: safety Kevin Ellison, quarterback Mark Sanchez, linebacker Brian Cushing, offensive guard-center Jeff Byers
