Two seniors receive the Erk Russell Award

Georgia Southern University held its annual Football banquet Saturday night (Jan. 17), and announced team awards for the 2008 season. The event was held in the Nessmith Lane Continuing Education Building.

...

Nineteen seniors from last year received their senior plaques. They included: Raja Andrews, Larry Beard, Patrick Bolen, Lewis Brooks, Justin Callaway, Tim Camp, Chris Covington, Darrian Felton, Jesse Hartley, Joe Haynie, Dio Herrera, Michael McIntosh, Damon Suggs, Quentin Taylor, Nathaniel Trull, Dakota Walker, Brandon Lee Williams, Casey Wingard and Matt Wise.

Head coach Chris Hatcher presented the third-annual ‘Erk Russell Award’. For the first time two seniors were voted unanimously by the coaching staff to receive the honor. Covington and Andrews shared the award.

“This award goes to a senior football player. One of the main criteria for the award is, ‘Could this person play for Coach Russell’. They embody what it means to be a Georgia Southern Eagle, bleed blue and white and upholds our traditions,” said Hatcher.

Covington played three positions throughout his two-time All-America career: running back his first two years, defensive back in 2007 and moved to linebacker midway through the 2008 season. Last year he ranked among the national leaders in tackles, sacks and tackles for a loss and was named SoCon ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ by the Sports Media Association. He ended his stellar career as a two-time All-America, earning Second Team honors last fall by the Associated Press.

Andrews broke several records this season, including: season receptions (64), season receiving yards (873), career receptions (127), career punt returns for a touchdown (2), season and career 100-yard receiving games (5) and most receptions in a game (10 on two occasions).

Those two along with Herrera and Beard received their Captain Award, given to those individuals voted team captain by their teammates.

Radio play-by-play announcer Chris Blair was the announcer and Stewart Moody gave the invocation.

Other awards handed out included: All-Southern Conference, All-America and Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.