Bulls Hand Out Yearly Awards; Cook Takes Home Team MVP
12/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – Most valuable player honors to seniors Domonic Cook, Davonte Shannon, A.J. Principe and freshman Alex Neutz highlighted the University at Buffalo football team's awards banquet held at the Millenium Hotel Sunday afternoon. The banquet recognized the top performers both on and off the field.
Shannon, a graduating senior safety who earned the defensive MVP award, will leave Buffalo as the all-time leading tackler and has his name etched into many other career records. The Jeannette, PA native registered 120 tackles and four interceptions en route to his fourth-straight All-MAC first team honor.
Cook, Shannon's four-year teammate in the defensive backfield, was named the team's most valuable player. It was a season to remember for the local product from St. Joseph's, as he hauled in six interceptions, fifth-most in the nation. He had five straight games with at least one turnover captured and he finished fifth on the team in total tackles, with 58.
Principe earned the team's Special Teams MVP Award after finishing his career as the Bulls' all-time leading scorer. Principe led the team in scoring again in 2010 with 41 points – including 7-of-11 field goals – and finished his outstanding career with a school record 265 points. The Columbus, OH native also set a school record with 44 field goals.
On offense, Alex Neutz started his career strong and put together one of the best seasons ever for a true freshman receiver, leading to his Offensive MVP honor. The Grand Island native was a big-play threat in every game, leading the team with 15.9 yards per reception. His 26 catches for 414 yards is the best for a first-year player since recent graduate Naaman Roosevelt's freshman season in 2006. Neutz had four touchdown receptions and a penchant for making spectacular catches.
Cortney Lester, Shaquille Dudley and Brandon Murie were recognized as the top offensive, defensive and special teams members, respectively, of the Compete Team.
A number of players were honored for the work they did off the field as well. Senior defensive back Josh Thomas was given the Bulls in the Community Award for his service to the area. Bittner, Cook, Winters and Shannon were each awarded the Captain's Leadership Award for promoting team unity and leadership throughout the year.
Offensive backfield - Branden Oliver (Miami, FL/Miami Southridge)
Wide receivers - Alex Neutz (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island)
Tight ends - Mike Marr (Moravia, NY/Moravia Central)
Defensive line - Anel Montanez (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull)
Linebackers - Justin Winters (Greenbelt, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt)
Defensive backfield - Domonic Cook (Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph's)
Special teams - John Syty (Clarence, NY/Clarence)
and Isaac Baugh (Spring Hill, TN/Independence)
Compete team offense - Cortney Lester (Miramar, FL/Everglades)
Compete team defense - Shaquille Dudley (Buffalo, NY/Cardinal-O'Hara)
Compete team special teams - Brandon Murie (Elma, NY/Iroquois)
MVP Awards:
Defensive MVP - Davonte Shannon
Special Teams - A.J. Principe (Columbus, OH/St. Francis De Sales)
Team MVP - Domonic Cook
Other Awards:
Captains Leadership Award: Bittner, Cook, Winters, Shannon
