WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross football team has announced its team awards for the 2021 season.
Junior linebacker
Jacob Dobbs led the award winners, earning the 2021 Crusader Most Valuable Player Award. The Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a team captain, Dobbs earned All-America honors from numerous publications, including first team honors from Stats Perform. Dobbs finished the year with 137 tackles, including 75 solo tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss. He additionally recorded 9.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. He ranked in the top 10 in FCS this season in solo tackles and total tackles, and paced a Holy Cross defense that led the nation in total defense, allowing just 254.5 yards per contest. Dobbs was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, finishing in the top 10 in voting for the top defensive player in FCS.
A complete list of award recipients follows.
Davitt Awards
Presented annually to the top back and lineman on both offense and defense. They were instituted by Jim Davitt (Class of 1913) of Holyoke, Mass., in memory of his brother, Rev. William Davitt (Class of 1907), who played football and ran track while at Holy Cross, and was the last United States officer to lose his life in World War I.
Offensive Back: Peter Oliver
Offensive Lineman: Luke Newman
Defensive Back: John Smith
Defensive Lineman: Jason Modak
Crown Award
Presented to the player who has contributed to team success through dedication and courageous special teams play.
Devin Haskins
Hammer Award
Presented to the player with the largest number of "big hits" for the year or the biggest hit overall.
Walter Reynolds
Shield Award
Outstanding Defensive Demonstration Team Player that has persevered with great emotion and total selflessness in pursuit of team excellence.
Joe Townsend
Strike Award
Outstanding Offensive Demonstration Team Player that has persevered with great emotion and total selflessness in pursuit of team excellence.
Ben Blessing
The Coaches Award
Presented annually to the player who has shown outstanding effort for the good of the team in weekly preparations throughout the season.
Liam Anderson
Dan Kuznetsov
The Unsung Hero Award
Presented annually to the player who has supported the squad spiritually, emotionally and physically for the good of the team.
Tenio Ayeni
Walter Reynolds
The Connor Award
Presented annually to the Holy Cross senior who, by a vote of the varsity squad, is named the person the players are most proud of as a teammate. It is given by the Holy Cross club of the Pioneer Valley.
Benton Whitley
The Rick Carter Memorial Award
Presented to the senior whose sportsmanship and dedication to the game of football represent the highest ideals of athletics and who, through uncommon leadership, has positively influenced his teammates and brought great credit to his family, his team and the college.
Grant Holloman
2021 Crusader Most Valuable Player
Presented to the person who his teammates feel was the most significant contributor to the team.
Jacob Dobbs
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