Dec. 15, 2013
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State senior safety Nat Berhe (Colton, Calif.) was named the 2013 team MVP and awarded the John Simcox Memorial Trophy at the team's annual banquet on Sunday.
Berhe, a 2013 all-Mountain West first-team selection, is a three-year starter with the team's most starts (40) and most consecutive starts (37). The senior leads the Aztecs in tackles (94) and solo stops (59), is tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries, and has six pass breakups, five tackles for loss and a sack.
Earlier this season, Berhe broke into the school's all-time leaders in tackles list, and is currently seventh overall and third among defensive backs with 294 career stops. He also earned the Byron H. Chase Award for the team's top defensive player and was one of three recipients of the Dr. R. Hardy/C.E. Peterson 2013 Captain's Awards, along with senior wide receiver Colin Lockett (Diamond Bar, Calif.) and senior offensive lineman Bryce Quigley (Apple Valley, Calif.).
Meanwhile, a pair of juniors earned the Chase Award for the team's top offensive players, as quarterback Quinn Kaehler (San Ramon, Calif.) and wide receiver Ezell Ruffin (Long Beach, Calif.) shared the honor. Kaehler took over as the Aztecs' starting quarterback in the third game of the season, and has 2,796 yards passing, with 17 touchdowns and a 60.1 completion percentage. Ruffin is an all-MW honorable mention after leading SDSU with 63 receptions for 1,061 yards and 16.8 yards-per-catch. He also recorded three touchdowns and ranks fourth in the MW and 26th in the nation in receiving yards per game (88.4).
Quigley, an all-MW second-team selection and scholar-athlete, earned the team's President's Award for high academic achievement and Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in addition to the Captain Award. A former tight end, Quigley anchored a San Diego State offensive line that allowed two or less sacks in each of the team's final nine games. He also helped running backs Adam Muema and Donnel Pumphrey combine for 1,765 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns.
Senior fullback Chad Young (La Verne, Calif.) (109 rushing yards, 66 receiving yards, 3 overall touchdowns) was selected as the team's Most Inspirational Player, senior Jordan Thomas (Redlands, Calif.) (20 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, FR) was named Defensive Lineman of the Year, senior Tim Vizzi (Moorpark, Calif.) (12.4 PR avg., 2 TD) was selected Special Teams Outstanding player of the Year and Pumphrey (Las Vegas, Nev.) (750 rushing yards, 234 receiving yards, 10 overall touchdowns) received Outstanding Freshman Award honors.
In addition, redshirt freshman quarterback Chase Favreau (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and sophomore wide receiver Kene Anigbogu (San Diego, Calif.) were named Scout Team Offensive Players of the Year, freshman Fred Melifonwu (San Diego, Calif.) and redshirt freshman D.J. Hunter (San Diego, Calif.) were selected Scout Team Defensive Players of the Year and Kalan Montgomery (Compton, Calif.) was named Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Year.
San Diego State (7-5, 6-2 MW) finished second in the West Division of the MW, and will face Buffalo (8-4, 6-2 MAC) in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 21 at 3:30 p.m. MT.
SDSU Team Awards
John Simcox Memorial Award
2013 Most Valuable Player
Nat Berhe
Byron H. Chase Memorial Awards
Offensive Player of the Year
Quinn Kaehler
Ezell Ruffin
Defensive Player of the Year
Nat Berhe
Dr. R. Hardy/C.E. Peterson 2013 Captain's Awards
Nat Berhe
Colin Lockett
Bryce Quigley
Most Inspirational Player
Chad Young
President's Award for High Academic Achievement
Bryce Quigley
Offensive Lineman of the Year
Bryce Quigley
Defensive Lineman of the Year
Jordan Thomas
Outstanding Freshman Award
Donnel Pumphrey
Special Teams Outstanding Player of the Year
Tim Vizzi
Scout Teams Player of the Year
Offense: Chase Favreau, Kene Anigbogu
Defense: Fred Melifonwu, D.J. Hunter
Special Teams: Kalan Montgomery