STANFORD, Calif. – Senior wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside received the Irving S. Zeimer Award as the most valuable player and fifth-year senior defensive back Alameen Murphy garnered the Al Masters Award for leadership and respect from his teammates at the Stanford football awards banquet on Sunday at Traitel Hall at the Hoover Institution.
The squad's top offensive playmaker, Arcega-Whiteside equaled a 41-year-old single-season school record set by James Lofton, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, by catching 14 touchdown passes. A team captain, Arcega-Whiteside could break it on Dec. 31, when the Cardinal faces Pitt at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
Arcega-Whiteside and senior wide receiver Trenton Irwin shared the team lead in receptions with 60. The acrobatic Arcega-Whiteside totaled 969 yards and averaged 16.5 yards per catch and 88.09 per game. He grabbed three scoring passes each against San Diego State and UCLA.
Murphy, a two-time team captain, has contributed 35 tackles and two interceptions this season. A three-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention selection, he has already earned a degree in Science,Technology and Society, and is currently working on his masters degree in media studies.
Fifth-year senior center Jesse Burkett was the recipient of the Tommy Vardell Award, given to the junior or senior for excellence in academics and athletics. Burkett was CoSIDA Academic All-District and a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist. He overcame an off-season injury to anchor the Cardinal line and has started 37 games during his career. Burkett is majoring in Japanese and minoring in computer science.
Fifth-year senior inside linebacker Bobby Okereke collected the Jack Huston Award presented to the player exemplifying aggressiveness, exceptional performance and unheralded efforts. A team captain, Okereke has recorded a squad-high 91 tackles.
Running back Bryce Love was presented with the Jim Reynolds Award, given to a senior whose courage on the field and dedication to the game are inspiration to his teammates. Love, winner of the 2017 Lombardi Award presented to the nation's top player and the Doak Walker Award for being the top running back in college football, returned for his final year of eligibility and battled through injuries to rush for a team-high 739 yards and scored six touchdowns. A team captain, he will graduate with a degree in human biology.
The Outstanding Freshman Award went to wide receiver Michael Wilson, who caught a season-high four passes for 41 yards against UCLA. The Deswarte-Eller Award for the outstanding sophomore was presented to cornerback Paulson Adebo, who set a school record with 19 pass breakups and 23 passes defended.
The Gundelach Award for the top junior was given to quarterback K.J. Costello and tight end Kaden Smith. Costello has thrown a touchdown pass in 16 consecutive games and is among the national leaders in many passing categories, racking up 3,435 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. The sure-handed Smith ranks third on the team in catches with 47 for 635 yards – an average of 13.51 per reception – and is a finalist for the John Mackey Award.
Irwin was honored with the outstanding senior award. Versatile and reliable, he was clutch on third down and has caught at least one pass in 40 consecutive contests, the seventh-longest streak in the country. Irwin also returned punts and contributed on the coverage unit.
Senior punter/kicker Jake Bailey and senior inside linebacker Mustafa Branch received the Phil Moffatt Award for outstanding special teams play. Bailey averages nearly 44 yards per attempt and ranks first in career average at more than 43 yards. He launched a program and Big Game-best 84-yard boot against Cal in the Big Game. Bailey also handles kickoff duties and 57 of his 69 efforts have gone for touchbacks.
Branch excelled in coverage and played on four special teams units. He was also a key contributor on defense and registered 33 tackles before sustaining an injury.
The Greg Piers Award for most valuable scout team members went to freshmen wide receiver Brycen Tremayne (offense), inside linebacker Ricky Miezan and cornerback Ethan Bonner (defense), and running back Cameron McFarlane (special teams).
Senior inside linebacker Ryan Beecher was recognized with the team technician award, presented to a player whose technique, effort, attitude and mental discipline enhances their performance on the field. He returned to the field after defeating non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and his perseverance and work ethic were an inspiration to all.
JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Cameron Scarlett, Bobby Okereke and Paulson Adebo received Frank Rehm Awards for their outstanding play in the Big Game against Cal.
A new award was added this year to recognize the program's outstanding commitment to community outreach. Named after former Stanford linebacker greats Chris Draft and Billy Anderson, the winners were senior safety Frank Buncom and Love.
