Ridley, Kobli, Heeter Earn Top Butler Football Awards
TEAM HONORS: Senior Matt Kobli, sophomore
Jordan Ridley and freshman Trae Heeter earned Butler football Most
Valuable Player awards for the 2010 season. The three
MVP’s were among a host of players honored at the
team’s annual season-ending awards banquet on Sunday, Jan.
23.
Kobli, who put his versatility on display in 2010, was named
Butler’s Offensive Top Dog for the second time in three
seasons. Playing several offensive positions, including
back-up quarterback, Kobli wound up second on the team in scoring
and passing and fourth in rushing. In 2008, the Butler signal
caller passed for 2,519 yards and a school-record 23 touchdowns,
while earning his first Offensive Top Dog Award.
Ridley, in his first year as a starting linebacker, earned
Butler’s Defensive Top Dog Award. He led the Pioneer
Football League and ranked among the national leaders in the NCAA
Division I FCS in tackles with 130, and he had 10 or more tackles
in nine of Butler’s 11 games, including a league-high 17
tackles against Morehead State. The second-year player earned
first team All-PFL honors.
Heeter, who saw action in all 11 Butler games as a kickoff return
specialist, was named Butler’s Special Teams Top Dog.
He led the Bulldogs and ranked fifth in the PFL in kick return
average (21.4), and he ranked fourth in the league in total kickoff
return yards (706). The first-year back, who earned
honorable mention All-PFL recognition as a return specialist,
further was honored as Butler’s Top Newcomer.
Junior Jeff Poss received the team’s Bulldog Pride Award,
given to the player who best exemplifies The Butler Way. Poss
played in all 11 games and finished ninth on the team in total
tackles (30). Junior Pete Mattingly, a starting offensive
guard in all 11 games this season and in 28 consecutive Butler
games, earned Butler’s Battle of the Trenches Award, given to
the team’s Lineman of the Year, and freshman Matt Benson
received the team’s Most Improved Player Award. Benson
posted 15 tackles in six games, including 5.5 tackles for loss.
Head coach Jeff Voris presented Unsung Hero Awards, honoring scout
team Players of the Year, to sophomore Jeremy Stephens (Defense),
freshman Brandon Grubbe (Offense) and freshman Greg Egan (Special
Teams). The Butler coach also presented “One Play
Warrior” Awards for Special Teams performance to senior Bob
Olszewski, juniors David Lang and Jack McKenna, sophomores Steven
Depositar and Robert Koteff and freshmen Trae Heeter, Jayme
Szafranski and Sean Grady.
2010 Butler Football Awards
Offense Top Dog: Matt Kobli
Defensive Top Dog: Jordan Ridley
Special Teams Top Dog: Trae Heeter
Bulldog Pride: Jeff Poss
Battle of the Trenches: Pete Mattingly
Most Improved Player: Matt Benson
Top Newcomer: Trae Heeter
Unsung Hero (Offense): Brandon Grubbe
Unsung Hero (Defense): Jeremy Stephens
Unsung Hero (Special Teams): Greg Egan
One Play Warrior: Bob Olszewski, David Lang,
Jack McKenna, Steven Depositar, Robert Koteff, Trae Heeter, Jayme
Szafranski, Sean Grady
