University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Football Seniors, Standouts Honored at Banquet
December 02, 2019 | Football
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA football program recognized its senior class and outstanding performers for the 2019 season at its annual banquet Sunday afternoon at Luskin Conference Center.
Former Bruin quarterback and current UCLA Radio Network from IMG sideline reporter Wayne Cook again served as the master of ceremonies for the room of special invited guests. Head coach Chip Kelly, assistant coaches and staff also addressed the attendees.
Presented by graduate assistant coaches Daniel Fields and Jerry Neuheisel, who were teammates of the award's namesake, the Nick Pasquale "Pac" Award for scout-team excellence went to Bradley Whitworth and Zack Huffstutter. A first-year member of the program, Whitworth was lauded for his contributions to the offensive-line unit. Huffstutter, a redshirt freshman defensive back who also earned the award in 2018, played in the first 10 games of his career on special teams during the 2019 season.
The Jackie R. Robinson Award for academic excellence was earned by redshirt sophomore running back Cole Kinder. A five-time member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll off the field, Kinder became a staple on special teams in 2019 and set a new career high with 33 rushing yards in the Bruins' Oct. 17 win at Stanford.
For his work ethic in the weight room, redshirt freshman Elisha Guidry was named the recipient of the Iron Bruin Award by Director of Football Performance Frank Wintrich. The defensive back totaled 32 tackles on the year and recovered the first fumble of his career in UCLA's Oct. 26 win versus Arizona State. Guidry played in all 12 games, starting the final nine.
Senior linebacker Lokeni Toailoa was presented with the Jerry Long "Heart" Award. The Rialto, Calif. native finished third on the team with a career-high 54 tackles and also set a new personal-best mark with 6.5 tackles for loss while playing in all 12 games for the second consecutive season. He started 10 of those games.
The Tommy Prothro Award for special-teams play was awarded to Wade Lees. The punter, who joined the team as a graduate student prior to the 2019 season, averaged 42.9 yards per kick. Eighteen of his 49 punts were pinned inside the 20-yard line and 25 resulted in fair catches. Lees also served as the holder on field goals and extra points.
Krys Barnes was named the Kenneth S. Washington Most Outstanding Senior after finishing first or second on the team in tackles (74), tackles for loss (10.0), sacks (4.0) and interceptions (one). His standout performance came in the Bruins' Nov. 2 win versus Colorado, when he accounted for seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception.
For the second year in a row, running back Joshua Kelley earned the Henry R. "Red" Sanders Award for Most Valuable Player. In UCLA's season finale, the redshirt senior became the eighth player in program history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in back-to-back seasons. Kelley finished second in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game (96.4) and rushing touchdowns (12). He scored in six of the last seven games, including a four-touchdown performance in the Bruins' Oct. 26 win versus Arizona State.
Redshirt senior Josh Woods collected the Ed "Coach K" Kezirian Award for Athletic and Academic Balance. Playing in 12 games, Woods put up career highs across the board, registering 51 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks (first on team), one interception and two fumble recoveries. Off the field, the Upland, Calif. native has made the Athletic Director's Honor Roll seven times.
The final award of the day, the Bobby Field Captains' Award, was presented to wide receiver Ethan Fernea. Fernea, who was presented Pasquale's No. 36 before the season began, shined again on special teams while taking on a larger role in the offense in 2019. In UCLA's Nov. 2 win versus Colorado, the Dripping Springs, Texas native pulled in a 45-yard touchdown reception for the first scoring play of his career.
Senior awards were also handed out to Barnes, Fernea, Kelley, Lees, Toailoa, Woods, offensive lineman Michael Alves, linebacker Je'Vari Anderson, long snapper Johnny Den Bleyker, linebacker Jason Harris, wide receiver Dymond Lee, linebacker Keisean Lucier-South, tight end Matt Lynch, kicker JJ Molson, offensive lineman Boss Tagaloa, linebacker Tyree Thompson and long snapper Koby Walsh.
