NEW YORK—Twelve individual awards were presented and a 34-member senior class was recognized by Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Al Bagnoli as Columbia Football and the Columbia Football Players Club hosted its annual 2021 football awards banquet Friday evening at the Forum.
 
Bagnoli spoke about team accomplishments and introduced each of the 34 seniors. Each of the assistant coaches presented the 12 individual awards. The evening began with an hour-long welcome reception from 6-7 followed by the banquet program featuring a season recap, guest introductions, highlight videos. Graduating senior captains Ben Mathiasmeier and Justin Woodley concluded the evening with a few words.
 
Columbia honored its 34-member 2022 senior class which included (by alphabetical order) Paul Akere, Will Allen, Cameron Brown, Cameren Carter, Inho Choi, Jordan Colbert, Cam Dillon, Graham Flinn, John Foreback, John Harris, Devin Hart, Marquis Hubbard, Emerson Kabus, Dante Landolfi, Derric Lee, Evan Loesel, Casey Mariucci, Ben Mathiasmeier, Dante Miller, Drake Morey, Chris Park, Carson Powell, Brandon Radice, Ryan Rhoden, Mike Roussos, Drew Schmid, Mitchell Shinskie, Joshua Smythe-Macaulay, Mitchell Sturgill, Watson Tansil, Broderick Taylor, Xavier Thibault, Justin Woodley, and Tyler Worrell.
 
The banquet came on the eve of Columbia's 2022 Spring Football Game, which will take place on Saturday at noon at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium.
 
Columbia concluded its 2021 season with a 7-3 overall record and finished tied for fourth in the Ivy League with a 4-3 conference record. The seven overall wins rank as the third most at Columbia since the school joined the Ivy League in 1956 and rank as the ninth most overall season wins in school history. For the third time in the last four seasons, Columbia went an undefeated 3-0 in non-conference games. The Lions also registered a 4-1 home record with the .800 home winning percentage ranking as the 11^th best total in school history. And, the Lions finished with a winning record for the third time in the last four seasons for the first time since 1945-48. The 24 wins during those four years also are the most in 73 years (1945-48).
 
Three players earned the team's Most Valuable Player Awards, led by senior defensive back Ben Mathiasmeier, who was presented with the prestigious Sid Luckman MVP award. A First Team All-Ivy League honoree in 2021 and two-time All-Ivy player, Mathiasmeier led the Ivy League with four interceptions and ranked No. 16 nationally in interceptions per game (0.4), ranked 20^th in the Ivy League and third on the squad with 50 tackles (34 solo), and finished with 2.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. A team captain, Mathiasmeier earned Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 26 after intercepting a career-best two passes vs. Georgetown. He also tied the school's career record for most games played in a career by seeing action in all 40 contests. Over his 40-game and 23-start career, Mathiasmeier made 147 tackles (92 solo), intercepted seven passes, broke up seven passes, recovered two fumbles, and made 6.0 tackles for loss. His seven career interceptions rank No. 22 in school history and his 14 career passes defended rank No. 23. In addition, Mathiasmeier earned Academic All-Ivy League honors for the third consecutive season (2019, 2020, and 2021). He becomes just the second football player in school history to earn three Academic All-Ivy League honors, joining Travis Chmelka (2001, 2002, and 2003). A two-time William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, Mathiasmeier earned CoSIDa Academic All-District honors as a defensive back. A Katy, Texas native, he is an Economics major.
 
Senior running back Dante Miller earned the Most Valuable Offensive Player award. A First Team All-Ivy League honoree, Miller ranked No. 2 in the Ivy League in both rushing yards (814) and rushing yards per game (81.4), third in rushing yards per carry (5.61), and fourth in all-purpose yardage per game (92.20), along with four touchdowns on 145 carries. He also ranked No. 26 nationally in rushing yards per carry (5.61) and No. 30 in rushing yards per game (81.4) and caught nine passes for 43 yards, led the team in all-purpose yardage (920), ranked No. 2 on the squad in total yards, and also played extensively on special teams. An explosive runner with speed, Miller had six runs of 40 yards or more and 12 rushes for over 20 yards (8 percent of his carries). His long run of 75 yards and career-high in rushing yards (187) came vs. Penn. Over his three-year, 26-game career, Miller rushed for 1,281 yards and six touchdowns on 258 carries for a 5.0 yards per carry average. He also caught 20 passes for 73 yards and made three tackles on special teams. A Rockingham, N.C. native, Miller is a Sociology major. He will play his final collegiate season at South Carolina in 2022.
 
 
Senior linebacker Cam Dillon was presented with the Most Valuable Defensive Player award. A Second Team All-Ivy League selection in 2021, Dillon had an impressive 2021 season as he ranked No. 3 in the Ivy League and No. 22 nationally in sacks (0.85), ranked No. 3 in the Ivy League, and No. 32 in tackles for loss per game (1.2), and totaled team-highs for tackles for loss (13.0), sacks (8.5) and forced fumbles (two). He also ranked No. 2 on the squad and No. 17 in the Ivy League in total tackles with 51 (30 solo). Dillon's 8.5 sacks on the year rank No. 4 among Columbia all-time season totals and his 68 yards from sacks set a new Columbia school-record. His most impressive performance came at Central Connecticut State where he earned National and Ivy League Player of the Week honors after he set the school's game record for sacks with 5.5, forced two fumbles, recorded Columbia's first safety in four years, and led the Lions with eight tackles. In his 23-game, 12-start career, Dillon made 81 tackles (43 solo), 15.5 tackles for loss for 83 yards, 9.5 sacks for 71 yards, along with one interception, and two forced fumbles. A Findlay, Ohio, Dillon is a Mechanical Engineering major.
 
Junior defensive lineman Mitch Moyer and senior running back Ryan Young were both honored with the David W. Smyth Memorial Cup, an award which goes to an outstanding player displaying intangibles such as spirit, leadership, sportsmanship, and loyalty. Moyer started all 10 games on the defensive line, ranked No. 6 on the team in tackles (33), registered 5.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. In his two-year career, he has played in 18 games with 10 starts and has made 40 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and had two sacks. A Wilmington, Del. native, Moyer is majoring in Economics.
 
An honorable mention All-Ivy League selection in 2021, Young rushed for 498 yards and three touchdowns on 128 carries, ranked No. 2 on the squad with 18 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown, and ranked No. 2 on the team in scoring with four touchdowns and 24 points. He was a Third Team All-Ivy League honoree by Phil Steele Magazine after totaling three games with 100 or more all-purpose yards. He scored a career-high three touchdowns at Yale, including a 60-yard run. In his three-year, 29-game career, Young has rushed for 1,323 yards and seven touchdowns on 332 carries (4.0 yards per carry), and caught 42 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Among school career record-holders, Young ranks No. 9 on the all-time rushing list with 1,323 yards list, No. 13 on the all-time rushing attempts list (332), and No. 7 on the most receptions for a running back list (42). A Wheaton, Ill. native, Young is a Political Science major and plans to return to Columbia for the 2022 season.
 
Three players—senior defensive back Will Allen, senior punter Drew Schmid, and senior linebacker Justin Woodley—were presented with the Head Coach Career Achievement Award. A two-year All-Ivy League selection (2017 and 2021), Allen led the Lions with 11 pass breakups, finished with two interceptions with 47 return yards and 22 tackles (14 solo) as a cornerback in 2021. He also ranked No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in the Ivy League in kickoff return touchdowns (1), No. 18 nationally and No. 2 in Ivy League in passes defended (1.2 per game) and No. 8 in the Ivy League in interceptions (two). His 11 pass breakups rank tied for the fifth-most total in Columbia season history. He scored a touchdown on a 92-yard kickoff return vs. Georgetown and intercepted a career-best two passes in the season finale at Cornell. In his four-year, 38-game career, Allen has made 61 tackles (40 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss for eight yards, intercepted three passes, and finished with 20 pass deflections (three INT/17 pass breakups). He also has 1,026 kickoff return yards, 46 interception return yards, Among Columbia career records, Allen holds school-records for most yards per kickoff return (26.11), most kickoff return touchdowns (1), most career plays of 80-plus yards (2), and ranks second in most blocked kicks (5) and ranks seventh all-time in Columbia records with 17 career pass breakups. A Pembroke Pines, Fla. native, Allen is an Economics major.
 
A San Diego, Calif. native, Schmid is a two-time All-Ivy League punter in his career (2018 and 2021). In 2021, Schmid ranked No. 4 in the Ivy League in punting (39.8), and No. 3 in the Ivy League in most punts downed inside the 20-yard line (17). In career statistics, Schmid ranks No. 2 all-time at Columbia in most punts downed inside the 20-yard line (50), No. 5 in most punt yards (6,289), No. 5 in most punts (164), and No. 8 in punting average (38.30). Schmid majors in Political Science.
 
A Chula Vista, Calif. native, Woodley served as team captain in 2021 and saw action in eight games with four starts at linebacker. Before suffering an injury, he was the leading tackler on the squad and finishes with 29 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and three pass breakups. While battling injuries throughout his career, Woodley played in 22 career games, made 64 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss with one sack and four pass breakups. Woodley is a Psychology major and already has assumed his new position on Columbia's football coaching staff as its Defensive Assistant.
 
Junior placekicker Alex Felkins and senior return specialist Mike Roussos both earned the Special Teams award, given to the players who excelled on special teams. Felkins, a Tulsa, Okla. native, is a two-time All-Ivy League honoree (2019 and 2021). He concluded a 2021 season that saw him rank No. 8 nationally and No. 1 in the Ivy League in field goals per game (1.60) and saw him set Columbia season school-records for most field goals (16), most field goal attempts (24), most points scored by a placekicker (73), and most touchbacks (38). He also ranked No. 4 in the Ivy League in total scoring (73 points), No. 2 in kick scoring (73). In his 20-game career, Felkins has scored 122 points, converted 25 of 38 field goals, converted 47 of 51 extra points, and totaled 62 touchbacks on kickoffs. He currently ranks No. 2 in school history for most field goals made (25), No. 3 in most points scored by a placekicker (122), No. 7 in most extra points (47), and he holds the school-record for most 50-yard field goals (2). He is one of only five kickers in Ivy League history to convert two or more 50-yard field goals in a career. Felkins is a Psychology major.
 
A New Port Richey, Fla. native, Roussos is a three-time First Team All-Ivy League selection (2018, 2019, 2021) and 2019 STATS FCS Third Team All-America selection as a return specialist. This year, Roussos ranked No. 14 nationally and No. 3 in the Ivy League in punt return average (9.4), No. 6 in the Ivy League in all-purpose yards per game (81.25), No. 18 nationally in combined kick return yardage, and No. 1 in the Ivy League (547), and No. 15 nationally and No. 3 in the Ivy League in kickoff returns (26.4). In eight games, he finished with 652 all-purpose yards (397 on kickoff returns, 152 on punt returns, 104 receiving yards), three 100-yard all-purpose games, and caught 16 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Over his three-year, 26-game career, Roussos has totaled 2,393 all-purpose yards (No. 10 on the all-time list), 92.0 all-purpose yards per game (No. 6 on the all-time list), 612 punt return yards (No. 3), 14.60 punt return average (No. 2), 1,265 kickoff return yards (No. 6), 24.80 kickoff return average (No. 2), 511 receiving yards on 54 receptions, and nine 100-yard all-purpose games. He has scored 10 career touchdowns (four rushing, three receiving, and three on returns) and has set or tied Columbia career records for most combined return touchdowns (3), most combined returns of over 50 yards (7), most plays of 50-yards or more (7), and most punt return touchdowns (2), and most kickoff return touchdowns (1). Roussos is a five-time Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week honoree. Roussos is a Mechanical Engineering major.
 
Sophomore quarterback Joe Green was named the team's Ken Germann Freshman Award for the most accomplished and outstanding first-year/rookie player. Green was named the Ivy League's Rookie of the Year and the ECAC All-Region Rookie of the Year. He is Columbia's first quarterback and the first player since 2007 (Alex Gross) to earn the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award. He becomes the first quarterback at Columbia to earn an Ivy League postseason award since John Witkowski '84 won the Bushnell Cup in 1982. Green ranked among the top-5 Ivy League leaders in every passing statistic while throwing for 1,590 yards and 10 touchdowns, 159.0 yards passing per game, and finished with a 55.8 completion percentage (148 of 265), and rushed for 22 yards on 38 carries and one touchdown in 10 games started. Green threw just three interceptions in 265 passes as he set the school-record for lowest percentage of passes had intercepted (0.011) in a season. After transferring to Columbia from San Diego State, Green earned three Ivy League Rookie of the Week awards, including in back-to-back weeks. Green is a native of Sammamish, Wash., and is enrolled at Columbia College.
 
Senior center Tyler Worrell earned the Jack Armstrong Most Outstanding Award as the team's most outstanding offensive lineman. A Katy, Texas native, Worrell anchored Columbia's offensive line as its starting center. In starting eight games, Worrell led an offensive line that yielded just 12 sacks for 65 yards, a mark that ranked No. 14 nationally and No. 2 in the Ivy League (1.10 sacks per game), throw only three interceptions, which led the nation in least interceptions thrown, helped the Lions rush for 158 yards per game and accumulate 320.5 total yards of offense per game. In his career, Worrell has played in 14 games. He is an Economics major.
 
Two players—senior linebacker John Harris and senior wide receiver Ernest Robertson—both were awarded the Lions' Maniatty-Remmer Unsung Hero Award, given to a player whose role is not always obvious to the outside observer, but without his contribution, the team would not be as successful. Harris made 21 tackles (13 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sack, and intercepted a pass in nine games and one start at middle linebacker in 2021. A playmaker, Harris also had an outstanding sophomore season in 2019 when he started five games, forced a team-high two fumbles, and ranked No. 3 on the squad in tackles with 53 (26 solo). Over his three-year career, Harris had made 74 tackles (39 solo), registered 7.5 tackles for loss for 34 yards, 3.0 sacks for 26 yards, intercepted one pass, forced two fumbles, and recovered a fumble. Harris is an Economics major who is from Santa Barbara, Calif.
 
Robertson led the Lions in both receiving yards (280) and yards per reception (20.0) and ranked sixth on the team with 14 receptions for 280 yards and one touchdown. He caught at least one pass in eight of 10 games on the year. His most memorable game came in the season opener when he caught a 69-yard TD pass from Joe Green and ran for a 17-yard touchdown. In his 20-game career, Robertson has caught 19 passes for 334 yards and on touchdown and also rushed for a 17-yard TD. He has also competed as a high jumper on Columbia's track and field team. A Bronx, N.Y. native, Robertson majors in Earth Institute.
 
Senior defensive back Jordan Colbert and junior tight end Luke Painton were both named Columbia's Lou Little Coaches Most Improved Player award, given to the player who through extraordinary efforts, improved his play and maximized his production. An honorable mention All-Ivy League selection, Colbert came on strong at the end of the season as he made 24 tackles in the last three contests at free safety for the Lions. A hard hitter and playmaker, Colbert ranked No. 4 on the Lions in total tackles with 49 (25 solo), registered two interceptions, broke up five passes, and recovered a fumble. He ranked No. 24 in the Ivy League in tackles. In his two-year, 20-game career, Colbert has totaled 68 tackles (39 solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss, two interceptions, and six pass breakups. A Washington, D.C. native, Colbert is a Psychology major who will play at Rhode Island next year.
 
Senior offensive lineman Stew Newblatt and junior linebacker Scott Valentas both earned the team's John J. Cirigliano Ironman Award, given to the players who overcome adversity to become a strong contributor to the team on the field. A team captain on the offensive line, Newblatt started all 10 games at left tackle for the Lions. He helped the Lions hold opponents to a school-record low 12 sacks and only 65 sacks yards on the year. He has seen action in 21 career games with 11 starts. Newblatt, a Clarkston, Mich. native, majors in American Studies and will return in 2022.
 
A Second Team All-Ivy League pick in 2021 and two-time All-Ivy League honoree (2019 and 2021), Valentas led the Lions in tackles (56), ranked second on the squad in tackles for loss (nine), finished with 2.0 sacks and four pass breakups after seeing action in only eight games. In Ivy League statistics, Valentas ranked No. 5 in tackles per game (7.0) and No. 6 in tackles for loss per game (1.13). In only two years and 18 games played in his career, Valentas has made 116 total tackles (64 solo), 17.5 tackles for loss (60 yards), 2.0 sacks (14 yards), along with one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. As a first-year in 2019, Valentas earned Third Team Freshman All-America honors by Phil Steele Magazine and was an honorable mention All-Ivy League selection. A Wichita, Kansas native, Valentas is an Economics major.
 
Senior defensive lineman Paul Akere took home the Phil Fusco Award, given to a player who exhibits overall leadership both on and off the field. An FCS ADA Academic All-Star and Second Team All-Ivy League honoree, Akere ranked No. 9 in the Ivy League in sacks (5.0-39 yards), ranked No. 10 in the Ivy League in tackles for loss (9.0-51 yards), finished the year ranked No. 5 on the squad in tackles, impressive for a defensive lineman, with 42 (27 solo), and led the Lions with four quarterback hurries in 2021. He was also named a CoSIDa Academic All-District selection for his performance on the field and in the classroom and his most productive performance came vs. Georgetown when he led the Lions with eight tackles (six solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. In his three-year, 22-game career, Akere has registered 6.0 sacks for 41 yards, 10.0 tackles for loss for 53 yards, 49 total tackles (31 solo) with one forced fumble. A Carrollton, Texas native, Akere is a Political Science major.
 
The three co-captains Ben Mathiasmeier, Stew Newblatt, and Justin Woodley were also recognized for their leadership with the annual William V. Campbell-Campbell-Murff Captains Award.
 
Columbia will officially announce its 2022 fall schedule, television schedule and ticket availability at a later date. The Lions will also officially announce their coaching staff additions next week.
 
2021 COLUMBIA FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS
Friday, April 22, 2022 | Annual Football Awards Banquet | The Forum, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
 
Sid Luckman Most Valuable Player Award: Ben Mathiasmeier (DB)
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Dante Miller (RB)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Cam Dillon (LB)
David W. Smyth Memorial Cup: Mitch Moyer (DL), Ryan Young (RB)
Head Coach Career Achievement Award: Will Allen (DB), Drew Schmid (P), Justin Woodley (LB)
Special Teams Award: Alex Felkins (PK), Mike Roussos (RS)
Ken Gerrmann Freshman of the Year Award: Joe Green (QB)
Jack Armstrong Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award: Tyler Worrell (OL)
Maniatty-Remmer Unsung Hero Award: John Harris (LB), Ernest Robertson (WR)
Lou Little Coaches Most Improved Award: Jordan Colbert (DB), Luke Painton (TE)
John J. Cirigliano Ironman Award: Stew Newblatt (OL), Scott Valentas (LB)
Phil Fusco Award: Paul Akere (DL)
Campbell Murff Captains Award: Ben Mathiasmeier (DB), Stew Newblatt (OL), Justin Woodley (LB)
 
COMPLETE LIST OF 2021 COLUMBIA FOOTBALL HONORS:
 
FCS ADA ACADEMIC ALL-STAR
Paul Akere (DL)
 
ECAC ALL-REGION
Rookie of the Year: Joe Green (QB)
First Team: Ben Mathiasmeier (DB)
 
ALL-IVY LEAGUE
Rookie of the Year: Joe Green (QB)
First Team: Dante Miller (RB), Ben Mathiasmeier (DB), Mike Roussos (RS)
Second Team: Tyler Worrell (OL), Paul Akere (DL), Cam Dillon (LB), Scott Valentas (LB), Alex Felkins (PK)
Honorable Mention: Ryan Young (RB), Jordan Colbert (DB), Will Allen (DB), Drew Schmid (P)
Academic All-Ivy League Team: Ben Mathiasmeier (DB)
 
PHIL STEELE MAGAZINE ALL-IVY LEAGUE
First Team: Dante Miller (RB), Ben Mathiasmeier (DB), Mike Roussos (All-Purpose)
Second Team: Paul Akere (DL), Cam Dillon (LB), Will Allen (DB),
Third Team: Tyler Worrell (OL), Ryan Young (RB), Scott Valentas (LB), Jordan Colbert (DB), Alex Felkins (PK), Mike Roussos (PR), Mike Roussos (KOR)
Fourth Team: Parker Lefton (LS), Drew Schmid (P)
 
COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 1
First Team: Paul Akere (DL), John Harris (LB), Ben Mathiasmeier (DB)
 
WILILIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY
Semifinalist: Ben Mathiasmeier (DB)
 
NFF HAMPSHIRE HONOR SOCIETY
Paul Akere (DL), Cameron Brown (LB), Cameren Carter (DL), Graham Flinn (DB), John Harris (LB), Parker Lefton (LS), Ben Mathiasmeier (DB), Brandon Radice (TE), Mike Roussos (WR), Drew Schmid (P), Mitchell Shinskie (DL), Xavier Thibault (DL), Tyler Worell (OL)
 
STATS PERFORM NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cam Dillon (Oct. 11)
 
COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS IVY LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Defensive: Ben Mathiasmeier (Sept. 26), Cam Dillon (Oct. 10), Scott Valentas (Oct. 17)
 
IVY LEAGUE WEEKLY HONORS
Defensive Player of the Week: Ben Mathiasmeier (Sept. 27), Cam Dillon (Oct. 11)
Special Teams Player of the Week: Alex Felkins (Sept. 20), Mike Roussos (Nov. 15)
Rookie of the Week: Joe Green (Oct. 25), Joe Green (Nov. 1), Joe Green (Nov. 15)