Boston College Athletics
Players Mentioned
Eagles Hosts 77th Annual Scanlan Banquet
December 13, 2015 | Football
David Dudeck awarded the Scanlan Award
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Boston College football team celebrated the end of the 2015 season with the senior awards banquet on Sunday afternoon in BC's iconic Gasson Hall. Senior David Dudeck was awarded the Scanlan Award, Boston College's highest football honor given to the senior who best embodies the ideals of Tom Scanlan, class of 1920. All 16 of Boston College's seniors were honored at the banquet.
A courageous and inspiring fullback who played both offense and defense for the Eagle teams of 1916, 1917, and 1919, forgoing the 1918 season for military service in World War I, Thomas F. Scanlan was a popular student-athlete and beloved alumnus, who was elected Varsity Club President for five years in a row (1942-1946). He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.
Dudeck, a wide receiver from Hamilton, N.J., was consistently one of the last players to leave the practice field each day. In 45 career games, he amassed 514 receiving yards on 60 catches, three touchdowns and a career-long, 41-yard reception at Wake Forest in 2014. He also recorded 119 rushing yards on 46 carries, mostly in his freshman campaign and scored a touchdown on the ground. A member of special teams, he returned three punts for 25 yards and tallied 12 kick returns for 172 yards. Dudeck was among a group of senior leaders who was chosen randomly each week to be a game captain.
Senior defensive back Justin Simmons earned the William J. Flynn award as the team's most valuable player. The Stuart, Fla., native was also honored as the Jay McGillis Scholarship Award recipient, given to a defensive back that best exemplifies the personal qualities of team dedication and leadership by example, an extraordinary competitive spirit, and personal concern for family, friends and teammates. Simmons, an All-ACC Second-Team honoree, was second in the conference with five interceptions, tying for 13th in the nation. He also ended the season tied for second with three fumble recoveries. He finished the 2015 season third on the team with 67 tackles, including 49 solo stops. In the three-point loss then-No. 4 Notre Dame, Simmons caused three turnovers – a forced fumble and recovery and two interceptions – to go along with eight tackles. He earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors for his performance. The defensive back racked up 229 tackles, including 165 unassisted, in 50 career games with four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and eight interceptions.
Senior defensive lineman Mehdi Abdesmad received the Coaches' Award, decided upon by head coach Steve Addazio and his staff, while senior tight end Louie Addazio earned the Gridiron Club Award as the student-athlete who displays the determination, enthusiasm, and spirit expected from a Boston College football player.
Senior offensive lineman Harris Williams was awarded the Paul Cavanaugh Award given to the player who's collective on and off the field accomplishments speaks volumes about his commitment to balance, a level-headed outlook on life, and perspective on volunteerism, ethics and the community.
Senior offensive lineman Dave Bowen earned the Perseverance Award while classmate linebacker Tim Joy was awarded the Determination Award. Senior wide receiver Bobby Swigert was presented with the Courage Award after returning to the field from a 2012 knee injury and 11 surgeries. He caught his first pass in the season-opening win against Maine and went on to catch an 11-yard touchdown to break a tie game late in the first half.
Senior punter Alex Howell was presented with the Special Team Award. The Florence, S.C., native set the BC record with 92 punts on the year. He racked up 3,838 yards, averaging 41.7 yards per punt with six touchbacks, 24 fair catches, 30 inside the 20-yard line and 14 50 yards or more. He was not blocked on the season. Howell earned the Ray Guy Award Player of the Week honors after tying notching 10 punts, totaling 452 yards at Clemson. He had a season-long 58-yarder, landed six inside the 20-yard line and did not allow a touchback. His 12 attempts at Louisville tied a BC single-game record set by John Cooper in 1980. Over 28 career games, Howell punted 157 times for 6.602 yards, averaging 42.1 yards per punt, tying for fourth in BC record books. Â
Senior linebacker Steven Daniels was given the Frank Chamberlain Award as BC's most outstanding linebacker while classmate defensive lineman Connor Wujciak was honored with the Russ Joyner Award for the most outstanding defensive lineman. The two veterans led BC's front seven, which led the nation in tackles for a loss (115), total defensive (254.4 yards per game), touchdown allowed (19) and finished the regular season second in rushing yards allowed (83.3 per game).Â
Daniels ranked sixth in the ACC in tackles for loss (16) and tied for 20th in the nation, tied for 13th in the league for his sack total (6) and ranked 16th for tackles (82). He tied for sixth on BC's single-season list for tackles for a loss and earned All-ACC First-Team honors from the league's coaches, All-ACC Second-Team accolades from the media, picked up All-New England honors and was named the top defensive player in New England with the George H. "Bulger" Lowe Award by the Greater Boston Gridiron Club.Â
Wujciak racked up 31 tackles, including 11 for a loss of 43 yards and 4.5 sacks for a loss of 38 yards while starting all 12 games at nose tackle. He combined on at least one tackle for a loss in eight games, including the final five, and registered two TFLs three times. He was named All-ACC First Team by the league's coaches and media and All-New England.
