Ezeiruaku Sweeps Major New England Awards
December 03, 2024 | Football
BC defensive end wins Bulger Lowe and Gold Helmet.
BOSTON – Boston College senior defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku (Williamstown, N.J.) has been named the recipient of the Bulger Lowe Award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston and the Season Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers.
Established in 1939, the George H. "Bulger" Lowe Award recognizes the top offensive and defensive player in the NCAA Bowl and Championship Divisions. Ezeiruaku is the 43rd all-time winner from BC and first since wide receiver Zay Flowers in 2022. He also joins Flowers as one of seven Eagles to win the Bulger and Gold Helmet Awards in the same season. Ezeiruaku is the first defensive player from BC to win the Bulger Lowe Award since cornerback Hamp Cheevers (2018) and first to win the Gold Helmet Award since defensive end Zach Allen (2018).
A two-time captain for the Eagles, Ezeiruaku was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week three times this season. He led FBS with 16.5 sacks, which tied Harold Landry's BC single-season record, set in 2016. His 20.5 tackles for loss are also second most in the country. Ezeiruaku led the Eagles with 80 tackles this season to go with three forced fumbles and 15 quarterback hurries.
Ezeiruaku will first be honored at the NEFW Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 12 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center. The next week, he will be honored by the GCGB at its College Awards Night on Monday, Dec. 16 at the Burlington Marriott.
BC Winners of the Bulger Lowe Award
1939: Gene Goodreault, End
1940: Charlie O'Rourke, HB
1942: Mike Holovak, Back
1963: Jack Concannon, QB
1970: Fred Willis, RB
1973: Mike Esposito, RB
1975: Mike Kruczek, QB
1980: Jim Budness, LB
1982: Doug Flutie, QB
1983: Brian Brennan, WR
1984: Doug Flutie, QB, Mike Ruth, NT
1985: Mike Ruth, NT
1986: John Bosa, DT
1987: Bill Romanowski, LB
1990: Matt Kelley, LB
1991: Tom McManus, LB
1992: Chuckie Dukes, RB, Charles Brennan, LB
1993: Glenn Foley, QB, Stephen Boyd, LB
1994: Mike Mamula, DE, Pete Mitchell, TE
1996: Stan Colinet, DE
1997: Erik Storz, LB
1999: Chris Hovan, DT
2001: Scott Bradley, LB
2002: Derrick Knight, RB
2003: Derrick Knight, RB
2005: Mathias Kiwanuka, DE
2006: DeJuan Tribble, CB
2007: Matt Ryan, QB
2008: Mark Herzlich, LB
2010: Montel Harris, RB, Luke Kuechly, LB
2016: Harold Landry, DE
2017: Zach Allen, DE, AJ Dillon, RB
2018: Hamp Cheevers, CB
2020: Hunter Long, TE
2022: Zay Flowers, WR
2024: Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE
BC Winners of the Golden Helmet Award
1976: Peter Cronan, LB
1979: Jeff Dziama, LB
1982: Doug Flutie, QB
1984: Doug Flutie, QB
1985: Mike Ruth, NT
1994: Pete Mitchell, TE
1998: Mike Cloud, RB
2016: Harold Landry, DE
2018: Zach Allen, DE
2022: Zay Flowers, WR
2024: Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE
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Established in 1939, the George H. "Bulger" Lowe Award recognizes the top offensive and defensive player in the NCAA Bowl and Championship Divisions. Ezeiruaku is the 43rd all-time winner from BC and first since wide receiver Zay Flowers in 2022. He also joins Flowers as one of seven Eagles to win the Bulger and Gold Helmet Awards in the same season. Ezeiruaku is the first defensive player from BC to win the Bulger Lowe Award since cornerback Hamp Cheevers (2018) and first to win the Gold Helmet Award since defensive end Zach Allen (2018).
A two-time captain for the Eagles, Ezeiruaku was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week three times this season. He led FBS with 16.5 sacks, which tied Harold Landry's BC single-season record, set in 2016. His 20.5 tackles for loss are also second most in the country. Ezeiruaku led the Eagles with 80 tackles this season to go with three forced fumbles and 15 quarterback hurries.
Ezeiruaku will first be honored at the NEFW Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 12 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center. The next week, he will be honored by the GCGB at its College Awards Night on Monday, Dec. 16 at the Burlington Marriott.
BC Winners of the Bulger Lowe Award
1939: Gene Goodreault, End
1940: Charlie O'Rourke, HB
1942: Mike Holovak, Back
1963: Jack Concannon, QB
1970: Fred Willis, RB
1973: Mike Esposito, RB
1975: Mike Kruczek, QB
1980: Jim Budness, LB
1982: Doug Flutie, QB
1983: Brian Brennan, WR
1984: Doug Flutie, QB, Mike Ruth, NT
1985: Mike Ruth, NT
1986: John Bosa, DT
1987: Bill Romanowski, LB
1990: Matt Kelley, LB
1991: Tom McManus, LB
1992: Chuckie Dukes, RB, Charles Brennan, LB
1993: Glenn Foley, QB, Stephen Boyd, LB
1994: Mike Mamula, DE, Pete Mitchell, TE
1996: Stan Colinet, DE
1997: Erik Storz, LB
1999: Chris Hovan, DT
2001: Scott Bradley, LB
2002: Derrick Knight, RB
2003: Derrick Knight, RB
2005: Mathias Kiwanuka, DE
2006: DeJuan Tribble, CB
2007: Matt Ryan, QB
2008: Mark Herzlich, LB
2010: Montel Harris, RB, Luke Kuechly, LB
2016: Harold Landry, DE
2017: Zach Allen, DE, AJ Dillon, RB
2018: Hamp Cheevers, CB
2020: Hunter Long, TE
2022: Zay Flowers, WR
2024: Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE
BC Winners of the Golden Helmet Award
1976: Peter Cronan, LB
1979: Jeff Dziama, LB
1982: Doug Flutie, QB
1984: Doug Flutie, QB
1985: Mike Ruth, NT
1994: Pete Mitchell, TE
1998: Mike Cloud, RB
2016: Harold Landry, DE
2018: Zach Allen, DE
2022: Zay Flowers, WR
2024: Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE
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Players Mentioned
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