PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania Football Family gathered to honor the 2019 Quakers on Sunday afternoon. In a departure from previous banquets, this year the program took place at the Annenberg Center's Zellerbach Theater with a reception followed by an ESPYs-style presentation of the team awards.

The Quakers, their families, and Penn Football supporters gathered as a group to honor the 30 members of the Class of 2020, hand out team awards, and celebrate another proud season in the 143-year history of Penn Football.

2019 PENN FOOTBALL AWARDS

Chuck Bednarik Award
The Bednarik Award, given to the most outstanding linemen, was presented to Greg Begnoche on the offensive side of the ball and Prince Emili on the defensive side. Both seniors were first-team All-Ivy selections this season. An NFF William Campbell Trophy semifinalist for National Student-Athlete of the Year, Begnoche led an offensive line that blocked for the Ivy League's leading rusher and only the 12th 1,000-yard rusher in program history while also ranking second in the Ivy League and 30th nationally in sacks allowed per game (1.6). Emili, meanwhile, was tops among Ivy League defensive linemen with 65 total tackles and 14.0 tackles for loss, ranking 28th in FCS in tackles-for-loss per game (1.4).

Edgar Church Memorial Award
Senior running back Karekin Brooks received the Edgar Church Memorial Award, designated to the player who, by vote of the letter winners, made the biggest overall contribution to the team. Another first-team All-Ivy pick, he became just the 12th player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season with 1,003 and also had 31 receptions for 200 yards. "KK" led Penn in scoring with nine touchdowns. He graduates third on Penn's all-time rushing list with 2,847 yards, fifth all-time in carries, sixth in career rushing TDs, and eighth all-time at Penn in all-purpose yards (3,355). Brookes ran for 202 yards in a win at Lafayette, becoming the first back in program history with three 200-yard games during his career.

George Munger Awards
The prestigious George A. Munger Award is named after Penn's Hall of Fame coach and presented to the team's offensive and defensive most valuable players. This year, the recipients were Brooks and Emili.

Reds Bagnell Awards
Senior wide receiver Kolton Huber and senior outside linebacker Hunter Hayes were presented with the Bagnell Award, named after Hall of Fame back Francis (Reds) Bagnell and given to the team's unsung heroes. Huber finished the 2019 season with 23 catches for 270 yards (an 11.3 per-catch average) and scored touchdowns against Delaware (2) and Cornell. Hayes had 31 tackles on the season, 20 solo, including 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also had a forced fumble against Brown, three QB hurries and a pass breakup.

Dan "Lake" Staffieri Award
The Lake Award is presented to the player who has displayed dedication to leadership, team spirit and Penn pride in honor of Coach Dan "Lake" Staffieri, a team motivator for 33 seasons. The 2019 honoree is senior tight end Brendan O'Hara.

Harry Gamble Football Awards
The Football Club award for distinct athletic achievement was given to sophomore wide receiver Ryan Cragun (offense), senior linebacker Zach Evans (defense), senior Dante' Moore (special teams), and freshman defensive back Kendren Smith (rookie). Cragun led the Quakers in receptions (58) and receiving yards (885) and was a second-team All-Ivy selection after he had four games of at least 128 receiving yards (including 208 at Yale). Evans joined him on the All-Ivy second team after leading Penn with 83 tackles (reaching double figures in a game twice) and an interception. Moore played in all 10 games, making three tackles. Smith played in nine of 10 games in his freshman campaign and had 33 tackles (26 solo) as well as his first collegiate interception at Columbia and five other pass breakups.

George A. Weiss Awards
Senior offensive lineman Jeff Gibbs (offense) and senior defensive lineman Taheeb Sonekan (defense) were honored with the George A. Weiss Award, given to the players who most embody the grit and determination that is the "Pennsylvania kind of football." Gibbs was part of an offensive line that helped Brooks become just the 12th 1,000-yard rusher in program history while ranking second in the Ivy League and 30th nationally in sacks allowed per game (1.6). Sonekan had 33 tackles this season, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, as well as four QB hurries.

Jack LeFort Football Person of the Year Award
In addition to the player awards, former captain Brandon Copeland W'13 was bestowed the Jack LeFort Person of the Year Alumni Award. An offensive lineman for the NFL's New York Jets, Copeland has brought distinction to himself through his philanthropic efforts and a class he co-teaches at Penn entitled Inequity and Empowerment, Urban Financial Literacy (or, as Professor Cope calls it, "Life 101").
 
Victory for Vhito Award
For the third year in a row, the Victory for Vhito Inspiration Award is presented to the player who has shown Vhito's spirit of fighting hard with a refreshing and playful outlook on life. The inaugural recipient was senior defensive back Sam Philippi, who suffered a season-ending injury in the 2018 opener but returned this year to serve as a captain. He started all 10 games and had 51 tackles, an interception against Sacred Heart, a forced fumble vs. Brown, and four pass breakups.
 
Dave Pottruck Leadership Award
A new award given this year, the Dave Pottruck Award is presented to the senior who, by a vote of his teammates, has demonstrated the most leadership of the team, both on and off the field. The inaugural recipient was quarterback Nick Robinson, who led the Quakers with 196 completions for 2,331 yards and 16 passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 52 yards to average 238.3 yards of total offense per game.