PHOTO GALLERY

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford football program held its annual senior banquet Sunday evening in Cooney Hall in the Brock School of Business at Samford.
 
The 17 seniors on the 2017 Samford football team were honored, with nine of the 17 seniors in attendance.
 
The team's special awards were given out, starting with the Gary Cooney Scholastic Award, which went to punter Austin Barnard. The Bobby Bowden and Kenny Morgan awards go to an offensive and defensive player with strong character and work ethic. The Bobby Bowden Award went to wide receiver Chris Shelling, while the Kenny Morgan Award went to safety Carter McManes.
 
The Charles Williams Memorial Jersey award, which is given to a different senior leader each season, went to linebacker Shaheed Salmon. The Team Award went to defensive lineman Ke'Tyrus Marks. Quarterback Devlin Hodges received the Offensive MVP award, while defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden was named the Defensive MVP. Barnard earned Special Teams MVP honors.
 
The Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year award went to Tyler Crowder and Jeremy Garth. The Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year is Kendall Watson and Tanner Alexander. The Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year award went to Nick Barton.
 
The Hype Man of the Year award went to Clay Buchweitz and Nelson Jordan. The Team Captain awards went to Salmon, Deion Pierre, Hodges and Gooden.
 
The All-SoCon and All-American postseason awards were also given out at the banquet.
 
Following the special awards, each of the nine seniors in attendance spoke and then were given a framed jersey. The seniors who were in attendance were Barnard, D'Alonzo, Robert Hatcher, McManes, Sam Pettway, Anthony Preston, Ray Ray Smith, Omari Williams and Chase Zeegers. The seniors who were unable to attend were Chaz Claunch, Xavier Forrest, Marks, Marquis McCullum, Pierre, Connor Rafferty, Salmon and Terrell Woods.
 
The 2017 Samford football team posted a record of 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Southern Conference play. The Bulldogs earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs for a second-consecutive season, marking the first time Samford has been to back-to-back playoffs in 25 years.
 
SAMFORD FOOTBALL BANQUET SPECIAL AWARDS
Gary Cooney Scholastic Award: Austin Barnard
Bobby Bowden Award: Chris Shelling
Kenny Morgan Award: Carter McManes
Charles Williams Memorial Jersey: Shaheed Salmon
Team Award: Ke'Tyrus Marks
Offensive MVP Award: Devlin Hodges
Defensive MVP Award: Ahmad Gooden
Special Teams MVP Award: Austin Barnard
Scout Team Player of the Year (Off.): Tyler Crowder, Jeremy Garth
Scout Team Player of the Year (Def.): Kendall Watson, Tanner Alexander
Scout Team Player of the Year (ST): Nick Barton
Hype Man of the Year Award: Clay Buchweitz, Nelson Jordan
Team Captains: Deion Pierre, Shaheed Salmon, Devlin Hodges, Ahmad Gooden