CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel football team held its annual banquet on Saturday evening, celebrating the program's 2015 Southern Conference title inside McAlister Field House.

The highlight of the banquet, which was attended by more than 450 people, was the presentation of the team's Southern Conference championship rings. Head coach Brent Thompson closed the ceremony with remarks reflecting on the team's success last season before instructing each cadet-athlete to open their box and unveil the ring.

The program also included recognition of 75 lettermen, in addition to honoring each of the 22 seniors who played their final season at The Citadel in 2015. Also recognized were team captains Tevin Floyd, Sam Frye, Vinny Miller and James Riley. Team awards were distributed, highlighted by player of the year for each of the three phases.

Defensive lineman Joe Crochet was presented with his CoSIDA Academic All-American plaque after becoming the first Bulldog since 1989 to earn first-team Academic All-America honors. Crochet earned his bachelor's degree in business administration in three years and is currently pursuing his MBA. On the field, he tied for first in the Southern Conference with two fumble recoveries, and his 3.0 sacks in conference play ranked sixth.

The Citadel starting offensive line, consisting of left tackle Isaiah Pinson, left guard Kyle Weaver, center Ryan Bednar, right guard Frye and right tackle Michael Mabry, earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. The group started 18 consecutive games together and blocked for an offense that led the SoCon in rushing offense, rushing touchdowns, yards per rush, yards per completion, fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed. The Bulldogs also broke single-game school records for touchdowns scored, rushing touchdowns against an FCS opponent and 100-yard rushers in addition to single-season school records for total offense, rushing yards, all-purpose yards and 100-yard rushers.

Linebacker Floyd was named Defensive Player of the Year. The second-team All-Southern Conference selection recorded 91 tackles, including 8.5 for loss with 2.0 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry. He tied for first in FCS with two interception return touchdowns, and his 132 interception return yards ranked first in the SoCon and third in FCS.

Kicker Eric Goins earned Special Teams Player of the Year honors. A second-team All-Southern Conference selection and Fred Mitchell Award finalist, Goins scored 90 points courtesy of 16-of-21 on field goals and a perfect 42-of-42 on PAT attempts. His field goals total, which included a school-record five against VMI, was a school record, while his total points ranked second on the program's single-season list and his PAT attempts were fourth.

Riley took home the CFA Blood & Guts Award after finishing the season with 103 tackles, including 9.5 for loss with 1.0 sack, six quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery. Riley's tackles mark tied for the third-highest single-season total in school history, and his average of 7.9 tackles per game ranked ninth in the SoCon. He finished his career with 260 tackles to rank fifth on the program's all-time list.

B-Back Tyler Renew was given the Brigadier Foundation Award for team before self. After receiving only seven carries in the first four games, the junior started the final nine games and was named a first-team STATS All-American after compiling 839 rushing yards, the seventh-highest total in the SoCon, and five touchdowns. He rushed for at least 100 yards in three straight games, including a career-high 174 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 23-22 win at South Carolina.

Defensive lineman Jonathan King won the Linwood Sikes Award for outstanding effort. He started all 13 games and recorded 24 tackles, including 5.0 for loss with 2.5 sacks, and four quarterback hurries. Fellow defensive lineman Mark Thomas was given the Cal McCombs Award. He was a second-team All-Southern Conference performer who finished the season with 36 tackles, including 9.5 for loss with 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The senior finished his career fifth on the program's all-time sacks list with 15.5.

A-Back Cam Jackson earned the Ann Seignious Award for academic and football excellence. Jackson averaged a team-high 8.93 yards per touch and ranked seventh in the Southern Conference with a total of 751 rushing yards. Sophomore DaSean Daniels was given the J.B. Weber Academic Achievement Award. The business major has a cumulative GPA of 3.87 and has earned Gold Stars each semester.

Quarterback Dane Anderson was recognized for his service as team military captain. Quarterback AJ Vandiver was named Offense Scout Team Player of the Year. Defensive back J.J. Baldwin was the team's Defense Scout Team Player of the Year, and linebacker Za'Von Whitaker took home Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year.

The Bulldogs finished the season with a 9-4 overall record and as co-champions of the Southern Conference with a 6-1 mark in conference play. They were ranked 13th in the nation in the final STATS poll and 15th in the final Coaches' poll. The Citadel won its first conference championship since 1992 and advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the first time since that same season. The Bulldogs' six conference wins tied the program record, and the nine wins overall was the second-highest single-season total in program history.

The Citadel ended its regular season with a 23-22 win at South Carolina, earning only the third victory by a SoCon team over an SEC school. The Bulldogs earned the program's first road playoff win with a 41-38 victory at Coastal Carolina in the first round and became the second team in school history to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

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