Dec. 7, 2006

SAN DIEGO - San Diego State linebacker Joe Martin (Palmdale, Calif.) took home the John Simcox Most Valuable Player award to cap off the annual Aztec football banquet held Sunday evening at the Marriott Marina Hotel in downtown San Diego. Martin's award marked the fourth straight year in which an SDSU linebacker captured team MVP honors, following Freddy Keiaho (2005) and Kirk Morrison (2003, 2004).

Martin was also one of three student-athletes to claim two awards at the festivities. The SDSU senior also collected the Dr. R. Hardy/C.E. Peterson Captain's Award, sharing the honor with quarterback Kevin O'Connell (Carlsbad, Calif.), running back Lynell Hamilton (Stockton, Calif.) and safety Reggie Grisgsby (Oceanside, Calif.).

Senior offensive lineman Patrick Justman (Palo Alto, Calif.) and freshman defensive back Nick Sandford (Orange, Calif.) were the other two-time winners on the evening. Justman was presented with the Aztec Coaches Award, along with defensive back Terrell Maze (Santa Monica, Calif.) and defensive linemen Jonathan Bailes (Tampa, Fla.) and Emil Metroka (San Diego, Calif.). Sandford, meanwhile, shared the Iron Man Special Teams Player Award with linebacker Freddy Dunkle (Chula Vista, Calif.).

In addition, both Justman and Sandford were recipients of the President's Award for Highest Standards of Academic and Athletic Excellence, which was also given to sophomore Josh Ulibarri (Hemet, Calif.) and juniors Matthew Callahan (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and Scotty James (Elsinore, Calif.). It was the fourth consecutive year Justman took home the award and third straight time for Callahan.

SDSU head coach Chuck Long presided over the banquet in which a total of 12 awards were presented to 22 student-athletes. The ceremonies were also attended by the Aztec coaching staff, as well as athletic administration members.

Below is a complete list of winners:

President's Award for Most Improved Scholastic Achievement
Mike Kravetz

President's Award for Highest Standards of Academic and Athletic Excellence
Freshman - Nick Sandford
Sophomore - Josh Ulibarri
Junior - Matthew Callahan / Scotty James
Senior - Patrick Justman

Scout Team Award
Offense - Davon Brown
Defense - Andrew Preston

AIM Award
Andrew Schantz

Iron Man Special Teams Player Award
Freddy Dunkle / Nick Sandford

Most Improved Player
Ornan Nwansi

Special Teams MVP
Tyler Schmitt

Most Inspirational
Robert Miller

Dr. R. Hardy / C. E. Peterson Captains Award
Offense - Kevin O'Connell / Lynell Hamilton
Defense - Joe Martin / Reggie Grigsby

Byron H. Chase Memorial Award
2006 Player of the Year
Offense - Atiyyah Henderson
Defense - Brett Sturm

Aztec Coaches Award
Patrick Justman
Terrell Maze
Jonathan Bailes
Emil Metroka

John Simcox Memorial Award
2006 Most Valuable Player
Joe Martin