The University of Minnesota football program held its annual Senior Banquet Sunday afternoon in the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium. The football coaching staff handed out numerous team awards during the ceremony.

The team's most prestigious award - the Bronko Nagurski Award - is given annually to the team's Most Valuable Player. Senior quarterback Adam Weber was this year's recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Award.

The Bruce Smith Award for the team's outstanding offensive player was shared by junior wide receiver Da'Jon McKnight and sophomore wide receiver/quarterback MarQueis Gray.

Junior linebacker Gary Tinsley was named the winner of the Carl Eller Award, which goes to the team's outstanding defensive player.

Senior defensive back Ryan Collado and senior center D.J. Burris were honored with the Butch Nash Award for being competitive on the field and in the classroom.

The Paul Giel Award is awarded to the player who exemplifies unselfishness and the most concern for the University of Minnesota. This year's winner is junior running back Duane Bennett.

The Neil Fredenburg Award goes to the player or players who best represent courage and love of the game. Hoese was honored on the offensive side of the ball. The Fredenburg Award winner on the defense was Anthony Jacobs.

The Outstanding First-Year Players were offensive lineman Ed Olson (offense) and defensive end Matt Garin (defense). The Scout Team Players of the Year were freshman defensive end Cameron Botticelli (defense), freshman running back Lamonte Edwards (offense) and freshman defensive end Ben Perry (special teams).

The Tony Dungy Character and Community Service Award was given to senior running back R.J. Buckner.

Garin played in all 12 games (and started in 6 of them) at defensive end and recorded 13 tackles (including one tackle for loss) as a redshirt freshman.