HOUGHTON, Mich. – Following the second-consecutive season going 7-4 overall and a 4-3 in the GLIAC, highlighted by the 2025 Coach of the Year, Dan Mettlach, an All-Super Region 3 Second Teamer and two Academic All-Americans, the Michigan Tech Football team has announced their team awards.Â
The Huskies impressed in the 2025 campaign earning their first top-25 win in nearly six years in the season and home opener against No. 16 Bemidji State, won the 15th-straight Miner's Cup victory and were ranked within the top-25 for the first time since Nov. 3, 2015.
TEAM AWARDS
Fred Baird Memorial Outstanding Defensive Player Award - Porter Zeeman
Daniel Dopp Memorial Outstanding Special Teams Award - Patrick Kastner
Offensive Back of the Year Award - Jake Rueff
Defensive Lineman of the Year Award - Connor Hindenach
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year Award - Jiovanni Travis
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Award given to the player who best simulates the opposing team's defensive playbook in practice, demonstrating great effort, improvement, and skill to help prepare for future opponents.Â
Freshman of the Year Award - Elliott Larner
Offensive Lineman of the Year Award - Brandon DeVries
Outstanding Offensive Player Award - Nic Nora
Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award - Jeffrey Price
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This award is named after long-time Dean of Student and athletics supporter Harold Meese. Starting as a professor in 1950 in metallurgy, Meese became Dean of Students in 1959 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1984. Meese served as the athletic department's academic advisor as a volunteer from 1989-94.
Defensive Back of the Year Award - Dante Basanese
Ted Kearly Award - Drew Collins
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The Ted Kearly Award goes to a player who exhibits passion, pride, and integrity on and off the field.
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The most successful football coach in Michigan Tech history, Ted Kearly guided the Huskies from 1969-72 and compiled a remarkable 29-7 (.806) record. During his tenure, the Huskies won three Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. Kearly took over as athletic director following the 1972 football season and spent 17 successful years in the position. Kearly guided the start of women's athletics into the Tech program, founded the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame, and saved the school's football program when the budget was cut 76-percent in 1980.
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year Award - Josh Byers
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Award given to the player who best simulates the opposing team's offensive playbook in practice, demonstrating great effort, improvement, and skill to help prepare for future opponents.Â
Iron Man Award - Desmond Mullen
Alan Bovard Most Valuable Player Award - Brandon DeVries
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Alan J. Bovard came to Michigan Tech in 1947 as athletic director and department head. Bovard expanded the program from four varsity sports to 11, with 17 intramural programs during his tenure. He also coached football for 10 years, including during the 1948 undefeated season (7-0). Bovard was a co-founder of the Huskies Club.
NATIONAL HONORS
D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Second Team - Chase Koch
CSC ACADEMIC HONORS
CSC Academic All-America First Team - Dante Basanese
CSC Academic All-America First Team - Nic Nora
CSC Academic All-District - Pierce Miller
ALL-GLIAC HONORS
GLIAC Coach of the Year - Dan Mettlach
First Team All-GLIAC (Offense) - Brandon DeVries
First Team All-GLIAC (Offense) - Nic Nora
First Team All-GLIAC (Defense) - Dante Basanese
First Team All-GLIAC (Defense) - Chase Koch
First Team All-GLIAC (Defense) - Pierce Miller
Second Team All-GLIAC (Offense) - Ethan Champney
Second Team All-GLIAC (Defense) - Connor Hindenach
Second Team All-GLIAC (Defense) - Porter Zeeman
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC - Rowland Ball
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC - Drew Collins
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC - Matthew Daanen
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC - Avery Kucharski
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC - Jake Rueff
Jack H. McAvoy Award - Drew Collins
