Missouri State University

Missouri State senior tight end Clay Harbor was among several award winners recognized Sunday night at Missouri State's annual Football Awards Banquet. Harbor was named MSU Player of the Year, Team MVP and Offensive MVP at the banquet.

Harbor had 59 receptions for 729 yards in 2009 and cemented his place among the nation's top Division I FCS tight ends with a career season. The three-time All-Missouri Valley Football Conference performer earned the team's Offensive MVP honors for the third straight season at the banquet.

The MSU Player of the Year award, formerly known as the Coors Player of the Year Award, began in 1982. Harbor is the first tight end to win the honor.

Defensive MVP honors went to junior Antoine Wilkinson who was named MVFC Newcomer of the Year in 2009 after he posted 113 tackles and became the first MSU player since 2004 to surpass the century mark in total stops. 

The Arthur Briggs Award was presented to senior wide receiver Jared Emery. The award began in 1991 to help perpetuate the memory of Bears' long-time athletics director and the school's all-time winningest football coach. The award is presented annually for outstanding athletic performance, scholarship, leadership, and character. Emery was a first-team Academic All-MVFC honoree this season and honorable mention all-conference pick after collecting 24 receptions for 370 yards this season.

The Bears Team Award for excellence in leadership on and off the field was shared by junior defensive end Sam Block and senior quarterback Tyler Horner.

Offensive Lineman of the Year honors went to junior David Arkin who has received the honor three straight seasons. Arkin joined Harbor and Wilkinson as the three Bears to earn first-team All-MVFC honors this season. Arkin was also a first-team Academic All-MVFC pick this season, along with Emery.

Defensive Lineman of the Year distinction went to junior defensive end Waylon Richardet, a two-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and second-team all-conference selection in 2009.  Richardet was also awarded the team's Weight Lifter of the Year.

Matt Hottelman was named MSU's Special Teams Player of the Year. The senior place kicker was a perfect 28-for-28 on extra points in 2009 and led the Bears in scoring for the second straight season with 49 points. Hottelman also completed his career as the team's all-time top tackler among kickers.

Other awards presented were:

Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Trevor Wooden

Defensive Scout Team Players of the Year: Rick Dansdill and Anthony Grady

Training Room Award: Chris Douglas.

The Bears finished the 2009 season with a 6-5 record under fourth-year head coach Terry Allen and were 4-4 in the MVFC to finish fifth in the nine-team league.

Previous Recipeints of the top team awards are as follows:

 MSU Player of the Year yearly winners: 1982-DE Darrin Newbold, 1983-FS Mike Armentrout, 1984-RB Johnny Longstreet, 1985-RB Keith Williams, 1986-LB Ken Braden, 1987-LB Matt Soraghan, 1988-LB James Turnage, 1989-QB DeAndre Smith, 1990-QB DeAndre Smith, 1991-DT Bill Walter, 1992-FB Jonah White, 1993-RB Anthony Pegues, 1994-LB DeLaun Fowler, 1995-LB DeLaun Fowler, 1996-RB Michael Cosey, 1997-OT Brad Kubik, 1998-QB Derek Jensen,1999-QB Jay Rodgers, 2000-WR Jeff Hewitt, 2001-LB P. J. Jones, 2002-OC Crockett Ladd, 2003-TB Cody Pratt, 2004-TB Cody Pratt and WR Steven Rush, 2005-WR/KR Michael Sparks, 2006-S Mike Radon/OT Justin Williamson, 2007-TB Gerald Davis, 2008-QB Cody Kirby, 2009-TE Clay Harbor.

 Arthur Briggs Award yearly winners: 1991-OT Tim McDuffey, 1992-OG Matt Irvin, 1993-CB Willie Parks, 1994-OT Ryan Touhey, 1995-OT Jason Whittle, 1996-TE Corey Roy, 1997-FS Jeff Killeen, 1998-P/K Travis Brawner, 1999-P/K Travis Brawner, 2000-TE Matt White, 2001-TB Jason Ringena, 2002-OC Crockett Ladd, 2003-OC Brad Durham, 2004-OC Brad Durham, 2005-OC David Tillman, 2006-TE Payne Hall, 2007-OC David Tillman, 2008-WR Chris Geisz, 2009-WR Jared Emery.