(San Diego, Calif.) - At the end-of-the-season USD Football Awards Banquet held today on the campus of USD, senior running back Jonah Hodges (Santa Cruz, Calif.) received the team's Most Valuable Player Award for the 2016 season. The Toreros finished 10-2 overall, won the Pioneer Football League championship for the fifth time in six years with a perfect 8-0 record, and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs for the second time in program history. The No. 24 ranked Toreros won the program's and PFL's first playoff game with their 35-21 victory at No. 21 Cal Poly. USD was knocked out of the playoffs in the second round round by No. 1 seed and 5-time national champion North Dakota State.

Hodges, a team captain and the PFL Offensive Player of the Year, finished with 1,454 yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns. He also led the PFL in all-purpose yards per game (175.3) and chipped in with 53 receptions for 518 yards and 2 scores. He totaled 171 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns in the team's historic playoff win over Cal Poly. Hodges was also the recipient of the team's 2016 Offensive MVP Award. Senior cornerback Jamal Agnew (San Diego, Calif.) was tabbed the Defensive Most Valuable Player. Agnew finished the year with 31 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 1 blocked kick. Agnew also leaves USD as the career-leader in pass breakups with 48.

Additional awards were handed out to freshman defensive lineman Creighton Morfitt (Scottsdale, Ariz.) - the Dr. James B. Orwig Scholar-Athlete Award; sophomore nickelback KJ Mahoney (San Diego, Calif.) - the Kevin Briscoe Special Teams Player of the Year; senior wide receiver Brian Riley (Rancho Bernardo, Calif.) - the Dave Adolph "Do You Love Football" Award for Offense; senior cornerback Devyn Bryant (San Diego, Calif.) - the Dave Adoph "Do You Love Football" Award for Defense; junior offensive tackle Miles McArdle (Napa, Calif.) - Outstanding Lineman Award for Offense; junior defensive end Jonathan Petersen (Poway, Calif.) - Outstanding Lineman Award for Defense; sophomore offensive guard Jake Arlotti (Mission Viejo, Calif.) and sophomore offensive tackle Daniel Cooney (Western Springs, Ill.) - Most Improved Offensive Player; sophomore safety Ray Clark (Brentwood, Calif.) - Most Improved Defensive Player; freshman defensive lineman Jacob Bergstrom (San Jose, Calif.) - Most Outstanding 1st Year Player; junior tight end Ross Dwelley (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) - Strength Coach's Award; freshman defensive lineman Chris Reese (Littleton, Col.) - Strength Coach's Award 1st Year Player; freshman offensive lineman Aidan Valencia (San Diego, Calif.) - Offensive Scout Player of the Year; and freshman cornerback Bryan Kelly (Washougal, Wash.) - Defensive Scout Player of the Year.

Fourth-year head coach Dale Lindsey, the 2016 PFL Coach of the Year and an Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year finalist, handed out Senior Awards to the eighteen outgoing seniors. Additionally, those Toreros that earned All-PFL honors and PFL All-Academic honors were recognized, and the 2016 USD Highlight Film created by Brian Regan was shown. Jack Cronin, Voice of Toreros football, did a great job as master of ceremony for today's event.

2016 SAN DIEGO FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS

Team MVP - Jonah Hodges
Offensive MVP - Jonah Hodges
Defensive MVP - Jamal Agnew
Kevin Briscoe Special Teams Player of the Year - KJ Mahoney
Dave Adolph "Do You Love Football" Spirit Award for Offense - Brian Riley
Dave Adolph "Do You Love Football" Spirit Award for Defense - Devyn Bryant
Strength Coaches Award - Ross Dwelley
Strength Coaches Award, 1st Year Player - Chris Reese
Outstanding Defensive Lineman - Jonathan Petersen
Outstanding Offensive Lineman - Miles McArdle
Dr. James B. Orwig Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Creighton Morfitt
Most Improved Defensive Player - Ray Clark
Most Improved Offensive Player (2) - Daniel Cooney & Jake Arlotti
Most Outstanding 1st Year Player - Jacob Bergstrom
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year - Aidan Valencia
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year - Bryan Kelly