Molden Takes Home Guy Flaherty Award
December 21, 2020 | Football
SEATTLE – Senior Elijah Molden won the 113th annual Guy Flaherty Award, the Washington football program's oldest and most prestigious team honor, along with the team's defensive most valuable player award, Monday at the teams' annual postseason awards banquet, held virtually this season.
Molden, a defensive back from West Linn, Ore., was joined in top honors by junior tight end Cade Otton (Tumwater, Wash.), who was the offensive MVP, and sophomore defensive back Kyler Gordon (Mukilteo, Wash.), who was named the UW's special teams MVP for the second year in a row.
The Flaherty Award, given to the UW's most inspirational player and voted on by the players was first awarded in 1908.
Molden, who was also named to Pro Football Focus' All-America second team earlier Monday, started each game in the UW defensive backfield. He is one of 12 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Otton was the Huskies' top receiver in 2020, finishing the four-game season with 18 catches for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Gordon, who played in all four games and started one, finished the year with 18 total tackles, fourth-most on the team.
The 101 Club Academic Excellence Award was given to junior defensive back Zechariah Brown (Seattle), while senior tailback Sean McGrew (Torrance, Calif.) was presented with the Academic Achievement Award, as well as the Tyee Sports Council Community Service Award.
Jaxson Kirkland, a junior from Portland, Ore., won the John P. Angel Offensive Lineman of the Year for the second year in a row while sophomore Zion Tupuola-Fetui (Pearl City, Hawai'i) was named winner of the L. Wait Rising Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Sophomore wide receiver Puka Nacua (Provo, Utah) was honored with the Don James Perseverance Award while both senior defensive back Keith Taylor (Long Beach, Calif.) and senior tailback Kamari Pleasant (Rialto, Calif.) earned the Husky Excellence Award.
The Travis Spring Most Outstanding Freshman Award was given to starting quarterback Dylan Morris (Puyallup, Wash.).
Sophomore linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (Anchorage, Alaska) won the Earle T. Glant Tough Husky Award, while sophomore guard Ulumoo Ale (Tacoma, Wash.) earned the Chuck Niemi Big Hit Award. Senior defensive lineman Josiah Bronson (Kent, Wash.) was honored as the Husky Fever 12th Man of the Year.
For their work in the weight room, senior center Luke Wattenberg (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) and freshman offensive lineman Samuel Peacock (Gig Harbor, Wash.) won the Iron Husky and Iron Pup Awards, respectively.
The Bob Jarvis Offensive Scout Squad Player of the Year went to freshman quarterback Ethan Garbers (Newport Beach, Calif.), the Mark Drennan Defensive Scout Squad Player of the Year was given to sophomore linebacker Ben Hines (Snohomish, Wash.), and the Brian Stapp Special Teams Scout Squad Player of the Year Award was presented to redshirt freshman defensive back Nick Juran (Los Altos, Calif.).
The Kurt Gegner Memorial Award, given to student staff members, went to Connor Adams (equipment), Sarah Swanson (video), and Jori Collier (training room)
Here is a complete recap of all of Washington's team award winners for 2020:
2020 Washington Football Awards
Guy Flaherty Most Inspirational
Elijah Molden
Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Cade Otton
Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Elijah Molden
Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
Kyler Gordon
Husky Excellence Award
Keith Taylor and Kamari Pleasant
Don James Perseverance Award
Puka Nacua
101 Club Academic Award
Zechariah Brown
Academic Achievement Award
Sean McGrew
John P. Angel Lineman of the Year
Jaxson Kirkland
L. Wait Rising Lineman of the Year
Zion Tupuola-Fetui
Earle T. Glant Tough Husky
Edefuan Ulofoshio
Chuck Niemi Big Hit Award
Ulumoo Ale
Tyee Sports Council Community Service Award
Sean McGrew
Bob Jarvis Offensive Scout Squad MVP
Ethan Garbers
Mark Drennan Defensive Scout Squad MVP
Ben Hines
Brian Stapp Special Teams Scout Squad MVP
Nick Juran
Travis Spring Most Outstanding Freshmen
Dylan Morris
Husky Fever 12th Man Award
Josiah Bronson
Iron Husky Award
Luke Wattenberg
Iron Pup Award
Samuel Peacock
Kurt Gegner Memorial Award
Connor Adams (equipment), Sarah Swanson (video), Jori Collier (training room)
Molden, a defensive back from West Linn, Ore., was joined in top honors by junior tight end Cade Otton (Tumwater, Wash.), who was the offensive MVP, and sophomore defensive back Kyler Gordon (Mukilteo, Wash.), who was named the UW's special teams MVP for the second year in a row.
The Flaherty Award, given to the UW's most inspirational player and voted on by the players was first awarded in 1908.
Molden, who was also named to Pro Football Focus' All-America second team earlier Monday, started each game in the UW defensive backfield. He is one of 12 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Otton was the Huskies' top receiver in 2020, finishing the four-game season with 18 catches for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Gordon, who played in all four games and started one, finished the year with 18 total tackles, fourth-most on the team.
The 101 Club Academic Excellence Award was given to junior defensive back Zechariah Brown (Seattle), while senior tailback Sean McGrew (Torrance, Calif.) was presented with the Academic Achievement Award, as well as the Tyee Sports Council Community Service Award.
Jaxson Kirkland, a junior from Portland, Ore., won the John P. Angel Offensive Lineman of the Year for the second year in a row while sophomore Zion Tupuola-Fetui (Pearl City, Hawai'i) was named winner of the L. Wait Rising Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Sophomore wide receiver Puka Nacua (Provo, Utah) was honored with the Don James Perseverance Award while both senior defensive back Keith Taylor (Long Beach, Calif.) and senior tailback Kamari Pleasant (Rialto, Calif.) earned the Husky Excellence Award.
The Travis Spring Most Outstanding Freshman Award was given to starting quarterback Dylan Morris (Puyallup, Wash.).
Sophomore linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (Anchorage, Alaska) won the Earle T. Glant Tough Husky Award, while sophomore guard Ulumoo Ale (Tacoma, Wash.) earned the Chuck Niemi Big Hit Award. Senior defensive lineman Josiah Bronson (Kent, Wash.) was honored as the Husky Fever 12th Man of the Year.
For their work in the weight room, senior center Luke Wattenberg (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) and freshman offensive lineman Samuel Peacock (Gig Harbor, Wash.) won the Iron Husky and Iron Pup Awards, respectively.
The Bob Jarvis Offensive Scout Squad Player of the Year went to freshman quarterback Ethan Garbers (Newport Beach, Calif.), the Mark Drennan Defensive Scout Squad Player of the Year was given to sophomore linebacker Ben Hines (Snohomish, Wash.), and the Brian Stapp Special Teams Scout Squad Player of the Year Award was presented to redshirt freshman defensive back Nick Juran (Los Altos, Calif.).
The Kurt Gegner Memorial Award, given to student staff members, went to Connor Adams (equipment), Sarah Swanson (video), and Jori Collier (training room)
Here is a complete recap of all of Washington's team award winners for 2020:
2020 Washington Football Awards
Guy Flaherty Most Inspirational
Elijah Molden
Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Cade Otton
Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Elijah Molden
Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
Kyler Gordon
Husky Excellence Award
Keith Taylor and Kamari Pleasant
Don James Perseverance Award
Puka Nacua
101 Club Academic Award
Zechariah Brown
Academic Achievement Award
Sean McGrew
John P. Angel Lineman of the Year
Jaxson Kirkland
L. Wait Rising Lineman of the Year
Zion Tupuola-Fetui
Earle T. Glant Tough Husky
Edefuan Ulofoshio
Chuck Niemi Big Hit Award
Ulumoo Ale
Tyee Sports Council Community Service Award
Sean McGrew
Bob Jarvis Offensive Scout Squad MVP
Ethan Garbers
Mark Drennan Defensive Scout Squad MVP
Ben Hines
Brian Stapp Special Teams Scout Squad MVP
Nick Juran
Travis Spring Most Outstanding Freshmen
Dylan Morris
Husky Fever 12th Man Award
Josiah Bronson
Iron Husky Award
Luke Wattenberg
Iron Pup Award
Samuel Peacock
Kurt Gegner Memorial Award
Connor Adams (equipment), Sarah Swanson (video), Jori Collier (training room)
Players Mentioned
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