RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team handed out its annual team awards for the 2011 season at its postseason banquet in the Keen Johnson Building Sunday afternoon. Defensive tackle Emory Attig claimed the highest honor at the banquet, the Roy Kidd Award.

The Roy Kidd Award is given to one player each year based upon his performance on the field, success in the classroom and positive involvement in the community. Attig, a native of Alpharetta, Ga., started 34 consecutive games on the defensive line spanning the previous three years. He earned first team All-OVC honors this fall after ranking third on the team in tackles for loss (9.0) and among the team leaders in sacks (2.0).

Attig was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District first team three years running. The fifth-year senior earned his bachelor’s degree last May in communications and is currently working on a second bachelor’s degree in business.

The Offensive Player of the Year award went to running back Matt Denham. The junior was a first team All-OVC honoree and rushed for at least 100 yards in eight consecutive games to finish the season. Denham, a native of Rineyville, Ky., averaged 130.8 yards per game rushing which ranks third nationally at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. His total of 1,570 rushing yards ranks fourth on the all-time EKU single-season chart.

The Defensive Player of the Year award went to defensive back Patrick McClellan. The senior was a two-time all-conference selection and led the team in tackles in each of his final two seasons. He recorded a career-high 16 tackles in the FCS playoff game against No. 17 James Madison. In the season opener at Kansas State, McClellan nearly scored a touchdown off a fumble recovery. That play led to Eastern’s lone touchdown in the tight 10-7 loss.

The other award winners were junior #O.J. Enabosi# (Offensive Lineman of the Year), Attig (Defensive Lineman of the Year and Defensive Colonel Core Value Award), senior kick returner Jeremy Caldwell and sophomore punter Jordan Berry (Co-Special Teams Players of the Year), junior wide receiver Cameron Bailey (Offensive Newcomer of the Year), junior linebacker Kevin Hamlin (Defensive Newcomer of the Year), quarterback Ben De La Cruz (Offensive Future of the Year), defensive back Deno Montgomery and defensive back Paul Ritter (Co-Defensive Future of the Year), and junior offensive lineman Aaron Adams and senior tight end Zachary Young (Co-Offensive Colonel Core Value Award).

All of the awards except the Roy Kidd Award were voted upon by the team’s players. The Roy Kidd Award was selected by the coaching staff.

The Colonels (7-5, 6-2 OVC) earned a share of the 2011 OVC title and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs for the 20th time this season.