RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team handed out its annual team awards for the 2012 season at its postseason banquet in the Perkins Building Sunday afternoon. Offensive linemen Aaron Adams and Patrick Ford shared the highest honor at the banquet, the Roy Kidd Award.

The Roy Kidd Award is given to a player(s) annually based upon his performance on the field, success in the classroom and positive involvement in the community. Adams, a native of Lake Worth, Fla., was a first team All-OVC performer in both 2011 and 2012. He helped the Colonels rank second in the OVC and 20th nationally in rushing yards per game this season (205.8 ypg). Adams, who lined up at both right and left tackles this season, earned his undergraduate degree last spring.

Ford, a native of Richmond, Ky., was in his third year as a starter on the offensive line until he suffered a season-ending injury on Sept. 29 at UT Martin. He has lined up at both guard and tackle in his time with the Colonels, but spent the majority of the 2011 and 2012 seasons at left tackle. Ford also earned his undergraduate degree last spring and was named to the 2012 CoSIDA Academic All-District first team in November.

For the second year in a row, the Offensive Player of the Year award went to running back Matt Denham. The senior from Rineyville, Ky., became the first Colonel since 2002 to reach 1,000-yards rushing in back-to-back seasons. Denham reached 200 yards rushing for the sixth time in his career in his final collegiate game on Nov. 10 against Murray State. He finished the season with 104 points, becoming the first Colonel to score at least 100 points in a season since 1995. Denham leaves Eastern ranked seventh on the program’s all-time rushing list with 3,235 yards.

The Defensive Player of the Year award went to senior defensive back Brooklyn Fox. A three-year starter at free safety, Fox led the league and ranked second nationally with six interceptions. The native of Tulsa, Okla., opened the season in impressive fashion with two interceptions and one fumble recovery at Purdue. He then tallied an interception and fumble recovery in the win over Southeast Missouri on Nov. 3 to earn OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Fox, who came away with first team All-OVC accolades in 2012, piled up 178 tackles and nine interceptions in his EKU career.

The other award winners were Adams (Offensive Lineman of the Year and Offensive Colonel Core Value Award), senior Robert Knowles (Defensive Lineman of the Year), junior punter Jordan Berry (Special Teams Players of the Year), junior wide receiver Ike Ariguzo (Offensive Newcomer of the Year), freshman defensive back Stanley Absanon (Defensive Newcomer of the Year), running back #J.J. Jude# (Offensive Future of the Year), defensive lineman Avery Pitt (Defensive Future of the Year), and junior linebacker Ichiro Vance (Defensive 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.

Eastern Kentucky (8-3, 6-2 OVC) was left out of the FCS playoffs, but finished the year ranked No. 16 in FCS coaches poll and No. 21 in The Sports Network poll.