Greg Eslinger has been a
driving force behind the Gopher offense since he was a true freshman in 2002.
The Bismarck, N.D., native has started 49 straight games, which is the longest
current streak in the nation. He helped lead the Gophers to an average of 497.8
yards of total offense per game in 2005, which ranks fifth in the nation, is the
highest average in school history, and ranks third all-time in Big Ten history
for average yards per game in a season. Due in large part to the play of
Eslinger, the Gophers’ rushing offense ranked third in the country and first in
the Big Ten, averaging 279.9 yards per game, which is the second-highest average
in school history and the seventh-highest average in Big Ten history. Eslinger
also protected the quarterback as the Gophers only allowed three sacks, the
fewest amount of sacks allowed in the Big Ten in 2005.
Laurence Maroney tallied
1,355 rushing yards in 2005 to became only the third player in Big Ten history
to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, joining Wisconsin’s
Ron Dayne and Michigan State’s Sedrick Irvin. He also ranks second in school
history in career rushing yards with 3,824, second in 100-yard rushing games in
a career with 20 and second all time in school history in career all-purpose
yardage with 4,676. The St. Louis, Mo., native also ranks first in the Big Ten
and third in the nation in average rushing yards per game in 2005 (135.5 ypg).
Senior free safety John Pawielski took home the Carl Eller Award as the defensive MVP. A native of
Waupaca, Wis., Pawielski led the 2005 Gophers in tackles with 83 and was third
in pass breakups with five. A former walk-on, Pawielski also had an
interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2005 and was credited
with four tackles-for-loss.
Team captains for the
2006 season will be announced at a later date.
This year's awards and
honorees are:
BRONKO NAGURSKI AWARD
(presented to the team’s most valuable player):
Greg Eslinger (Sr., C,
Bismarck, N.D.)
Laurence Maroney (Jr., RB, St. Louis, Mo.)
BRUCE SMITH AWARD
(presented to the team’s outstanding offensive player):
Greg Eslinger (Sr.,
C, Bismarck, N.D.)
CARL ELLER AWARD
(presented to the team’s outstanding defensive player):
John Pawielski (Sr.,
FS, Waupaca, Wis.)
BOBBY BELL AWARD
(presented to the outstanding special teams player):
Jakari Wallace (Sr., WR,
Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.)
BUTCH NASH AWARD (for
competitiveness on the field and in the classroom):
Greg Eslinger (Sr., C,
Bismarck, N.D.)
PAUL GIEL AWARD (for
total unselfishness and most concern about the University of Minnesota):
Mark Setterstrom (Sr., OG, Northfield, Minn.)
NEIL FREDENBURG AWARD
(courage and love for the game):
Matt Spaeth (Jr., TE, St. Michael, Minn.)
DEFENSIVE DEMO (for
outstanding performance on the defensive demonstration team):
Brody Grandas
(Fr., SS, Woodbury, Minn.)
OFFENSIVE DEMO (for
outstanding performance on the offensive demonstration team):
Joe Swanson
(Jr., OG, Eden Prairie, Minn.)