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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Players, Former Players Receive Honors at Grove Bowl
4/8/2006 | Football
April 8, 2006
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, along with various football support groups, honored several members of the 2005 and 2006 Rebel squads and two former players here Saturday during Red-Blue activities.
Athletes selected to receive the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award included wide receiver Michael Hicks of Jacksonville, Fla., kicker Justin Sparks of Memphis, Tenn., and quarterback Billy Tapp of St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes incoming freshmen athletes who compiled outstanding records both in the classroom and on the athletic field during their high school careers. Hicks, Sparks and Tapp were all redshirted last season during their true freshman year at Ole Miss.
Defensive lineman Michael Bozeman of Hawkinsville, Ga., was honored with the 2005 Leadership Award from the Birmingham Alumni Club and also received the Most Dedicated Player Award for the 2005 season from the Hinds County Chapter of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.
Offensive lineman Bobby Harris of Decatur, Ga., received the Clower-Walters Scholarship for the 2005 season. The Clower-Walters Scholarship was established in 1974 by the late humorist Jerry Clower to honor the late Carl Walters, a longtime Mississippi sportswriter who covered Ole Miss football.
Offensive lineman Tre' Stallings of Magnolia, Miss., received the John Howard Vaught Award of Excellence for the 2005 campaign, an award which recognizes a senior athlete who exemplifies the qualities of dedication, scholastic ability, morale, and performance. The award honors the late Vaught, whose Ole Miss teams won 190 games over 25 seasons as the Rebels captured six Southeastern Conference titles and a share of three national championships.
The Jeff Hamm Memorial Award for the most improved offensive and defensive players from the 2006 spring football drills went to running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis of New Orleans, La., and defensive lineman Peria Jerry of Batesville, Miss. The award honors the late Jeff Hamm, who served 40 years with the University of Mississippi in various capacities, including the final 20 years as Business Manager of Athletics.
The J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award went to rising senior offensive lineman Andrew Wicker of Zachary, La. The award, which includes a scholarship to Ole Miss in the name of Andrew Wicker, honors Richard Price, who was a three-year starter and an offensive and defensive standout on three of the greatest Rebel teams (1958-59-60).
Also recognized was linebacker Patrick Willis of Bruceton, Tenn., who received the Chucky Mullins Courage Award last Friday night. Willis is the 17th winner of the prestigious award which honors the memory of Mullins, who was paralyzed after making a tackle against Vanderbilt during the 1989 Homecoming game, and then passed away on May 6, 1991.
Willis was also presented his 2005 first team All-America plaque by the All-American Football Foundation. He is the 42nd Ole Miss player to earn first team All-America recognition since the school first fielded a football team in 1893.
Senior rifle student-athlete Natasha Phillips of Carthage, Miss., received the Eugenia Conner Memorial Award, which honors the memory of the late Eugenia Conner, a four-time All-SEC center on the Lady Rebel basketball team from 1981 to 1985. The award is presented each year to a junior or senior female student-athlete that exemplifies a true Lady Rebel with character and leadership, both on and off the court.
The Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation also honored Bert Allen of Gulfport, Miss., with its Contribution to Amateur Football Award and Jimmy Lear of Indianola, Miss., with the Distinguished American Award.
The Contribution to Amateur Football Award is given by the Ole Miss Chapter in honor of those who have made numerous contributions to the college athletic world through a lifetime of service to their fellow man, while the Distinguished American Award is presented to individuals who have carried the lessons learned on the football field into a life of service to his community.
