Dec. 5, 2008
WACO, Texas -- Baylor football announced winners of its 2008 team awards during its annual year-end team banquet Friday night in the Galloway Suite at Floyd Casey Stadium. In all, 10 Bears were honored with senior offensive tackle Jason Smith and junior linebacker Joe Pawelek each taking two awards.
A projected first-round selection in April's National Football League Draft, Smith was named the team's off-season MVP along with senior inside receiver Thomas White. Smith also earned Baylor's "Mr. Team" Award, given to the player who best displays leadership and a "team" attitude.
Pawelek, the nation's only Bowl Subdivision player to rank in the top 10 in both tackles and interceptions, was named Defensive MVP and earned the team's Academic Excellence Award. Freshman quarterback Robert Griffin was named Offensive MVP, while sophomore punter Derek Epperson was named Special Teams MVP.
Senior quarterback Kirby Freeman earned the Kyle Woods Award. Winners of the Bear Squad Awards were Jake Jackson and Terrance Williams on offense and Rodney Chadwick and Gary Mason on defense.
Baylor posted a 4-8 overall record this season, including a 2-6 mark in Big 12 play and a 41-21 victory over rival Texas A&M. The Bears scored 46 touchdowns on the year, one shy of the program's all-time record.
2008 BAYLOR FOOTBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
James Barnard, OG
• Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference (The Associated Press)
Rodney Chadwick, LB
• Baylor Defensive Bear Squad Award
Dan Gay, OT
• Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference (coaches)
Robert Griffin, QB
• Big 12 Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year (coaches, The Dallas Morning News)
• Big 12 Conference Offensive Newcomer of the Year (Associated Press, Kansas City Star)
• Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year (Pat Forde: SI.com)
• Baylor Offensive MVP
Derek Epperson, P
• Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference (Kansas City Star)
• Third-Team All-Big 12 Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
• Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference (coaches, Associated Press)
• Ray Guy Award semifinialist
• Baylor Special Teams MVP
Kirby Freeman, QB
• Baylor Kyle Woods Award
Jake Jackson, OL
• Baylor Offensive Bear Squad Award
Jordan Lake, FS
• First-Team All-Big 12 Conference (coaches, Associated Press)
• Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference (The Dallas Morning News, Kansas City Star, Phil Steele Magazine)
Gary Mason, Jr., DE
• Baylor Defensive Bear Squad Award
Joe Pawelek, LB
• Second-Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America (CoSIDA)
• First-Team All-Big 12 Conference (coaches, Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, Kansas City Star, Phil Steele Magazine)
• Baylor Defensive MVP
• Baylor Academic Excellence Award
Jason Smith, OT
• First-Team All-Big 12 Conference (coaches, Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, Kansas City Star, Phil Steele Magazine)
• Baylor "Mr. Team" Award
• Baylor Off-Season Co-MVP
J.D. Walton, C
• Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference (Associated Press)
Thomas White, WR
• Baylor Off-Season Co-MVP
Terrance Williams, WR
• Baylor Offensive Bear Squad Award
