Vanderbilt Football Celebrates 2022 RISE Awards, Anfernee Orji Named MVP

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Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea with linebacker Anfernee Orji. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt football head coach Clark Lea and his program celebrated Team 2 at the second annual RISE Awards on Saturday night (Dec. 10) on the Vanderbilt campus, commemorating a season where the Commodores overachieved preseason expectations.

Senior linebacker Anfernee Orji was named the team’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, while Gavin Schoenwald collected the Team 2 Player of the Year Award. Additionally, Will Sheppard was named Offensive Player of the Year and CJ Taylor earned Defensive Player of the Year.

Other awards included the Scholar of the Year, which went to Ethan Barr, scout team top performers, and the Lance Brown Impact Award, given to Director of Sport Nutrition Julia Baird.

The evening officially concluded the 2022 campaign, which saw the Commodores more than double their win total from a year ago as Lea completed his second season at the helm of his alma mater.

2022 Rise Award Winners:

Freshmen of the Year – Jayden McGowan & AJ Swann

Newcomer of the Year – Gunnar Hansen

O-Show Award (Offensive Scout)- Cole Spence

Skull & Bones Award (Defensive Scout) – Linus Zunk

Rough Riders Award (Special Teams Scout) – Alan “Taco” Wright

Offensive Most Improved – Quincy Skinner Jr.

Defensive Most Improved – Devin Lee

Reaper Award (Strength & Conditioning) – Jaylen Mahoney

Scholar of the Year – Ethan Barr

Special Teams Player of the Year – Cooper Lutz

Specialist of the Year – Matthew Hayball

Courage Award – Daevion Davis

Fighting Spirit Award – Gamarion Carter

Offensive Trench – Jacob Brammer

Defensive Trench – Nate Clifton & Christian James

VUFB Warrior – Ben Bresnahan & Maxwell Worship

Respect & Appreciation Award – Charlie Dallape

Stone Cutter Award – Bradley Ashmore

Lance Brown Impact Award – Julia Baird

Offensive Player of the Year – Will Sheppard

Defensive Player of the Year – CJ Taylor

Team Two Player of the Year – Gavin Schoenwald

Most Valuable Player – Anfernee Orji

Steven Boero
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