Portland State linebacker Ian Sluss was named the Viking Team Most Valuable Player for 2012 at the post-season banquet held Sunday afternoon on the PSU campus. The Viking post-season awards were voted on by team members.

Sluss, a team captain and leader all season, is one of the top linebackers in the conference. A 6-foot, 225-pound senior from Vista, CA, Sluss led the Vikings with 104 tackles from his outside linebacker position, ranking fifth in the Big Sky Conference. Sluss also led the Big Sky in fumble recoveries (4) and tied for league lead in interceptions (4). He added 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble this year.

Sluss had a knack for the big play all season, scoring three defensive touchdowns. In PSU's 49-21 win over UC Davis on Oct. 27, he earned Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week as well as the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week by making six tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. He came up with all four turnovers in the fourth period to preserve the win.

In other awards, Mitch Gaulke was named the team's Scholar-Athlete Award winner for the second year in a row. Gaulke is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and two-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference. A two-year starter at center, Gaulke is a Business Administration: Accounting major from West Linn. Gaulke is on the national ballot for Academic All-America among all NCAA Division I football players. That team will be announced in December.

Also from West Linn, senior wide receiver Justin Monahan was chosen as the team's Most Valuable Offensive Back. He earned the honor as much for what he meant to the team when he was injured, than when he was healthy. Monahan had excellent numbers with 30 catches for 503 yards and a team-high six touchdown receptions. He also had a 39-yard pass completion and 100 kick return yards during the season. However, he missed three games with a knee injury. A team captain, Monahan was notable for his great hands and ability to make remarkable catches.

Junior right tackle Mitchell Van Dyk was named as the team's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. It is a worthy honor for a line that allowed only seven sacks all season, and has blocked for one of the best rushing offenses in the nation over the last three years.

Senior defensive tackle Dereck Jester was named the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman. Jester played a big role on a solid run-stopping line. The Vikings held five Big Sky opponents to 86 yards rushing or less, including 0 rushing yards by Eastern Washington on 28 carries in Sunday's season finale. Jester played in 41 career games, starting 15, including all 11 this season. He had 21 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack.

The Most Improved Player was freshman wide receiver Thomas Carter. After beginning his career at quarterback, Carter moved over to wide receiver two weeks before the start of the season. He ended up making four starts, playing in all 11 games and leading the team with 32 receptions. Carter had 313 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed five times for 21 yards, and completed two of four passes for 26 yards and a touchdown on the season.

Running back DJ Adams was named as the team's Most Inspirational Player. The junior transfer was a dynamic runner, leading the team with 967 yards on 164 carries (5.9 pc) and scoring a team-high 12 touchdowns. In addition, he was acknowledged by his teammates as the top motivational player throughout the season. Adams ranked fourth in the Big Sky Conference in rushing and fifth in touchdowns scored.

Known by his teammates as "The Hammer" for his hitting and blocking ability, junior running back Justin Lilley was selected as the team's Special Teams Player of the Year. Lilley played on all the punt and kick teams and made nine tackles for the season. As a running back, he rushed 30 times for 178 yards and a touchdown and was the team's top backfield blocker.

The Scout Team Player of the Year Award went to freshman quarterback Paris Penn. A top recruit from Portland's Grant High School, Penn was a redshirt in 2012, but was a top performer in game preparation as a scout team member.

Portland State Football presented the Bruun Family with the Charles Withers Award for outstanding contributions to the program. Lorentz Bruun Construction has been integral in recent years in the upgrade of football program facilities at PSU.

2012 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: SR LB Ian Sluss
Scholar-Athlete Award: JR C Mitch Gaulke
Outstanding Offensive Back: SR WR Justin Monahan
Outstanding Defensive Back: SR LB Ian Sluss
Outstanding Offensive Lineman: JR RT Mitchell Van Dyk
Outstanding Defensive Lineman: SR DT Dereck Jester
Most Improved Player: FR WR Thomas Carter
Most Inspirational Player: JR RB DJ Adams
Special Teams Player of the Year: JR RB Justin Lilley
Scout Team Player of the Year: FR QB Paris Penn
Charles Withers Award (for contributions to the program): The Bruun Family