Dec. 4, 2006

Tailback Chris Markey and Justin Hickman were selected winners of UCLA's Henry R. "Red" Sanders Award for Most Valuable Player at the Annual UCLA Football Awards Banquet, held Monday evening at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

Markey is the Bruins leading rusher with 963 yards. In addition, he also leads the team with 33 receptions and 1,239 all-purpose yards. Against Rice, he set a career high with 208 yards on the ground. He enters the Emerald Bowl needing just 37 yards to become the 11th Bruin to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Hickman, a first-team All-Pac-10 selection, is a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end. He is tied for second nationally with 12.5 quarterback sacks (1.04 per game) and also ranks 10th in the nation with 18.5 tackles for loss (1.54 per game). On the year, he has made 40 tackles.

The complete list of winners:

Charles Pike Memorial Award for Outstanding Scout Team Player: Offense: running back Ryen Carew; Defense: linebacker Nick Rodriguez

Jack. R. Robinson Award for Highest Scholarship of a Senior Player: fullback Dan Nelson

N.N. Sugarman Award for Best Leadership: Offense: center Robert Chai; Defense: end Bruce Davis

Captain Don Brown Memorial Award for Most Improved Player: Offense: tight end Logan Paulsen; Defense: linebacker Christian Taylor

John Boncheff, Jr. Memorial Award for Rookie of the Year: Offense: tackle Aleksey Lanis; Defense: cornerback Alterraun Verner

Tommy Prothro Award for Outstanding Special Teams Player: place kicker Justin Medlock

Kenneth S. Washington Award for Outstanding Senior: defensive end Justin Hickman

Paul I. Wellman Memorial Award for All-Around Excellence: Offense: guard Chris Joseph; Defense: strong safety Chris Horton

Jerry Long "Heart" Award: fullback Dan Nelson

George W. Dickerson Award for Outstanding Offensive Player vs. USC: quarterback Patrick Cowan

Donn Moomaw Award for Outstanding Defensive Player vs. USC: linebacker Eric McNeal

Henry R. "Red" Sanders Award for Most Valuable Player: Offense: tailback Chris Markey; Defense: end Justin Hickman