YSU’s Summers, Keys get sweep of league awards

Photo

Kamryn Keys

Photo

Brandon Summers

YOUNGSTOWN — Junior quarterback Brandon Summers and redshirt freshman tailback Kamryn Keys gave the Youngstown State football team a sweep of the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s newcomer of the year and freshman of the year awards.

The sweep marked only the second time in league history that one team swept the awards. Players from Southern Illinois won the awards in 2002.

Five Youngstown State players were named to the MVFC all-newcomer team. Summers and Keys were joined by junior wide receiver Donald Jones, sophomore safety Andre Elliott and junior defensive tackle Crispin Fernandez. YSU had the most selections of any conference team.

A YSU player has been tabbed newcomer of the year three of the past four seasons. Marcus Mason earned the award in 2005 and Ferlando Williams was the recipient in 2007.

Summers, a transfer from Toledo, threw 18 TD passes, tying for the most in a regular season in YSU history, while playing in just 10 games. He completed 122-of-195 passes for 1,540 yards and ran for 190 yards on 77 attempts with three touchdowns. He set a YSU record with a pass efficiency rating of 152.18.

Keys is the first YSU player to be named conference freshman of the year. He started six games and set a school record for rushing yards by a freshman with 804 on 136 attempts. He averaged 5.9 yards per rush and had 100-yard games against North Dakota State, Missouri State, UNI and Indiana State.