Texas Football Regular Season Awards Show 2011

The 2011 season is in the books for the Texas Longhorns, and what better time to take a look back at what was a 7-5 mark for the new-look Texas program.

It was a campaign marked with ups, downs and consistent effort from a number of players.

On the offensive side of the ball, Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron and Fozzy Whittaker all had formidable seasons—given the circumstances of each. Defensively, could anyone match the production and effectiveness of Carrington Byndom on Quandre Diggs?

To find out, take a look at the Texas Longhorns 2011 regular season awards.

Offensive Most Valuable Player: Fozzy Whittaker

2011 Stats: 66 car., 386 yds., 5.8 ypc, 6 TDs, 16 rec., 145 yds., 1 TD

It was a mysterious year for the Texas offense.

After the Longhorns had been spoiled by the greatness of Vince Young before Colt McCoy, Texas faced quite the down season at quarterback. But where production lacked at signal-caller, the Longhorns made up for at running back.

Although many might give the offensive praise to either true freshman running back in Malcolm Brown or Joe Bergeron, Fozzy Whittaker's impact absolutely was made clear after the senior suffered ACL and MCL injuries against Missouri.

Whittaker served as the lead guy in Texas' Wildcat formation—a set that proved to be quite effective against the opposition.

After Whittaker was lost for the season, the Longhorns offense basically went kaput.

Defensive Most Valuable Player: Carrington Byndom

2011 Stats: 55 TKL, 8 TFL, 2 INT, 1 TD, 15 PBU, 1 FF

Sophomore Carrington Byndom was a headliner in a Texas secondary that featured a healthy mix of youth and veterans. Byndom himself came into the season as a question mark, but he soon began making an obvious case for first-team All-Big 12 honors.

The Longhorns' cornerback was a position of uncertainty after the likes of Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown left for the NFL a year before. But Byndom helped turn the Texas secondary into one of the best in the conference.

Going into his first year of NFL eligibility next season, Byndom will be a featured mainstay at cornerback and an anchor in Texas' defensive backfield.

Best of the Bigs: Jackson Jeffcoat

2011 Stats: 63 TKL, 18 TFL, 6 sacks, 3 PBU

For much of the season, the defensive line for the Longhorns vastly underperformed to their expectations. Between Alex Okafor, Kheeston Randall and Jackson Jeffcoat, many figured Texas would have one of the best defensive fronts in the Big 12.

But a month or so into the season, the results were not so.

However, good things come to those who wait—and from midway through the year until the final game—both Okafor and Jeffcoat flipped a switch and put in solid outing after solid outing.

Jeffcoat gets a slight nod for the Best of the Bigs, but Okafor is not far behind him. All signs are pointing towards the duo remaining together for another go in 2012.

Just like this season, the expectations will be high.

Most Improved Player on Offense: Cody Johnson

2011 Stats: 43 car., 179 yds., 4.2 ypc., 5 TD

At first glance, Cody Johnson had far less than a memorable season statistically. But given the whole picture, Johnson's impact and latent production arguably was much more effective this year.

In 2010, Johnson rushed 134 times for 602 yards and six touchdowns with a 4.4 yards per carry average as the featured tailback.

Fast forward one year and Johnson's stat line is much less impressive. But operating out of the fullback position, the senior helped pave the way for guys like Fozzy Whittaker, Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron to experience success from a variety of looks.

Are there others who deserve mention for most improved? Yes. But no other play has accomplished more by getting less touches than Johnson.

Most Improved Player on Defense: Kenny Vaccaro

2011 Stats: 77 TKL, 6 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, 8 PBU

Kenny Vaccaro put in a junior campaign that saw him produce better numbers in virtually every category.

By comparison, his 2010 stat line looks like this: 56 TKL, 3 TFL, 1 INT, 8 PBU

There may not be a player on Texas' roster that brings more attitude to the field than Vaccaro: He constantly saw time on the field as the Longhorns' nickel back. With the exodus from Texas' secondary during the offseason, Vaccaro looked to be a guy who could turn in a solid campaign from the extra pressure.

If he decides to stay for his senior year, Vaccaro will be a leader in many forms for the Texas defense.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Malcolm Brown

2011 Stats: 159 car., 707 yds., 4.4 ypc., 5 TD

An obvious candidate for an impressive season before the year began was Malcolm Brown. The freshman out of Cibolo, Texas was the No. 1 running back in the state in 2011 and got the boatload of carries from day one.

Brown was marred by injuries throughout the season and played in just nine games. Still, the 6'0" tailback put up noteworthy numbers in his debut campaign for the Longhorns.

Brown was as good as advertised, displaying impeccable balance, lateral agility and the ability to make people miss in open space. Though he never was fully able to showcase his speed, a 100 percent healthy Brown could be even better than the 2011 version we saw on the field.

Defensive Newcomer of the Year: Quandre Diggs

2011 Stats: 48 TKL, 4 TFL, 3 INT, 13 PBU, 2 FF

The obvious choice for Defensive Newcomer of the Year is Quandre "the Giant" Diggs. Though some profiled him as undersized, Diggs is one of the most physical players on the Texas defense and pound-for-pound, may be the strongest.

Coming from a good football pedigree (the younger brother of San Diego Charger Quentin Jammer), Diggs led the Longhorns in interceptions on the season and slowly worked his way into a comfortable niche working opposite Carrington Byndom.

The future looks bright for Texas at cornerback, as the Longhorns have a couple of the Big 12's top defensive backs returning to duty in 2012.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Fozzy Whittaker

2011 Stats: 10 KR, 424 yds., 2 TD

Fozzy Whittaker was the only Longhorn to score a touchdown on return duty.

After the senior suffered a season-ending injury, the Texas return game suffered as well.

In consecutive games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Whittaker put up two 100-yard returns for scores in what were momentum grabbers at the time.

Whittaker's production on special teams only augments the argument for his MVP candidacy.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Duane Akina

If there is one assistant to Mack Brown who consistently pulls his own weight on the staff, it has to be Defensive Backs Coach Duane Akina.

Akina temporarily left the Texas program for Arizona, but returned after the circumstances improved. And fortunately the for Longhorns, the Hawaii native never missed a step.

Coming into the season, Texas had question marks at cornerback. Would the Longhorns be able to be competitive with a couple of unproven assets? Could they survive with a true freshman in Quandre Diggs? Akina squashed all of those worries and put Diggs and sophomore Carrington Byndom on pedestals for the entire Big 12 to see.

Manny Diaz and Bryan Harsin may be making the big bucks, but Akina has been worthy every penny and more.