Scout.com > Alabama Three Win Awards For A-Day Play Story URL: http://alabama.scout.com/2/857748.html Kirk McNair BamaMag.com Apr 18, 2009 Once upon a time there was one football award in Alabama spring training. The Most Valuable Player, as determined by sportswriters covering the game, won the Dixie Howell Award. In the early 1970s, former Crimson Tide Coach Paul Bryant established a number of awards based on spring performance. Those spring awards, many named for former Alabama football greats, have been expanded. In addition to the Dixie Howell Award, media members vote on the Dwight Stephenson Award winner for the most outstanding lineman in the game. Numerous other awards are given to players for spring work. Those awards are determined by the coaching staff. Alabama Coach Nick Saban presented the awards at the conclusion of Saturday’s A-Day Game. Three players were recognized by the media for their outings in the A-Day Game. Sophomore receiver Marquis Maze and junior quarterback Greg McElroy shared the Dixie Howell Memorial Award as Most Valuable Players of the A-Day Game. Maze finished the day with 134 all-purpose yards, gaining 87 yards on five receptions while rushing for 47 yards on two carries. McElroy completed 16 of 30 passes for 189 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns. In voting by the media, sophomore defensive lineman Marcell Dareus was winner of the Dwight Stephenson Award as the most valuable lineman in the A-Day Game. Dareus. a 6-3, 280-pound defensive lineman, was credited with 4 tackles, including one quarterback sack. The upcoming sophomore is from Birmingham. The following Alabama football players were honored for the performance throughout spring football practice with award winners selected by the Crimson Tide coaching staff: Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award – Terrence Cody & Don’t’a Hightower Jerry Duncan “I Like to Practice” Award – Barrett Jones & Tyrone King Billy Neighbors Defensive Lineman Award – Brandon Deaderick Paul Crane Offensive Lineman Award – Drew Davis Bobby Johns Defensive Back Award – Justin Woodall Johnny Musso Offensive Back Award – Terry Grant Ray Perkins Receiver Award – Julio Jones Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award – Cory Reamer Derrick Thomas Community Service Award – Baron Huber & Ali Sharrief Bear Bryant Outstanding Non-Scholarship Award – Thomas Darrah & Brian Selman Ozzie Newsome Most Improved Freshman Award – Robby Green & William Vlachos Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award – James Carpenter & Lorenzo Washington Mal Moore Leadership Award – Mike Johnson & Rolando McClain Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award – Javier Arenas & Greg McElroy Copyright © Scout.com and BamaMag.com