ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior linebacker Chris Costello and wide receiver Bryan Walters were the recipients of the Pop Warner Most Valuable Player Award at the annual Cornell football banquet, held Sunday, Dec. 6. A total of 16 players received recognition for their contributions to the 2009 Big Red football team.

Headlining the banquet was the presentation of the team's annual awards.

Costello capped off an outstanding four-year campaign with a first-team All-Ivy League nod by finishing second in the Ancient Eight and 13th nationally in tackles (104). He was third in the conference in tackles for loss (13), while his four sacks were good for fifth in the Ivy League. A big-play middle linebacker, Costello also had three forced fumble, an interception, a blocked kick and two pass breakups in 2009. The team co-captain was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after posting 15 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in the season-opening 33-9 win over Bucknell. The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District pick also notched 14 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles vs. Fordham and 13 tackles and a forced fumble vs. Colgate. One of the team's most consistent players, he had at least seven tackles in all 10 games and at least one tackles for loss in eight contests. Costello ended his career with 216 tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, seven forced fumbles and three blocked kicks.

Walters, a record-setting wide receiver and special teams performer, finished second in the Ivy League in receiving yards per game (76.4), fifth in the league in receptions per game (5.0) and tied for second with six receiving touchdowns. The second-team All-Ivy receiver and special teams returner was also first in the Ancient Eight in yards per catch (15.3). He led Ivy League and finished fifth nationally in all-purpose yards per game (171.6 ypg.), the second-best mark in a season at Cornell behind Ed Marinaro's magical 1971 campaign that saw him finish as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. He was second in the Ivy League in punt return yards (174) and average per return (6.7) and led the Ancient Eight in kickoff return yards (777). A three-time Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week in 2009, Walters had two 100-yard receiving games and five games with at least 80 yards. He posted three games with more than 200 all-purpose yards, including 338 yards vs. Fordham, the highest total this year by any player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Walters ranks among the top 20 among active players at the FCS level in 14 categories, including the top five in 10 categories. Walters graduates with Ivy League records for career punt (972) and kick return (2,790) yards, and finished behind on Harvard's Clifton Dawson on the conference's all-purpose yardage list (5,795 yards). He finished fourth on Cornell's career reception (144) and receiving yardage (2,032) charts as well.

It is the first time two players have shared the Pop Warner Award since 1999.

Walters also took home the Doc Kavanagh Training Room Athlete of the Year Award, which is given to the varsity player who gives his all throughout the season, distinguishing injury from pain.

Senior running back Randy Barbour was the recipient of the Harvey Sampson Award, which is given to the player who shows the most consistency throughout his career. A three-year starter, Barbour led the team in rushing in each of his final three seasons and compiled 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He also completed a touchdown pass and caught 39 passes for 330 yards and a score. He had three 100-yard games in his career, and was named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week once.

Senior wide receiver Horatio Blackman took home both the Jaime McManamon Award, which is given to the senior, who through diligence and hard work in the strength and conditioning program, and the Enzo Montemurro Award, which is given to recognize spirit and leadership. Blackman, who was elected team captain along with Costello for the 2009 campaign, was one of the toughest and most competitive players on the team. He hauled in 61 passes for 703 yards and two touchdowns in his four seasons, but his contributions went well beyond numbers. One of the team's top special teams players on the punt and kickoff coverage teams, Blackman saw significant time on defense during his senior year at defensive back as well. He had 11 career tackles and a blocked kick in his career.

The Sid Roth Award, given to the down lineman who, through his attitude and play, has contributed most to the success of the team, went to three-year offensive line starter Quentin Bernhard. The two-time honorable mention All-Ivy pick on the offensive line graduates as a rare four-year letter winner. He started the final 30 games at right tackle and played in 38 career games overall.

Junior linebacker Brandon Lainhart and sophomore Rashad Campbell were the recipient of the Charles Colucci Award, which is given to the non-seniors who contributed the most to the success of the team. Lainhart made the most of his first year as a starter, ranking third on the team with 86 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss and second with two interceptions. He also forced a fumble, while one of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown. He had a pair of double figure tackles games, including a career-best 15 against Colgate. Campbell started all 10 games at corner, recording 42 tackles, 10 pass breakups, an interception, a fumble recovery and 2.0 tackles for loss during the season. He finished the season fourth in the Ivy League with 11 passes defended and had a pass breakup in nine of the team's 10 games. Campbell had a tackle for loss and an interception vs. Fordham. He also had strong games against Yale (nine tackles) and Colgate (eight tackles), while breaking up a pair of pass against Princeton.

Senior wide receiver/quarterback Stephen Liuzza and junior safety Anthony Ambrosi were selected to receive the Jack Murphy "Big Play" awards.

Playing both quarterback and wide receiver during his four-year career, Liuzza piled up 2,026 yards of total offense and 1,324 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 980 yards and 10 touchdowns in his four seasons, averaging an impressive 4.8 yards per carry, and passed for 1,046 yards and two scores. As a receiver, he caught 42 passes for 344 yards. Liuzza posted the third-highest total offense mark in school history by piling up 423 yards and accounting for three touchdowns against Dartmouth in just three quarters as a sophomore. He tossed for 292 yards and ran for another 131 yards in the loss. He had rushes of 54 and 55 yards against Fordham this season, and had five of the team's seven longest runs over his four seasons. Liuzza had a 65-yard run for a touchdown against Bucknell, his second-longest career run and the second-longest by any Big Red player during his career. The senior's 81-yard run against Dartmouth during the 2006 campaign is the seventh-longest in school history (and longest by a quarterback), while he also had a 42-yard scamper at Georgetown in 2007. Liuzza also threw touchdown passes of 74 and 81 yards.

Ambrosi was outstanding in his junior campaign after being converted from running back to safety in the fall and responded by finishing fourth on the team with 61 tackles. He had 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Ambrosi scored two defensive TDs, including the eventual game-winner in a 14-12 victory at Yale. He was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after his 2.0 tackles for loss, three-pass breakup day that included a 20-yard pick-six return for a score vs. the Bulldogs. He led all Ivy League safeties in both tackles for loss and sacks. He had career-best 12 tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown vs. Brown and posted nine tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception at Dartmouth.

Senior defensive back Josh Gajdos received both the Victor Grohmann Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and the Jeff Stenstrom Award as the player who contributes the most to the performance of the special teams. The three-year letter winner saw action in the final 30 games of his collegiate career as a key part of Cornell's special teams and as a defensive back. He closed his career with 21 tackles, most on coverage teams, as well as a pass breakup and an interception.

The Bernie Olin Award, signifying the player who, although an underdog, showed determination and grit and in the end persevered, went to senior Tom DiStasio. An undersized defensive lineman at just 5-10 and 181 pounds, DiStasio was one of the hardest workers on the team despite not seeing one varsity snap in his four seasons. A member of the Big Red's Leadership Council, he dressed for every game his senior season as a member of the travel squad.

Another senior who played a tremendous role for Cornell on and off the field was quarterback Ben Ganter, who was given the Paul N. Hunt Citizenship Award as the senior who has unselfishly contributed his time and energy to help others beyond the playing field. Ganter saw snaps in 17 varsity games, including eight starts, and threw for 1,343 yards and nine touchdowns. He had three games with two touchdowns, including a 17-of-25 effort for 172 yards and two scores in the season-opening win over Bucknell. Off the playing field, Ganter spent some of his summer working  as  a volunteer with the Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (CARS), an organization that provides education and training opportunities that enhance alcohol and substance abuse services and increase awareness of addiction related issues that is located in nearby Trumansburg.

The Mansour Jewelers Award, given to the most improved players, went to senior linebacker Aaron Levine and offensive lineman Andrew Bohl. Levine was fourth on the team with 61 tackles in his first season as a starter. He had a pair of 10-tackle games, including a 10-tackle game with an interception in the victory against Bucknell. Bohl, an honorable mention All-Ivy League pick in 2009, started each of the last 20 games on the offensive line (10 at right guard and 10 at left tackle). Bohl was part of an offensive line that allowed one sack or fewer in five games.

Senior wide receiver Nick Zerante was selected to receive the Robert Fenton Patterson Award, which is given to the player who has shown the most improvement in the face of physical or other handicaps. Despite battling injuries throughout his career, Zerante hauled in 16 career passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns and scored a third TD on a punt block return. He played in 32 varsity contests over his four seasons that included three letters.

Freshman defensive lineman Hugh Stewart was given the Dick Schaap Award, which recognizes the freshmen who contributed most to the varsity team. Stewart saw action in nine contests with three starts at defensive end. He made 13 tackles, posted a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Stewart had three tackles and forced a fumble against Columbia and also had three stops at Colgate.

Following the presentation of the annual awards, CFA president John Morehouse presented each senior on the team with their game jersey, beautifully framed, with a commemorative plaque. This gift is provided by the CFA each year to all members of the senior class to thank them for all of their contributions to the Cornell football program.

The Big Red finished the 2009 season with a 2-8 mark (1-6 Ivy). Cornell will open the 2010 season on Saturday, Sept. 18 at Wagner.