W&L's Heinsohn Wins the Willie Lanier Award
RICHMOND, Va. – Washington and Lee senior running back/placekicker Luke Heinsohn received the 2012 Willie Lanier Award as the top college division football player in Virginia.
The award was presented at the Dudley Award banquet sponsored by the Touchdown Club of Richmond and the Richmond Times Dispatch on Wednesday evening. Heinsohn is the Generals’ second straight winner of the award as quarterback Charlie Westfal, a 2012 graduate, claimed the trophy last year. Heinsohn was also honored as the top offensive back of the year, while classmate Jake Pelton was named the defensive back of the year.
Heinsohn adds the honor to a list that already includes being named First Team All-ODAC, First Team All-South Region and ODAC Offensive Player of the Year. He is also one of four finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, which is presented to the Division III Outstanding Player of the Year.
Heinsohn leads all NCAA Divisions with an ODAC-record 188 total points. He rushed 183 times for 1,253 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns, hit 48-of-52 PAT attempts and went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts.
A First Team All-ODAC honoree as a sophomore and second team pick as a junior, Heinsohn finished his career as the Generals’ all-time leading rusher (3,517) and scorer (344).
A three-time First Team All-ODAC selection and 2011 Honorable Mention All-American, Pelton led the Generals with a career-best 102 tackles, four interceptions and one forced fumble. He completed his career with 282 tackles and 12 interceptions, which are tied for the fifth-best total in school history.
Old Dominion sophomore quarterback Taylor Heinicke received the Dudley Award as the top player among the FBS and FCS football programs in the state.
The Dudley Award is named for Bill Dudley, a star player at the University of Virginia and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Lanier Award is named for Willie Lanier, a Richmond native who was a star player at Maggie Walker High School, Morgan State University and as a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs. Lanier also is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
News Contact:
Brian Laubscher
Sports Information Director
blaubsch@wlu.edu
540-458-8676
