The Big East Names Five Cincinnati Players in Football Honors

Dec 1, 2012; East Hartford, CT, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats tight end Travis Kelce (18) celebrates his touchdown against the Connecticut Huskies during the second half at Rentschler Field. The Bearcats defeated UConn, 34-17. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Big East announced their All-Big East First Team players today and the University of Cincinnati’s football team was the beneficiary of five awards. Three players on offense and two on defense were given the honors for the Bearcats.

Among the thirteen conference players given the offensive honors, offensive tackle Eric Lefeld, guard Austen Bujnoch, and tight end Travis Kelce represented the Bearcats on the 2012 list.

Eric Lefeld is a sophomore from Coldwater, Ohio. He has been outstanding for the Bearcats in just his second season with the school. He started in every game in his freshman season at right tackle. For the 2012 season, Lefeld moved to the blind side and excelled in protecting his quarterback.

Austen Bujnoch is a local stand-out from Elder in Cincinnati. He came to the university in 2009 as a redshirt freshman. In 2011, he became the starter at the right guard position and played in every game that season. This year, as a junior, Bujnoch moved to the starting left guard position. His father, Glenn, was a lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1976-1982.

Travis Kelce quietly put together an all-star season with the Bearcats. As a senior out of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the tight end started his college career as a redshirt freshman in 2008. In 2009, he only recorded one reception for three yards, but broke out in his junior season in 2011 with 13 receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns. This year, Kelce became the team’s number one receiver, bringing in 40 receptions for 599 yards and seven touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the All-Big East First Team honors, Cincinnati’s defensive lineman Dan Giordano and linebacker Greg Blair were honored for their play this year.

Dan Giordano is a senior defensive lineman for the Bearcats out of Frankfort, Illinois. In 2009, Giordano accounted for two sacks and 42 tackles in 13 games. In his sophomore season, he picked up 4.5 more sacks and 36 tackles. Then in 2011, he recorded five sacks and 34 tackles. This season, in his last year with the team, Giordano added 51 tackles and five more sacks to his career total.

Greg Blair is a senior out Pittsburgh. The linebacker came to the Bearcats by way of Lackawanna Community College. His first season playing for Cincinnati was 2011, in which he only played in one game against Miami University of Ohio. In that game, Blair recorded one tackle for a loss of three yards. This season, the senior played in twelve games. He forced a fumble, had two interceptions, sacked the opposing team’s quarterback 2.5 times, and recorded 123 tackles.

Other awards handed out today, included Big East Offensive Player of the Year, given to Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgwater. Big East Defensive Player of the Year was awarded to Khaseem Greene, the Rutgers’ linebacker. Special Teams Player of the Year went to Temple running back Matt Brown, while the Big East Rookie of the Year honors was awarded to Tyler Matakevich, linebacker for Temple. Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood and Louisville’s Charlie Strong shared honors for the Big East Coach of the Year.