Hokie ClubRICHMOND, Va. – For the first time since 2006 and the ninth time overall, a Virginia Tech football player has taken home the Dudley Award, given to the state's top Division I collegiate football player. Tech senior linebacker Cody Grimm was presented the award Tuesday night in Richmond. The award is voted on by state media.
Grimm, a former walk-on from Fairfax, had 99 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks while anchoring the Hokies' defense. He earned first-team All-ACC honors last week.
Grimm edged Richmond quarterback Eric Ward for the award. Ward earned more first-place votes than Grimm (4-3), but Grimm was named on every ballot while Ward was not. Grimm finished with 35 points. Ward had 29 and James Madison defensive end Arthur Moats was third with 19.
Dudley Award Winners
| Year | Player | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Shawn Moore * | Virginia | Quarterback |
| 1991 | Matt Blundin | Virginia | Quarterback |
| 1992 | Cary Perkins | Emory and Henry | Quarterback |
| 1993 | Jim Pyne | Virginia Tech | Offensive lineman |
| 1994 | Mike Frederick | Virginia | Defensive end |
| 1995 | Cornell Brown | Virginia Tech | Defensive end |
| 1996 | Tiki Barber | Virginia | Tailback |
| 1997 | Anthony Poindexter | Virginia | Safety |
| 1998 | Marc Megna | Richmond | Defensive tackle |
| 1999 | Corey Moore | Virginia Tech | Defensive end |
| 2000 | Lee Suggs * | Virginia Tech | Tailback |
| 2001 | Billy McMullen | Virginia | Wide receiver |
| 2002 | Lee Suggs | Virginia Tech | Tailback |
| 2003 | Kevin Jones | Virginia Tech | Tailback |
| 2004 | Bryan Randall | Virginia Tech | Quarterback |
| 2005 | Darryl Tapp | Virginia Tech | Defensive end |
| 2006 | Vince Hall | Virginia Tech | Linebacker |
| 2007 | Chris Long * | Virginia | Defensive end |
| 2008 | Rodney Landers | James Madison | Quarterback |
| 2009 | Cody Grimm | Virginia Tech | Linebacker |
* - Unanimous selection
The last Hokie to win the award was linebacker Vince Hall, who capped off a run of five-straight Tech players to win the award (Lee Suggs, 2002; Kevin Jones, 2003; Bryan Randall, 2004; Darryl Tapp, 2005; and Hall). Additionally, Jim Pyne won in 1993, Cornell Brown won in 1995, Corey Moore won in 1999 and Suggs won his first of two Dudley Awards in 2000.
The Dudley Award is named after former University of Virginia standout "Bullet" Bill Dudley and has been presented annually since 1990 to the player of the year at a state school. Each football-playing school in the Commonwealth is allowed to nominate one player. In 2004, a separate award was created for players at Division II and Division III schools. The Richmond Times-Dispatch sponsors the awards.