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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Senior defensive end Ryan Shotwell, who led the team with 17 quarterback hurries and climbed to No. 6 on Cal Poly's career sacks list, was named the Mustangs' most valuable player for the 2009 football season.

Shotwell was presented the honor at the team's annual awards brunch Sunday at Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo.

Shotwell surpassed his brother, Kyle Shotwell, with 5.0 sacks last fall, giving him 19.5 for his career. Shotwell had 41 tackles, including 9.5 for lost yardage, along with nine pass breakups. He matched his career high with three sacks against Southern Utah (he also had three sacks against South Dakota State in 2008).

As a junior in 2008, Shotwell recorded 35 tackles (16 solo), including 9.5 tackles for lost yardage and 4.5 sacks. He also had six quarterback hurries and played all 11 games with five starts. Shotwell played all 11 games as a backup “Q” linebacker in 2007, including one start in the season opener at Texas State before an ankle injury forced him into a backup role. He finished with 29 total tackles, including 18 solo stops, and led the team with 9.0 tackles for lost yardage, including 3.0 sacks.

Shotwell started all 11 games at a defensive end position in his freshman season (2006), recording 51 total tackles, including 23 solo and 28 assisted stops. He shared team-high sack honors with older brother Kyle, each with 7.0 sacks, and recorded 10 quarterback hurries.

Linebacker Carlton Gillespie and fullback Jake Romanelli were named most valuable defensive and offensive players of the year.

Gillespie, also a senior, had 52 tackles, including 9.5 for lost yardage and four sacks, last season. He recovered two fumbles, forced three others and notched 10 quarterback hurries. His fumble recovery in the end zone lifted Cal Poly over South Dakota State on Oct. 3.

Gillespie's 18.0 career sacks is No. 10 all-time at Cal Poly. Primarily a defensive end in his first two seasons at Cal Poly, Gillespie was moved to outside linebacker in 2008.

Romanelli was Cal Poly's top rusher last fall with 492 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. The sophomore scored two touchdowns, a 23-yarder against Southern Utah and a 42-yard run against UC Davis, and also caught four passes for 18 yards.

Shotwell, Gillespie, junior wide receiver Mike Anderson and senior slotback Jon Hall were presented team captain awards.

For the second straight year, Gillespie also earned the Mel Kaufman Award, named for the former Mustang assistant coach and linebacker on Cal Poly's 1980 NCAA Division II national championship team who played in three Super Bowls for the Washington Redskins. Kaufman passed away in February 2009.

Junior cornerback Scottie Cordier was presented the team's most improved award while junior offensive lineman Will Mitchell earned most inspirational honors.

Sophomore cornerback Asa Jackson was presented the Legion (Snelling) Award while safety Johnny Millard (defense) and wide receiver Cougar Williams (offense), both freshmen, were named Show Team Players of the Year.

All-Great West Conference certificates were presented to first-team selections Romanelli, Shotwell and Jackson, second-team honorees Mitchell, Gillespie, wide receiver Dominique Johnson, offensive lineman Scott Winnewisser, defensive tackle James Chen, linebacker Marty Mohamed and safety David Fullerton and four honorable mentions: cornerback Xavier Gardner, linebacker Kenny Jackson, center Hal Kalley and quarterback/punter Harlan Prather.

Head coach Tim Walsh and the Mustang coaching staff said their good-byes to 11 seniors: cornerback Ryan Chambers, Fullerton, Gardner, linebacker Tommy Gatta, Gillespie, slotbacks Jono Grayson and Jon Hall, Prather, Shotwell, linebacker Blaze Silberman and slotback Jaymes Thierry.

Cal Poly finished 4-7 in Walsh's first season at the helm.