Texas A&M Football: Handing out 2021 midseason awards

Texas A&M Football MVP, DPoY, and OPoY, Week 1-6

Most Valuable Player: Leon O’Neal Jr. (S)

This was actually an extremely difficult award to pick. I didn’t want to give it to an offensive player — in half of the Aggies’ games, the offense has been nonexistent. The defense, however, has played a well-rounded season of football.

In the end, I decided to give it to Leon O’Neal Jr., as I think he’s had the biggest impact on the unit as a whole over anybody else. I say this because his two-interception (one of which went for a touchdown) game against Kent State in the season opener really set a precedent for this defense. By striking fear in opposing passers against a good defense, he got this unit off on the right foot.

Since then, the passing defense has been great.

Defensive Player of the Year: DeMarvin Leal (DL)

I really didn’t want to leave DeMarvin Leal hanging, so I’m also doing a Defensive Player of the Year award. Think of him as being about even with Leon O’Neal in terms of impact — I’m really just splitting hairs here.

Leal has been everything he was hyped up to be this season. The Aggie defensive lineman has recorded 4.5 sacks on the year and is the team’s third-leading tackler with 29 takedowns on the year. He’s been extremely disruptive on a crowded defensive line unit that has been extremely successful this year.

Offensive Player of the Year: Isaiah Spiller (RB)

Some fans might view Spiller as having had a disappointing season thus far. The offseason hype was through the roof and even though he’s not atop any Heisman watch lists, Spiller has had a really good season.

The Aggie runningback hasn’t had a single explosive performance, but he has chipped away at opposing defenses every game, recording 491 yards and a trio of touchdowns in six games. His 5.8 yards per carry, if it holds, will be a new career-high for Spiller.

He’s been a rare piece of consistency on an offense that has been far from consistent.