Senior running back DJ Adams came away with the team Most Valuable Player honor, as the Portland State football program handed out its 2013 season awards at the team banquet on Sunday afternoon.

The Viking team banquet was held in conjunction with the final home game of the season and Senior Day (Saturday vs. Sacramento State) as player families were in town for the event. Portland State still has one  game remaining to be played, next Saturday at Eastern Washington.

Adams was a worthy honoree as the team's MVP. He leads the Vikings in rushing (1,456 yards) and touchdowns (18) this season. Adams, a 5-10, 210-pounder from Atlanta, leads the Big Sky Conference in rushing and ranks fifth in the nation in rushing overall. Adams was also named the team's Most Valuable Offensive Back and the team's Most Inspirational Player for the second year in a row in voting done by the players.

Among the players aiding Adams on his great season was senior right tackle Mitchell Van Dyk who was selected as the team's top offensive lineman for the second straight season. Van Dyk, a 6-9, 290-pounder from Paso Robles, CA, was part of a line that has led the Vikings to a school-record 3,137 rushing yards. PSU ranks second in the nation in rushing. In addition, the Viking line has allowed only five quarterback sacks all season despite more than 300 pass attempts. That is the second-fewest sacks allowed by any team in the country this year. PSU is first in the Big Sky in total offense (534.8) and third in the nation.

Senior Bryant Long was selected as the Vikings' top defensive lineman. Long, a 6-3, 245-pound defensive end from South Orange, NJ, has 29 tackles and a team-high nine tackles for loss this year. He was a team leader all the way as his teammates selected him as a captain prior to the season.

Also making a mark on defense was senior Dean Faddis, who was named the team's Outstanding Defensive Back. Faddis has 84 tackles and a team-high nine pass breakups. A senior from Ramona, CA, Faddis accomplished his fine season after missing most of the last two seasons due to twice breaking his foot.

The nation's top punter, junior Kyle Loomis, was an easy selection as the Special Teams Player of the Year. Loomis has led the nation in punting for most of the season and currently has a 47.1 average. He is set to break the Portland State record by nearly five yards (42.8) after the final game. Loomis, a native of Roseburg, OR who is 26 years old, recently returned to college and football after a stint in the Army. He last played in 2006 at Oregon State University.

Portland State's leading receiver, Kasey Closs, was named the Most Improved Player on the team. Closs was a redshirt in 2012 but earned a starting role as a wide receiver in 2013. The junior from Lake Oswego has team highs of 52 catches for 976 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior center Mitch Gaulke was named the Mike Schrunk Scholar Athlete of the Year for the third straight season. Gaulke, from West Linn, OR, has been a starter at center for three seasons and earned virtually every academic award available at the conference, regional and national levels during that time. Along with Bryant Long, Gaulke was a team captain this season.

Redshirt freshman Steven Long was named the Scout Team Player of the Year. Long, who was the state Player of the Year at Lake Oswego High School in 2011, came back from brain surgery this past spring to compete. He will be a factor in the backfield in the coming seasons for PSU.

The Charles Withers Award was presented to Mike and Annie Chisholm for their continued contributions to the Portland State football program. The Chisholms have been prominent boosters and donors to PSU athletics over the past two decades.

2013 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL TEAM AWARDS

Most Valuable Player: SR RB DJ Adams

Outstanding Offensive Back: SR RB DJ Adams

Outstanding Defensive Back: SR S Dean Faddis

Outstanding Offensive Lineman: SR RT Mitchell Van Dyk

Outstanding Defensive Lineman: SR DE Bryant Long

Most Improved Player: JR WR Kasey Closs

Most Inspirational Player: SR RB DJ Adams

Special Teams Player of the Year: JR P Kyle Loomis

Scout Team Player of the Year: FR RB Steven Long

Mike Schrunk Scholar-Athlete Award: SR C Mitch Gaulke

Charles Withers Award (for contributions to the program): Mike and Annie Chisholm