Esteen Wins 118th Guy Flaherty Award At UW Team Banquet
December 07, 2025 | Football
SEATTLE – Senior safety Makell Esteen won the 118th annual Guy Flaherty Award, the Washington football program's oldest and most prestigious team honor, at the teams' annual postseason awards banquet, held Sunday afternoon.
The Flaherty Award, given to the UW's most inspirational player and voted on by the players was first awarded in 1908. Esteen is a sixth-year senior from Hawthorne, Calif., the lone member of the Husky roster who had been at UW for six seasons. He started 11 of 12 games and finished the regular season with 48 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Also Sunday, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (Chandler, Ariz.), safety Alex McLaughlin (Chandler, Ariz.), and linebacker Anthony Ward (Ontario, Calif.) were named the team's most valuable offense, defensive and special teams players, respectively.
Here is a complete recap of all of Washington's team award winners for 2025:
2025 Washington Football Awards
Guy Flaherty Most Inspirational
Makell Esteen
Offensive Most Valuable Player
Demond Williams Jr.
Defensive Most Valuable Player
Alex McLaughlin
Special Teams Most Valuable Player
Anthony Ward
Be a P.R.O. Award
Jonah Coleman
101 Club Academic Award
Jonah Coleman
Academic Achievement Award
Ephesians Prysock
Tyee Sports Council Community Service Award
Jonah Coleman
Travis Spring Most Outstanding Freshman
Dezmen Roebuck
Newcomers of the Year Award
John Mills and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
Don James Perseverance Award
Zach Durfee
Earle T. Glant Tough Husky
Drew Azzopardi
John P. Angel Offensive Lineman of the Year
Carver Willis
L. Wait Rising Defensive Lineman of the Year
Jacob Lane
Chuck Niemi Big Hit Award
Rylon Dillard-Allen and Quentin Moore
Husky Fever 12th Man Award
Jack Shaffer
Iron Dawg Award
Devin Hyde and Jacob Lane
Offensive Skill Player of the Year Award
Denzel Boston
Defensive Skill Player of the Year Award
Ephesians Prysock
Bob Jarvis Offensive Scout Squad MVP
Baron Naone
Brian Stapp Special Teams Scout Squad MVP
Jonathan Epperson Jr.
Mark Drennan Defensive Scout Squad MVP
Paul Mencke Jr.
Kurt Gegner Memorial Award
Fraser Kerr (equipment), Sam Davis (video), Nolan Takayama & Peyton Zuarri-Cott (athletic training)
The Flaherty Award, given to the UW's most inspirational player and voted on by the players was first awarded in 1908. Esteen is a sixth-year senior from Hawthorne, Calif., the lone member of the Husky roster who had been at UW for six seasons. He started 11 of 12 games and finished the regular season with 48 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Also Sunday, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (Chandler, Ariz.), safety Alex McLaughlin (Chandler, Ariz.), and linebacker Anthony Ward (Ontario, Calif.) were named the team's most valuable offense, defensive and special teams players, respectively.
Here is a complete recap of all of Washington's team award winners for 2025:
2025 Washington Football Awards
Guy Flaherty Most Inspirational
Makell Esteen
Offensive Most Valuable Player
Demond Williams Jr.
Defensive Most Valuable Player
Alex McLaughlin
Special Teams Most Valuable Player
Anthony Ward
Be a P.R.O. Award
Jonah Coleman
101 Club Academic Award
Jonah Coleman
Academic Achievement Award
Ephesians Prysock
Tyee Sports Council Community Service Award
Jonah Coleman
Travis Spring Most Outstanding Freshman
Dezmen Roebuck
Newcomers of the Year Award
John Mills and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
Don James Perseverance Award
Zach Durfee
Earle T. Glant Tough Husky
Drew Azzopardi
John P. Angel Offensive Lineman of the Year
Carver Willis
L. Wait Rising Defensive Lineman of the Year
Jacob Lane
Chuck Niemi Big Hit Award
Rylon Dillard-Allen and Quentin Moore
Husky Fever 12th Man Award
Jack Shaffer
Iron Dawg Award
Devin Hyde and Jacob Lane
Offensive Skill Player of the Year Award
Denzel Boston
Defensive Skill Player of the Year Award
Ephesians Prysock
Bob Jarvis Offensive Scout Squad MVP
Baron Naone
Brian Stapp Special Teams Scout Squad MVP
Jonathan Epperson Jr.
Mark Drennan Defensive Scout Squad MVP
Paul Mencke Jr.
Kurt Gegner Memorial Award
Fraser Kerr (equipment), Sam Davis (video), Nolan Takayama & Peyton Zuarri-Cott (athletic training)
Players Mentioned
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