Patrick Laird and Devante Downs were named the 2017 Cal Football Bear Backers Offensive and Defensive MVPs to highlight a series of awards announced Sunday by head coach Justin Wilcox. Laird won a team-high three awards as he also earned the Berkeley Breakfast Club Award as Cal's Outstanding Player in the Big Game and the Stub Allison Award given for his work in strength and conditioning. Downs also picked up the Ken Cotton Award as the team's Most Courageous Player.
Laird and Downs were Cal's multiple-award winners while Ashtyn Davis was named the team's Most Valuable Player on special teams for the second consecutive season.