FRISCO, Texas - Like their respective teams, which shared the 2009 Southland Conference championship, McNeese State quarterback Derrick Fourroux and Stephen F. Austin signal caller Jeremy Moses were named the league's co-players of the year Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference teams, which were selected by a vote of the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.

Additionally, Texas State quarterback Bradley George was named the offensive player of the year, while a pair of defensive ends - Central Arkansas' Larry Hart and Stephen F. Austin's Tim Knicky - was named co-defensive players of the year. The freshman of the year was McNeese State defensive back Malcolm Bronson and the newcomer of the year was Stephen F. Austin defensive back Andre Banks. Stephen F. Austin head coach J.C. Harper was named the Southland's coach of the year.

Fourroux, who was the first-team all-conference quarterback, became the first player in McNeese history and the third player in conference history to gain more than 10,000 career yards. The senior from Erath, La. (Erath), has 10,038 yards through four seasons as the Cowboys' starter. In addition to being the school's all-time leader in total offense, Fourroux is also the school leader in passing (8,056), passes completed (595), rushing yards (1,961) and touchdowns rushing and passing (92). This season, Fourroux has completed more than 64 percent of his passes (183-of-285) for 2,307 yards and 20 touchdowns and has a pass efficiency rating of 151.15, which ranks 13th among players in the Football Championship Subdivision. He is the sixth player of the year for McNeese since 1994.

Moses, the second-team all-conference quarterback, is also the Lumberjacks' all-time leading passer and has thrown for 8,787 yards and 83 touchdowns. The junior from Baytown, Texas (Lee) has thrown for 300 or more yards 17 times in his career, including seven times this season. Moses has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes (320-of 474) for 3,488 yards and 36 touchdowns. He is second in the nation averaging 317.1 passing yards per game and ranks fourth in total offense, averaging 322.1 yards per game. His pass efficiency rating of 148.48 ranks 16th nationally. Moses earned a spot on the ballot for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in the FCS. Moses is the first player from Stephen F. Austin to be named player of the year.

In a league that has made a name for itself recently with its quarterbacks, George, another field general, was named the offensive player of the year. The senior from New Braunfels, Texas (Canyon), ended his career as Texas State's all-time leading passer, having completed nearly 60 percent of his passes (753-of-1,277) for 9,556 yards and 91 touchdowns. In his senior campaign, the honorable mention all-conference selection finished just seven yards shy of the school single-season record with 3,121 yards on 63 percent aim (258-of-409). He threw 23 touchdowns. George is the third Texas State player to be named the league's offensive player of the year.

Hart is the sixth player in conference history to repeat as the defensive player of the year and the first to do it since 1992-93. The senior from Madison, Miss. (Holmes C.C.), finished among the conference leaders in sacks and tackles for loss to earn first-team all-conference honors as well. Hart had 11 sacks to tie for second in the Southland and his 10 tackles for loss ranked ninth in the league. He also had one interception, one fumble recovery, four forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. The Bears led the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 17.1 points per game, total defense, limiting opponents to just 301.8 yards per game, and rushing defense, stifling opponents to just 106.8 yards per contest. Hart is the only UCA player to be named the league's defensive player of the year.

Knicky shares the honor of defensive player of the year with Hart. The Lumberjacks' defensive end leads the nation in sacks, averaging 1.2 per game. In 10 games this season, the senior from Cedar Park, Texas (Cedar Park), has 14 tackles for loss (minus-95 yards) and 13 sacks (minus-88 yards). Averaging 1.4 tackles for loss per game, Knicky is tied for 20th in the FCS. He also forced a fumble and had one fumble recovery. The Lumberjacks' defense led the conference and ranked 16th nationally in passing efficiency defense (106.63). It also led the conference in passing offense (346.1) and ranked second in scoring defense (19.4), rushing defense (107.8) and total defense (311.8). Knicky is the fourth SFA player to be named defensive player of the year.

Both Hart and Knicky appear on the final ballot for the Buck Buchanan Award, which annually goes to the top defensive player in the FCS.

Bronson is the 11th player from McNeese State and the second in his family to be named freshman of the year since 1978, the first season of the award. The free safety from Jasper, Texas (Jasper), led the Cowboys with 62 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He added two interceptions and four pass breakups. His tackle total tied for the 21st-best total in the Southland, but was the second highest total among freshmen. His uncle, Zach Bronson, was the freshman of the year for McNeese in 1993.

Banks follows teammate Duane Brooks who was the newcomer of the year in 2008. Those are the only two players from SFA who have won the award, which began in 1991. Banks had 50 tackles this season after transferring from Navarro Junior College. The junior from Austin, Texas, had one tackle for loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Stephen F. Austin earned the Southland's automatic qualifier for the NCAA playoffs under Harper, who is in his third season at the Nacogdoches, Texas, school. Harper rebuilt the Lumberjacks from a winless team (0-11) in 2007 to a 4-8 team in 2008 and into a 9-2 team this season, which resulted in a share of the conference championship. This year's playoff appearance is the first for the Lumberjacks since they reached the national semifinals in 1995. SFA has the nation's top-ranked passing and scoring offenses and the third-best total offense. Defense has also played a significant part in the Lumberjacks' success. They rank fifth in sacks 16th in passing efficiency defense, 20th in rushing defense and 27th in scoring defense. He is the second SFA skipper to earn Southland coach of the year laurels. On Monday, Harper was named to the ballot for the Eddie Robinson Award, which goes to the best coach in the FCS.

The Lumberjacks had five first-team selections and placed 14 student-athletes on the two all-conference teams, the most by a Southland program. Joining Knicky on the first team are wide receiver Duane Brooks, offensive lineman Karl Glimp, linebacker Jabara Williams and defensive back Cory Barlow. Moses is joined on the second team by running back Vincent Pervis, offensive lineman Max Holmes, defensive lineman Kenneth Charles, linebacker Devin Ducote, punter Drew Nelson and Contrevious Parks, who earned second-team honors at both return specialist and fullback/halfback positions.

Ten student-athletes from McNeese State were named to the all-conference teams, including a league-best seven on offense. Joining Fourroux and Bronson on the first team were running back Toddrick Pendland, tight end Wes Mangan, offensive lineman Casey Richter, defensive lineman Desmund Lighten and defensive back Darrell Jenkins. The Cowboys, which tied Stephen F. Austin for their 13th Southland Conference championship, placed three on the second team, including offensive lineman Miguel Gauthreaux, linebacker Geremy Pilate and defensive back Seth Thomas.

Central Arkansas placed eight student-athletes on the all-conference teams, including running back Brent Grimes, offensive lineman Lane Freiwald, kicker Eddie Carmona and defensive back Pieri Feazell who join Hart as first-team selections. Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana each had five all-conference selections. The Colonels had two first-team selections in fullback/halfback Marlin Meeks and punter Patrick Dolan, while the Lions were represented on the first team by linebacker Mark Newbill and defensive back Re'Keem Wilson.

Texas State had four players named to the two all-conference teams, including offensive lineman D.J. Hall and return specialist Mishak Rivas. Sam Houston State and Northwestern State each placed three student-athletes on the all-conference teams. Wide receiver Jason Madkins and offensive lineman Hunter Schmidt earned first-team honors for the Bearkats, while the Demons were represented on the first team by defensive lineman Albert Smith.

Individual Awards
Co-Players of the Year: Derrick Fourroux, McNeese State and Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin
Offensive Player of the Year: Bradley George, Texas State
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Larry Hart, Central Arkansas and Tim Knicky, Stephen F. Austin
Freshman of the Year: Malcolm Bronson, McNeese State
Newcomer of the Year: Andre Banks, Stephen F. Austin
Coach of the Year: J.C. Harper, Stephen F. Austin

All-Conference Teams

Honorable Mention
Quarterback: Bradley George, TXST; LaQuintin Caston, NICH; Blake Joseph, SHSU. Running Back: James Aston, SHSU; Alvin Canady, TXST. Fullback/H-back: Dante Austin, NWLA; Rico Moss, UCA; Brandon Broussard, MCN. Wide Receiver: Aaron Rhea, SFA; Chris Wilson, SLU; Preson Echols, UCA; Darius Duffy, NWLA; Gralyn Crawford, SFA. Tight End: Justin Aldredge, NWLA; Corday Clark, MCN. Offensive Linemen: Kevin Hughes, SLU; Calvin Gore, TXST; Austin Emerson, UCA; Michael Booker, NWLA; R.C. Fairchild, SHSU; George Bias, SFA; Casey Thurber, UCA; Alex Luna, TXST. Kicker: Jeff Turner, SLU. Defensive Linemen: Sean Warren, SFA; Zac Reddix, NICH; Josh Ellison, MCN; Terrance Freeman, MCN; Taylor Scott, UCA; Adley Eshraghipour, TXST. Linebacker: Jacob Bane, UCA; James Lancaster, UCA; Luke McCall, SHSU; Quinten Pierre, SLU; Blake Delcambre, NWLA; Marcus Clark, TXST; Yashua Willis, NICH; Derrick Choice, SFA; Rogers Loche, NWLA; Will Henry, SHSU. Defensive Back: Will Thompson, TXST; Andre Banks, SFA; Josh Aubrey, SFA. Punter: Michael Capparelli, SHSU. Return Specialist: Antonio Robinson, NICH; Bradley Brown, NWLA. Specialists: Paul Moneaux, SLU; Isaiah Greenhouse, NWLA.