Jeremy Moses Named Southland Conference Player of the Year

11/23/2010 6:55:00 PM

FRISCO, Texas - Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses and linebacker Jabara Williams were named the top players in the Southland Conference Tuesday after guiding the Lumberjacks to their second consecutive conference championship and berth into the NCAA playoffs.

Moses, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, was named the league's overall player of the year and also the offensive player of the year, while Williams, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, was named the Southland's defensive player of the year.

The conference announced three other individual awards Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the annual all-conference teams, which were selected by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Central Arkansas defensive back Jestin Love and Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders shared the freshman of the year award, while McNeese State tailback Andre Anderson was named the newcomer of the year. J.C. Harper, who is in his fourth year as coach of the Lumberjacks, was named the conference coach of the year for the second consecutive season.

Moses, who was the Southland's co-player of the year in 2009, has completed 303-of-499 passes (60.7 percent) for 3,658 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. The senior from Baytown, Texas (Lee), leads the Football Championship Subdivision with 332.5 passing yards per game and has thrown only four interceptions. Moses, a five-time career conference offensive player of the week, is the Southland record holder in passing yards (13,061), total offense (12,853), completions (1,151) and touchdown passes (121). Those numbers are among the best all-time in the FCS. He ranks second in completions, fourth in touchdowns, sixth in passing yards and 10th in total offense. Moses is the only player from Stephen F. Austin to be named the overall player of the year and is the first repeat selection since Texas State's Claude Mathis earned the honor in 1996 and 1997. Moses is the school's fourth offensive player of the year.

Williams becomes fifth Lumberjack and the second in a row to be named the league's defensive player of the year, following Tim Knicky who shared the award last year. Williams has made 98 tackles this season, including six tackles for losses of 18 yards and two sacks totaling 12 yards. The senior from Garrison, Texas (Garrison), also had one interception, four pass breakups and three interceptions. For his career, Williams has made 402 career tackles, including 25 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Harper guided the Lumberjacks to a 9-2 record overall and 6-1 in Southland Conference play for the school's second consecutive conference championship and fourth in school history. After sharing the title last season, the Lumberjacks won the title outright this year, the first time that has happened since 1989. Harper, a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, has guided SFA from an 0-11 season in 2007, to a No. 2 ranking in the FCS Coaches' Poll and No. 3 in The Sports Network Top 25. His squad has a first-round bye in this year's playoffs before a second-round date Dec. 4 vs. Villanova, the defending national champion. The Lumberjacks are 23-24 in Harper's four seasons in Nacogdoches.

Love was named the league's co-freshman of the year after leading the league with six interceptions, all during conference play. The rookie from West Memphis, Ark., returned two interceptions for touchdowns, including a 98-yard score at Nicholls. He followed it the next week with a 25-yard score against Southeastern Louisiana and had two interceptions in each of those games. His 166 yards off interception returns rank third in a single season at Central Arkansas. Love made 39 tackles this season and had a career-high seven stops against Stephen F. Austin. He is the first UCA player to be named the league's freshman of the year.

Flanders, a redshirt freshman from Midwest City, Okla., was also named co-freshman of the year. He is the second Bearkat to lead the Southland Conference in rushing. He totaled 948 yards on 172 carries for an average of 5.5 yards per carry. He scored 13 touchdowns and averaged 94.8 yards per game while setting the school record with seven 100-yard rushing performances. The transfer from Kansas State reached 100 yards or more in six consecutive games, which also was a Sam Houston State record. Flanders is the third Bearkat to be named freshman of the year.

Anderson totaled 855 yards and five touchdowns in guiding the Cowboys to a second-place finish in the Southland. The transfer from Michigan State, averaged 77.7 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry this year. He ran for a season-high 171 yards against Nicholls and then totaled 170 yards two weeks later in a win over Texas State before finishing the season with 101 yards at Central Arkansas. Anderson is the third McNeese State player to be named the newcomer of the year and the first since Roderick Royal picked up the award in 2002.

Stephen F. Austin had nine first-team selections and placed a total of 13 student-athletes on the two all-conference teams. Both numbers lead the league. Moses was the first-team quarterback, while Williams earned first-team honors at linebacker for the third consecutive season. They were joined on the first team by receiver Cordell Roberson, offensive lineman George Bias, defensive linemen Kenneth Charles and Sean Warren, defensive back Josh Aubrey and Gralyn Crawford who was honored at halfback and at return specialist. Second-team honorees include offensive linemen John Steel and Corey Dickerson, defensive back Andre Banks and punter Drew Nelson.

Nine student-athletes from McNeese State were named to the all-conference teams, including six first-team selections: Anderson, tight end Corday Clark, offensive lineman Miguel Gauthreaux, placekicker Josh Lewis, defensive lineman Desmund Lighten and defensive back Malcolm Bronson. Among the Cowboys' second team all-conference selections are fullback Drew Johnston, defensive lineman Josh Ellison and defensive back Darrell Jenkins.

Central Arkansas placed eight student-athletes on the all-conference team, including offensive lineman Austin Emerson and defensive lineman Markell Carter on the first team. Sam Houston State had six all-conference selections, including Flanders at running back and Kenneth Jenkins at defensive back. Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana each had five all-conference picks. Demon offensive lineman Michael Booker and linebacker Derek Rose earned first-team honors, as did Southeastern defensive back Tommy Connors.

Nicholls and Texas State each had a total of three players earn all-conference honors. Nicholls defensive back Bobby Felder and punter Patrick Dolan garnered first-team honors. The two Bobcats to grab first-team laurels include receiver Da'Marcus Griggs and offensive lineman D.J. Hall.

There are 16 student-athletes who have been named to the all-conference teams previously, including Southeastern's Connors, who is a four-time selection. Texas State's Hall and Stephen F. Austin's Williams are three-time honorees. Williams is a three-time first-team selection, becoming just the second Lumberjack to accomplish that feat. Other players with repeat selection to the first team include Hall and McNeese State's Lighten and Bronson.

The all-conference teams are comprised of 13 first-team and second-team members. Each coach nominates players from his own team. The teams are selected by vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors, which cannot vote for their own players.

Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin
Offensive Player of the Year: Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin
Defensive Player of the Year: Jabara Williams, Stephen F. Austin
Freshmen of the Year: Jestin Love, Central Arkansas and Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State
Newcomer of the Year: Andre Anderson, McNeese State
Coach of the Year: J.C. Harper, Stephen F. Austin

2010 All-Conference Football Teams

First-Team Offense
Pos.	Name	University	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
QB	Jeremy Moses²	Stephen F. Austin	6-0	195	Sr.	Baytown, Texas
RB	Tim Flanders	Sam Houston State	5-9	208	Fr.	Midwest City, Okla.
RB	Andre Anderson	McNeese State	5-9	190	Jr.	Barrington, Ill.
HB	Gralyn Crawford	Stephen F. Austin	5-10	175	So.	Palestine, Texas
WR	Cordell Roberson	Stephen F. Austin	6-3	192	So.	Jefferson, Texas
WR	Da'Marcus Griggs²	Texas State	6-1	185	Sr.	Bay City, Texas
TE	Corday Clark	McNeese State	6-3	235	Sr.	Baton Rouge, La.
OL	Michael Booker	Northwestern State	6-3	314	Sr.	Paris, Texas
OL	George Bias	Stephen F. Austin	6-3	304	Jr.	Houston, Texas
OL	Miguel Gauthreaux²	McNeese State	6-1	291	Jr.	Plaquemine, La.
OL	D.J. Hall³	Texas State	6-3	300	Jr.	Palestine, Texas
OL	Austin Emerson	Central Arkansas	6-3	279	Sr.	Sperry, Okla.
PK	Josh Lewis	McNeese State	6-0	190	So.	Denham Springs, La.

First-Team Defense
Pos.	Name	University	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
DL	Markell Carter²	Central Arkansas	6-4	248	Sr.	Bartlesville, Okla.
DL	Kenneth Charles²	Stephen F. Austin	6-3	266	Sr.	Missouri City, Texas
DL	Sean Warren	Stephen F. Austin	6-0	292	Sr.	Texas City, Texas
DL	Desmund Lighten²	McNeese State	6-0	250	Jr.	Monroe, La.
LB	Jabara Williams³	Stephen F. Austin	6-3	210	Sr.	Garrison, Texas
LB	Derek Rose	Northwestern State	5-11	225	So.	New Orleans, La.
DB	Malcolm Bronson²	McNeese State	5-11	188	So.	Jasper, Texas
DB	Bobby Felder	Nicholls	5-11	200	Jr.	McComb, Miss.
DB	Tommy Connors⁴	Southeastern La.	6-1	215	Sr.	Marrero, La.
DB	Kenneth Jenkins	Sam Houston State	5-10	195	So.	Galveston, Texas
DB	Josh Aubrey	Stephen F. Austin	5-11	191	So.	Tyler, Texas
P	Patrick Dolan	Nicholls	6-1	200	Sr.	Mobile, Ala.
RS	Gralyn Crawford	Stephen F. Austin	5-10	175	So.	Palestine, Texas

Second-Team Offense
Pos.	Name	University	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
QB	Nathan Dick	Central Arkansas	6-4	214	Jr.	Allen, Texas
RB	Jesse Turner	Nicholls	5-8	180	So.	Houma, La.
RB	Terence Bobo	Central Arkansas	6-0	210	So.	Atkins, Ark.
FB	Drew Johnston	McNeese State	5-11	230	Sr.	Newton, Texas
WR	Simmie Yarborough²	Southeastern La.	6-1	205	Jr.	Brookhaven, Miss.
WR	Ken Robey	Central Arkansas	5-9	186	Sr.	Charleston, Miss.
TE	Justin Aldredge	Northwestern State	5-11	211	Jr.	Ruston, La.
OL	Kevin Hughes	Southeastern La.	6-4	290	Sr.	New Orleans, La.
OL	John Steel	Stephen F. Austin	6-4	273	So.	Boyd, Texas
OL	Matt Dickerson	Central Arkansas	6-5	278	Jr.	Monroe, La.
OL	Corey Dickerson	Stephen F. Austin	6-10	320	So.	Livingston, Texas
OL	Travis Watson	Sam Houston State	6-4	295	Jr.	Norman, Okla.
PK	Eddie Carmona²	Central Arkansas	6-0	211	Sr.	Charleston, Ark.

Second-Team Defense
Pos.	Name	University	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
DL	Ledell Love²	Northwestern State	6-1	244	Sr.	Dallas, Texas
DL	J.T. Cleveland	Sam Houston State	6-0	290	Jr.	Baytown, Texas
DL	Nathan Clophus	Southeastern La.	6-3	265	Sr.	Sulphur, La.
DL	Josh Ellison	McNeese State	6-3	237	Sr.	Houston, Texas
LB	Mark Newbill²	Southeastern La.	5-11	215	Sr.	Monroe, La.
LB	Will Henry	Sam Houston State	5-10	210	Jr.	Waco, Texas
DB	Jamaal White	Northwestern State	6-0	193	So.	Garland, Texas
DB	Jestin Love	Central Arkansas	6-0	195	Fr.	West Memphis, Ark.
DB	Andre Banks	Stephen F. Austin	6-3	208	Sr.	Austin, Texas
DB	Darrell Jenkins²	McNeese State	5-10	205	Jr.	Bon Weir, Texas
DB	Darryl Morris	Texas State	5-10	175	So.	San Antonio, Texas
P	Drew Nelson²	Stephen F. Austin	6-1	193	Jr.	Livingston, Texas
RS	Brandon Closner	Sam Houston State	5-10	170	Jr.	Arlington, Texas

2 - indicates two-time all-conference selection
3 - indicates three-time all-conference selection
4 - indicates four-time all-conference selection

Honorable Mention
Quarterback: LaQuintin Caston, NICH; Paul Harris, NWLA. Running Back: Romonte Hampton, SFA; Karrington Bush, TXST. Wide Receiver: Bradley Brown, NWLA; Anthony Foster, SFA; Dominique Croom, UCA; Kris Lott, SFA. Offensive Linemen: Alec Savoie, MCN; Cameron Pound, SHSU; Zach Case, NWLA; Jonathan Landry, MCN; Josh Penton, SLU. Placekicker: Miguel Antonio, SHSU. Defensive Linemen: Trey Lippe, UCA; Rainey Sternes, SFA; D.J. Shaw, NWLA; Dennis Clark, NWLA; Wade Williams, NWLA. Linebacker: Deron Minor, MCN; Devin Ducote, SFA; Frank Newsome, UCA; Jordan Piper, NICH; Yaser Elqutub, NWLA; Ryan Godare, SLU; Derrick Choice, SFA; Marcus Clark, TXST. Defensive Back: Caleb Nelson, SFA; Re'Keem Wilson, SLU; Brashard Booker, NWLA; Ben Wells, SFA; Tabbaris Hicks, NICH; Darnell Taylor, SHSU; Seth Allison, UCA; Seth Thomas, MCN; Devin Holland, MCN; Jordan Hanberry, NICH; Bookie Sneed, SHSU; Dax Swanson, SHSU. Punter: Ben Follis, TXST. Return Specialist: Da'Marcus Griggs, TXST.