FRISCO – The Southland Conference announced its annual football awards and all-conference teams on Tuesday, highlighted by Player of the Year Kaleb Proctor of Southeastern Louisiana and Coach of the Year Colby Carthel of Stephen F. Austin, who led the Lumberjacks to the 2025 Southland Championship and a Top 8 national seed in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs.
Conference champion Stephen F. Austin led all programs with 15 All-Conference selections, including nine First Team honorees. Lamar followed with 10 selections, while Southeastern Louisiana earned nine. UTRGV, Nicholls, and East Texas A&M each collected five All-Conference honorees, with McNeese andUIW earning four apiece, and HCU adding two selections.
The Southland delivered one of the strongest seasons in FCS football, producing three playoff teams — SFA, Southeastern, and Lamar — marking the league’s most postseason selections since 2019. UTRGV also made a historic debut, completing its first-ever season of football with a winning conference record, two major superlative winners, and nine All-Conference honorees.
INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
A disruptive force from the interior, Kaleb Proctor delivered one of the most dominant defensive seasons in the Southland and across the FCS. The senior led the conference with 8.0 sacks and consistently generated pressure at a level rarely seen from an interior lineman. His blend of power, leverage, and burst routinely forced offenses to alter protections and abandon interior run schemes.
Proctor anchored a Southeastern Louisiana defense that finished top 10 nationally in total defense and top 12 nationally in scoring defense. His ability to destroy blocking schemes and collapse pockets was central to Southeastern’s identity and played a major role in the Lions earning another FCS Playoff berth.
He becomes the first Lion to earn Player of the Year honors since Cole Kelley in 2021.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Sam Vidlak, QB, Stephen F. Austin
Sam Vidlak orchestrated the most efficient offense in the Southland, guiding Stephen F. Austin to an undefeated conference season and a Top-8 national seed. Vidlak threw for 2,090 yards and 18 touchdowns while finishing among the national leaders in passing efficiency, yards per attempt, and completion percentage.
His command of the offense elevated SFA into one of the top scoring units in the country and allowed the Lumberjacks to play balanced, controlled football all season. Vidlak becomes the first Lumberjack since Walter Payton Award Winner Jeremy Moses in 2010 to earn Southland Offensive Player of the Year, adding to his 2024 Newcomer of the Year honor.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – KK Reno, LB, Southeastern Louisiana
A model of consistency and toughness, KK Reno finished the season as one of the top tacklers in the nation, ranking 11th in the FCS with 118 total stops. He paired his tackling production with excellent range, anticipation, and coverage ability, thriving as the focal point of one of the best defensive units in the country.
Reno’s leadership and versatility helped Southeastern maintain its national defensive standing, finishing top 10 in total defense and top 12 in scoring defense. His ability to eliminate perimeter runs, erase intermediate passing windows, and lead the Lions’ defensive communication made him one of the conference’s most complete linebackers. He is the first Lion to earn Defensive Player of the Year since Cqulin Hubert in 2013.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR – Erik Gray, OL, Stephen F. Austin
Erik Gray anchored the Southland’s top offensive line, leading a unit that finished top 30 nationally in sacks allowed and powered one of the most efficient offenses in the FCS. His protection helped quarterback Sam Vidlak maintain elite passing numbers, and his physicality in the run game fueled SFA’s balanced attack throughout its championship season.
Gray’s consistency and dominance at the point of attack made him the conference’s most impactful lineman. He is SFA’s first Offensive Lineman of the Year since Justice Guillory in 2020.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Eddie Lee Marburger, QB, UTRGV
In UTRGV’s debut season, Eddie Lee Marburger emerged as one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the entire FCS. He finished No. 3 nationally in passing touchdowns (31), top 15 in passing yards (2,780), and top 20 in total offense while also ranking among the national leaders in yards per attempt and passing efficiency.
Marburger’s performance instantly established the Vaqueros as one of the most dangerous offenses in the subdivision. His production helped UTRGV finish as a top-10 national scoring offense and delivered one of the best inaugural quarterback seasons in recent FCS history, guiding the Vaqueros to a record-breaking 9-3.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Tony Diaz, WR, UTRGV
Freshman Tony Diaz became one of the top young receivers in the nation, recording 875 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Both marks ranked among the top FCS freshmen nationally, and his 11 receiving scores placed him fourth in the entire country.
Diaz’s explosiveness, polished routes, and strong hands made him a matchup problem from day one. He quickly emerged as the top target in one of the most prolific passing attacks in the country and delivered one of the most productive freshman seasons in the Southland.
COACH OF THE YEAR – Colby Carthel, Stephen F. Austin
Colby Carthel led Stephen F. Austin to one of the most complete seasons in school history, guiding the Lumberjacks to an undefeated conference record for the first time ever, the Southland Championship, and a Top-8 national seed. SFA enters the postseason on a 10-game winning streak and ranked among the national leaders on both sides of the ball.
The Lumberjacks finished No. 2 in total defense, No. 3 in scoring defense, No. 3 in rushing defense, No. 3 in first down defense, and No. 4 in red zone defense. Carthel’s ability to build a balanced, disciplined, and a program East Texas Tough resulted in one of the nation’s most impressive résumés.
He becomes SFA’s first Coach of the Year honoree since Clint Conque in 2014.
2025 Southland Conference Football Individual Superlative Winners
Player of the Year: Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Vidlak, SFA
Defensive Player of the Year: KK Reno, Southeastern
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Erik Gray, SFA
Newcomer of the Year: Eddie Lee Marburger, UTRGV
Freshman of the Year: Tony Diaz, UTRGV
Coach of the Year: Colby Carthel, SFA
2025 Southland Conference Football First Team All-Conference Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Sam Vidlak* |
SFA |
Sr. |
Applegate, Ore. |
| QB |
Eddie Lee Marburger* |
UTRGV |
R-Sr. |
MIssion, Texas |
| RB |
Xai'Shaun Edwards |
HCU |
R-Fr. |
League City, Texas |
| RB |
Jerrell Wimbley |
SFA |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| TE/HB |
Devyn Gibbs |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Tomball, Texas |
| WR |
Jalen Walthall |
UIW |
R-Sr. |
Missouri City, Texas |
| WR |
Kylon Harris |
SFA |
Sr. |
Reserve, La. |
| WR |
Tony Diaz |
UTRGV |
R-Fr. |
San Marcos, Texas |
| OL |
Erik Gray |
SFA |
Jr. |
Amarillo, Texas |
| OL |
William Bressi |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Forney, Texas |
| OL |
Chimdia Nwaiwu |
SFA |
Jr. |
Aledo, Texas |
| OL |
Reggie Brooks |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Wylie, Texas |
| OL |
Knox Boyd |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Denton, Texas |
| PK |
Ben Woodard |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Plano, Texas |
| P |
Fabrizio Pinton |
McNeese |
Sr. |
The Woodlands, Texas |
| LS |
Tug Sanford |
SFA |
Jr. |
Allen, Texas |
2025 Southland Conference Football First Team All-Conference Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Kaleb Proctor |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Oak Grove, La. |
| DL |
Ky Thomas |
SFA |
Gr. |
Elkhart, Texas |
| DL |
Phillip Bradford |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Monroe, La. |
| DL |
Aaron Austin |
SFA |
Sr. |
Crowley, Texas |
| LB |
Jaydon Southard |
SFA |
Sr. |
Wichita Falls, Texas |
| LB |
KK Reno |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
New Iberia, La. |
| LB |
Declan Williams |
UIW |
Sr. |
Hamilton, Texas |
| DB |
Charles Dmemings |
SFA |
Sr. |
Mesquite, Texas |
| DB |
Kristian Pugh |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Beaumont, Texas |
| DB |
Tyran Chappell |
HCU |
R-Fr. |
Denton, Texas |
| DB |
Jalen Mayo |
SFA |
R-Jr. |
Hampton, Va. |
| DB |
Ty Marsh |
Nicholls |
R-Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| KR |
Brandon Hayes |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Hattiesburg, Miss. |
| PR |
Bugs Mortimer |
SFA |
R-Jr. |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
2025 Southland Conference Football Second Team All-Conference Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
EJ Colson |
UIW |
R-Fr. |
Byron, Ga. |
| RB |
Deantre Jackson |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| RB |
Miequle Brock Jr. |
Nicholls |
So. |
Pensacola, Fla. |
| TE/HB |
Cade Collier |
Southeastern |
R-Sr. |
Mobile, Ala. |
| WR |
Jaylon Domingeaux |
Southeastern |
Jr. |
Lafayette, La. |
| WR |
Devin Matthews |
East Texas A&M |
So. |
Seguin, Texas |
| WR |
Christian Jourdain |
East Texas A&M |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| OL |
Holden Karekowsky |
Southeastern |
R-Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| OL |
Kortez Winslow |
Lamar |
So. |
Houston, Texas |
| OL |
Nick Hughes |
UTRGV |
R-Fr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| OL |
Traveon Newsome |
UIW |
Gr. |
Acres Home, Texas |
| OL |
Cody Brackeen* |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Springtown, Texas |
| OL |
Jadin Jones* |
East Texas A&M |
Sr. |
Killeen, Texas |
| PK |
Carlos Alvarado |
SFA |
R-So. |
Lecheria, Venezuela |
| P |
Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling |
UTRGV |
R-Jr. |
Grandview Heights, Ohio |
| LS |
Cade Collier |
Southeastern |
R-Sr. |
Mobile, Ala. |
2025 Southland Conference Football Second Team All-Conference Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Ian Box |
UTRGV |
R-Jr. |
Seguin, Texas |
| DL |
Joshua Randall |
Southeastern |
R-Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| DL |
Peyton Christian |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Oak Grove, La. |
| DL |
Elijah Fields |
SFA |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| LB |
Jake Dalmado |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
Mandeville, La. |
| LB |
Koby-Sebasyen King |
East Texas A&M |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| LB |
Kyree Anderson |
East Texas A&M |
Sr. |
Cypress, Texas |
| DB |
Ian Conerly-Goodly |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Covington, La. |
| DB |
Paul Omodia |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Kilgore, Texas |
| DB |
Ethan Lee |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Thibodaux, La. |
| DB |
Aaron Sears |
SFA |
Jr. |
Tyler, Texas |
| DB |
Laurence Sullivan Jr. |
Nicholls |
R-Sr. |
Vicksburg, Miss. |
| KR |
Richard Reese* |
SFA |
Sr. |
Bellville, Texas |
| KR |
LaDamion McDowell* |
Lamar |
Fr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| PR |
Kyndon Fuselier |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Nederland, Texas |
* = Denotes tie