FRISCO, Texas – Stephen F. Austin defensive lineman Ky Thomas and East Texas A&M linebacker Koby-Sebasyen King have been named the 2025 Southland Conference Football Student-Athletes of the Year, highlighting this season’s selections to the Southland Football All-Academic Team.
Thomas, a graduate student from Elkhart, Texas, posted a 3.56 GPA while earning his MBA at SFA. On the field, he anchored one of the nation’s top defensive units, recording 15.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks in conference play, and 14 quarterback hurries. Thomas was a first team All-Southland selection and earned All-America honors, helping lead the Lumberjacks to an unbeaten Southland campaign and the program’s fifth conference championship.
King, a graduate student from Houston, Texas, holds a 3.90 GPA in Business Administration at East Texas A&M. He delivered one of the league’s top defensive seasons with 113 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks, earning second team All-Southland honors along with CSC All-District recognition.
The Southland Football All-Academic Team was voted upon by the head coach, sports information director and an academic/compliance staff member from each institution. To be eligible for all-academic distinction, a student-athlete must hold a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA through the semester prior to the sport’s championship, complete at least one semester at the nominating institution during the season of nomination, and participate in at least 50 percent of the team’s games at the position listed.
2025 Southland Football Student-Athlete of the Year: Ky Thomas, Stephen F. Austin and Koby-Sebasyen King, East Texas A&M
Southland Football All-Academic Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Hometown |
Claass |
GPA |
Major |
| LB |
Kyree Anderson |
East Texas A&M |
Cypress, Texas |
Gr. |
3.33 |
Health Kinesiology & Sport Studies |
| OL |
Jadin Jones |
East Texas A&M |
Killeen, Texas |
Gr. |
3.90 |
Health Kinesiology & Sport Studies |
| LB |
Koby-Sebasyen King |
East Texas A&M |
Houston, Texas |
Gr. |
3.90 |
Business Administration |
| DE |
Ravonte Blowe |
HCU |
Denton, Texas |
Sr. |
3.29 |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
| DT |
Julius Davis |
HCU |
Manvel, Texas |
Sr. |
3.67 |
Kinesiology |
| S |
Xavier Toliver |
HCU |
Arlington, Texas |
Sr. |
3.67 |
Kinesiology – Sport Management |
| QB |
Jake Weir |
HCU |
Tupelo, Miss. |
Sr. |
3.75 |
Master of Business Administration |
| LB |
Trent Zappe |
HCU |
Victoria, Texas |
Jr. |
3.86 |
Business Administration |
| K |
Will Farris |
UIW |
Dallas, Texas |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Sport Management |
| TE |
Jackson Lowe |
UIW |
Cartersville, Ga. |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Sport Management |
| RB |
Tim Carter |
UIW |
Miami Gardens, Fla. |
Sr. |
3.80 |
Kinesiology |
| LB |
Declan Williams |
UIW |
Hamilton, Texas |
Sr. |
3.57 |
Communications |
| LB |
Jackson Bandy |
Lamar |
Nolensville, Tenn. |
So. |
3.73 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| LS |
Jacob Hefner |
Lamar |
Canton, Ga. |
So. |
3.66 |
University Studies |
| TE |
Morgan Sampson |
Lamar |
Orangefield, Texas |
Jr. |
3.64 |
Biology |
| P |
Mason Stallons |
Lamar |
Frisco, Texas |
So. |
3.72 |
Finance |
| OL |
Cody Brackeen |
McNeese |
Spring, Texas |
Sr. |
3.44 |
General Business Admin. |
| OL |
Will Bressi |
McNeese |
Forney, Texas |
Sr. |
3.59 |
Kinesiology-Health Performance Studies |
| RB |
Coleby Hamm |
McNeese |
Spring, Texas |
Sr. |
3.85 |
Masters-Kinesiology Sports Performance |
| P |
Fabrizio Pinton |
McNeese |
The Woodland, Texas |
Sr. |
3.71 |
Masters Business Admin. |
| QB |
Jake Strong |
McNeese |
Justin, Texas |
So. |
3.87 |
Accounting & Finance |
| LB |
Ben Bienvenu |
Northwestern State |
Natchitoches, La. |
So. |
3.64 |
Business Administration |
| OL |
Caleb Billiot |
Northwestern State |
Houma, La. |
Sr. |
3.54 |
Health and Exercise Science |
| RB |
Myion Hicks |
Northwestern State |
Desoto, Texas |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Health and Human Performance |
| QB |
Abram Johnston |
Northwestern State |
Baton Rouge, La. |
So. |
3.86 |
Biology |
| LB |
Danny Sears |
Northwestern State |
Covington, La. |
Sr. |
3.55 |
Health and Human Performance |
| DL |
Jacob Carpenter |
Nicholls |
Shreveport, La. |
So. |
3.87 |
Business Administration |
| WR |
Karaaz Johnson |
Nicholls |
New Orleans, La. |
Jr. |
3.43 |
Biology – Marine Biology |
| LB |
Dominic Logiudice |
Nicholls |
New Orleans, La. |
Jr. |
3.61 |
Safety Management |
| WR/PH |
Brian McQuaide |
Nicholls |
Solon, Ohio |
So. |
4.00 |
Business Administration |
| DL |
Alex Villavaso |
Nicholls |
Houma, La. |
Jr. |
3.46 |
Health Pre-Professional |
| DL |
Ahmad Bradley |
Southeastern |
Harvey, La. |
Sr. |
3.375 |
Strategic Communication |
| TE |
Cade Collier |
Southeastern |
Mobile, Ala. |
Sr. |
3.50 |
Business Administration |
| LB |
Justin Dumas |
Southeastern |
LaPlace, La. |
Sr. |
3.938 |
Athletic Training |
| WR/KR |
Brandon Hayes |
Southeastern |
Hattiesburg, Miss. |
Sr. |
3.60 |
Business Administration |
| OL |
Holden Kareokowsky |
Southeastern |
New Orleans, La. |
Sr. |
3.73 |
Engineering Technology |
| K |
Carlos Alvarado |
Stephen F. Austin |
Lecheria, Venezuela |
So. |
3.71 |
Management |
| OL |
Jake Henry |
Stephen F. Austin |
Union, Okla. |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Family Sciences |
| OL |
Nicholas Perez |
Stephen F. Austin |
Lucas, Texas |
So. |
3.75 |
Sports Business |
| DL |
Ky Thomas |
Stephen F. Austin |
Elkhart, Texas |
Gr. |
3.56 |
MBA |
| WR |
Clayton Wayland |
Stephen F. Austin |
Southlake, Texas |
So. |
3.57 |
General Business |
| K |
Brysen Gardner |
UTRGV |
Peoria, Ariz. |
R-So. |
4.00 |
Marketing |
| DL |
Nathan Huerta |
UTRGV |
Harlingen, Texas |
R-Jr. |
3.60 |
Sociology |
| QB |
Eddie Lee Marburger |
UTRGV |
Mission, Texas |
Gr. |
3.40 |
Multidisciplinary Studies |
| RB |
TJ Dement |
UTRGV |
Boerne, Texas |
R-Fr. |
3.80 |
Exercise Science (Physical Therapy concentration) |
| CB |
Austin Trimble |
UTRGV |
Canton, Ga. |
Gr. |
4.00 |
MBA (Human Resource Management concentration) |