Commerce, Texas – Fresh off of its 2014 Lone Star Conference Championship, 26 Lions were recognized by the Lone Star Conference including six first teamers, while the only special awards A&M-Commerce received was
Vernon Johnson's second straight LSC Receiver of the Year award and the J.V. Sikes Award to
Toni Pulu as the league's best defensive player.
To go along with the six first teamers, three on offense and three on defense, the Lions had eight on the second team, four on each offense and defense, and 12 honorable mention selections. A&M-Commerce's total of 26 recognized is the most on the all-conference team all-time surpassing the previous mark of 24 in 1991. The league champion Lions had 14 players on the first and second teams for the highest mark of any team in the league. However, A&M-Commerce was third in players on the first team, behind LSC Playoff Champion Angelo State, eight, and fifth place finisher West Texas, seven.
"We are proud of our players and happy for the ones that got recognized, but at the same time we are extremely disappointed for some of our players," head coach
Colby Carthel said. "We were picked to finish sixth and ended up winning the LSC Championship outright and finished the regular season with the No. 1 offense in the country. The Lone Star Conference has definitely changed."
Despite featuring not only the Lone Star Conference's best offense in total yards and second best in the NCAA and the league's and NCAA's best scoring offense, the Lions only had three players named to the first team offense. The A&M-Commerce dynamic duo of
Vernon Johnson and
Ricky Collins earned two of the four spots at the receiver position. Johnson was also recognized as the league's top receiver earning the Receiver of the Year nod for the second consecutive season.
Johnson, who was a first team all-league selection in 2013, hauled in 73 receptions for 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns averaging 97 yards per game. His 73 catches set he A&M-Commerce single-season receiving record. Despite missing a game, Collins caught 64 passes for 1,075 yards and 12 TDs averaging 107.5 yards per game. His 77-yard touchdown catch and run against Tarleton State in the opening round of the LSC Playoffs was the longest play from scrimmage for the Lions this season. The duo accounted for over 200 yards of offense per game despite being lifted late in games with the Lions handily in control. The duo ranked first and second in three of the four kept NCAA receiving statistical categories. Collins leads the league and is eighth in the NCAA in receiving TDs with 12, while Johnson follows at second and 22nd in the NCAA with 10. The combo is 14th and 17th in the NCAA in total receiving yards, while the next closest LSC receiver 38 spots away and 237 yards from Johnson's mark of 1,067. They are two of only 28 receivers in the NCAA with over 1,000 receiving yards and one of only three receiving duos from the same team on the list. Collins ranks eighth in the NCAA in receiving yards per game with Johnson trailing in 20th.
Kicker
Saul Martinez was the league's best kicker after earning a first team nod. Martinez, who was an honorable mention kicker in 2013, set the Lion school record for kicking points in a season. He made 64 of his 68 point after attempts and drilled 20 of his 23 field goal attempts including a career-long of 48. He was twice named Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week during the season.
Slot receiver
Seth Smith, who accounted for 39 catches for 722 yards averaging 72.2 yards per game, was one of only four Lions on the offensive side of the ball to earn second team honors. Smith, who was a durable and reliable option, ended the regular season with 10 catches for 170 yards in the LSC Playoff Finale against Angelo State including a 69-yard touchdown catch when he blew by the Ram's secondary. Smith picked up his second straight second team honors after being named to the team in 2013.
Joining Smith on the second, team was Lions' signaler caller and offensive trigger man,
Tyrik Rollison who in 10 of the Lions' 11 games threw for 323 times with 210 completions for a school record 3,304 yards and 27 touchdowns. Rollison, who was named LSC Offensive Player of the Week once during the year, completed 65 percent of his passing sported a gaudy 172.9 passing efficiency rating. Of qualifying league quarterbacks he topped the standings in efficiency, average yards per game, passing yards and passing yards per completion. He is third in the NCAA in passing efficiency, fourth in passing yards per game and fifth in passing yards per completion. He is second in the league in points and touchdown passes, by only one TD pass, despite yielding snaps in short yardage situation to fellow quarterback
Deric Davis in the team's truck and heavy offensive packages and missing a game due to a concussion. Rollison was also relieved of his quarterbacking duties early in games with the Lions up large margin. He also missed the Tarleton State game due to injury. Davis torched Tarleton State for 324 yards and two TDs in that game. Angelo State's Kyle Washington won the league's best offensive player award, despite the Rams' fourth best ranking in total offense and third best scoring offense. A&M-Commerce, led by Rollison led the league in both categories.
Joe Bergeron also picked up a second team nod as the punishing, bruising tailback churned out 859 yards on 148 carries for averages of 85.9 per game and 5.8 per carry. He also recorded 12 TDs. Bergeron, who was instrumental in the Lions passing blocking scheme, was huge out of the backfield catching 15 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. He was third in the league in rushing TDs, fourth in total rushing yards and fifth in rushing yards per game.
Offensive lineman,
Elwood Clement was the fourth Lion on the second team offensive unit. Clement was sensational protecting the famed blind-side of Rollison at left tackle. Clement did not yield a sack in 11 games anchoring the offensive line.
Defensively, the Lions picked up three first team nods highlighted by
Toni Pulu's Defensive Player of the Year honors, the J.V. Sikes Award. Pulu, who is one of the driving forces for the Lions being ranked second in the NCAA in team tackles for loss, is second for tackles for a loss – 17th in the NCAA -- and third for sacks in the league. In conference only games, he leads the league in tackles for a loss and is second in sacks. He was the Lions fifth leading tackler with 22 solo tackles and 27 tackle assist for 49 total tackles. It is the second consecutive season a Lion has been named the J.V. Sikes Award after Charlie Tuaau earned the award last season. Inexplicably, Pulu was not named the league's best defensive lineman as that award went to Clayton Callicutt from Angelo State. Callicut ranks narrowly ahead of Pulu in total tackles for loss, 1.9 and 1.8 respectively, and the two are even in sacks. But, in Lone Star Conference games, Pulu is head and shoulders above defensive lineman averaging 1.9 tackles for loss per game with 13.5 total and .86 sacks per game with six total.
Tuaau picked up his second straight first team recognition following a 25 tackle, 8.5 tackles for loss seaon despite gutting through the season after sustaining a lower leg injury on a chop block in the Eastern New Mexico game.
Corner
Ronald Fields was the third Lion on the first team defense. Fields, who was a second teamer in 2013, led the Lions with eight pass break ups including six in only five LSC games after missing two games to finish seventh in the league. Overall he broke up the third most passes in the league with eight. In total passes defended, Fields topped the league with 11 adding three interceptions. Fields finished sixth on the squad with 45 total tackles including 33 solo stops on the perimeter of the Lions defense. Conversely, the league's top defensive back honors went to West Texas' Torian Oakley, who only had 43 stops, and four passes defended with two pass break ups and two INTs. The Lions had the fifth best passing defensive unit in the league, while Oakley and Buffs were one spot behind A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce added four more players on the league's second team defensive unit highlighted by the stub of linebacker
Charles Woods. Woods, who was arguably the best and most valuable linebacker in the league led the Lions with 114 total tackles, 56 solo and 58 assisted tackles despite missing two games. Woods anchored the Lions defense, which finished as the league's third best total defense second best scoring defense in conference only games. Woods was second in total tackles per game and third in total tackles on the season despite missing two games. He ranks 16th in the NCAA in solo tackles and ninth in total tackles. Incredibly, Linebacker of the year went to Seth Bailey of Eastern New Mexico, who is 12th in the league in total tackles and 17th in tackles per game. Bailey does rank second in the league with five INTs, but Woods tops him being ranked second in fumble recoveries and fifth in fumbles forced.
Davarus Shores,
Izzy Eziakor and
Steven Baker also picked up second team honors. Shores finished third on the Lions with 49 total tackles including five for a loss, and is ranked fifth in the NCAA in blocked kicks with four. Eziakor is second on the Lions team with 77 total tackles with one interception and two pass break ups in the Lion secondary. Baker, who missed eight games, is the Lions signal caller in the secondary. He finished with 38 total tackles and two pass break ups.
Twelve more Lions picked up honor mention recognition headline by
Cole Pitts, who was a second team all-league performer in 2013 and once named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week in 2014. Pitts played two different positions for the Lions spending the majority of his time at the MIKE linebacker spot before playing two games at the MO spot for an injured Woods. He finished third on the team with 74 tackles including 13 tackles for loss – the second best mark on the team good enough for the seven best fourth best in the LSC.
Joining Pitts on with honorable mention honors were offensive lineman,
Jordan DeCorte,
Shane Thompson,
Rumzee Fakhouri and
Michael Boyefio. Do it all tight end
Taylor Peasha, along with return man
Shawn Hooks, defensive end
Ashton Dorsey, defense lineman
Tyree Barton, corner
Traven Johnson, punter
Chase Thrasher and linebacker Cameron Rodgers also made the list. Peasha was the lone Lion to earn all-academic honors.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2014-15 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
SPECIAL AWARDSOffensive Player of the Year (J.W. Rollins award): Kyle Washington, Angelo State
Offensive Back of the Year: E'lon Spight, Eastern New Mexico
Receiver of the Year: Vernon Johnson, Texas A&M-Commerce
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Shadow Stokes, Midwestern State
Freshman of the Year: Carter James, West Texas A&M
Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes award): Toni Pulu, Texas A&M-Commerce
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Clayton Callicutt, Angelo State
Linebacker of the Year: Seth Bailey, Eastern New Mexico
Defensive Back of the Year: Torian Oakley, West Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Will Wagner, Angelo State
| FIRST TEAM OFFENSE | | | | |
| Nick Perez | Tarleton State | OG | Jr. | Stephenville, Texas |
| Arthur Fatu | West Texas A&M | OG | Sr. | Klein, Texas |
| Stan Hasiak | West Texas A&M | OT | Jr. | Kapolei, Hawaii |
| Anthony Landry | Angelo State | OT | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| Shadow Stokes | Midwestern State | C | Sr. | Kilgore, Texas |
| Mark Strange | Midwestern State | TE | Sr. | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| Jeret Smith | McMurry | WR | Sr. | Abilene, Texas |
| Vernon Johnson | Texas A&M-Commerce | WR | Sr. | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Ricky Collins | Texas A&M-Commerce | WR | Sr. | Tyler, Texas |
| Jeremy Watson | West Texas A&M | WR | Sr. | Lubbock, Texas |
| Kyle Washington | Angelo State | QB | Jr. | Humble, Texas |
| Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | West Texas A&M | RB | Jr. | Dallas, Texas |
| Ryan Byrd | Angelo State | RB | Jr. | Lake Elsinore, Calif. |
| E'lon Spight | Eastern New Mexico | FB | Sr. | St. Louis, Mo. |
| Saul Martinez | Texas A&M-Commerce | PK | Sr. | Pittsburg, Texas |
| Anthony Yancy | Angelo State | RS | Sr. | Fresno, Calif. |
| |
| FIRST TEAM DEFENSE | |
| Bernard Afutiti | Midwestern State | DT | Sr. | Fontana, Calif. |
| Charlie Tuaau | Texas A&M-Commerce | DT | Sr. | Wahiawa, Hawaii |
| Toni Pulu | Texas A&M-Commerce | DE | Jr. | Provo, Utah |
| Clayton Callicutt | Angelo State | DE | Jr. | Crosby, Texas |
| Seth Bailey | Eastern New Mexico | ILB | Sr. | Texico, NM |
| Rush Seaver | Angelo State | ILB | Sr. | Lampasas, Texas |
| Charles Moore | Tarleton State | OLB | Sr. | Carrollton, Texas |
| Markus Pierce-Brewster | West Texas A&M | OLB | Sr. | National City, Calif. |
| Torian Oakley | West Texas A&M | CB | Sr. | Spring, Texas |
| Ron Fields | Texas A&M-Commerce | CB | Sr. | Sacramento, Calif. |
| Marqui Christian | Midwestern State | S | Jr. | Spring, Texas |
| Ethan Morriss | West Texas A&M | S | Jr. | Sonora, Texas |
| Devin Figures | Tarleton State | S | Sr. | Jefferson, Texas |
| Kevin Reaves | Eastern New Mexico | S | Sr. | Albuquerque, NM |
| Sam Fowler | Angelo State | P | Jr. | Crosby, Texas |
| Cody Clark | Angelo State | DS | Jr. | Austin, Texas |
|
| SECOND TEAM OFFENSE | |
| Alex Mitchell | West Texas A&M | OG | Jr. | Portland, Ore. |
| Case Winkler | Midwestern State | OG | Jr. | Burnet, Texas |
| Lucus Love | Tarleton State | OT | Sr. | Van Alstyne, Texas |
| Elwood Clement | Texas A&M-Commerce | OT | Jr. | Deptford, N.J. |
| Austin Carson | West Texas A&M | C | So. | San Antonio, Texas |
| Evan Tooley | Eastern New Mexico | TE | Sr. | Truth or Consequences, N.M. |
| Jacob Johnson | Eastern New Mexico | WR | Sr. | Idalou, Texas |
| Dakarai Pecikonis | Angelo State | WR | Sr. | Allen, Texas |
| Seth Smith | Texas A&M-Commerce | WR | Sr. | Ennis, Texas |
| Clifton Rhodes III | Tarleton State | WR | Sr. | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Tyrik Rollison | Texas A&M-Commerce | QB | Sr. | Sulphur Springs, Texas |
| Dante Taylor | Midwestern State | RB | So. | Plano, Texas |
| Joe Bergeron | Texas A&M-Commerce | RB | Sr. | Mesquite, Texas |
| Zac Henshaw | Tarleton State | FB | Jr. | Canyon Lake, Texas |
| Connor Hollabaugh | West Texas A&M | PK | So. | Amarillo Texas |
| Bubba Tandy | Tarleton State | RS | So. | Hopkinsville, Ky. |
| |
| SECOND TEAM DEFENSE | |
| Alex Tucci | West Texas A&M | DT | Jr. | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
| John Siliga | Angelo State | DT | Jr. | Redlands, Calif. |
| Anthony Gonzales | Tarleton State | DE | Sr. | Copperas Cove, Texas |
| Travis Stephens | Midwestern State | DE | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| Carter James | West Texas A&M | ILB | R-Fr. | Justin, Texas |
| Charles Woods | Texas A&M-Commerce | ILB | Jr. | Humble, Texas |
| Patric Youngman | West Texas A&M | ILB | So. | Forney, Texas |
| Benjamin Pedro-Langford | Eastern New Mexico | OLB | Sr. | Pago Pago, AS |
| Davarus Shores | Texas A&M-Commerce | OLB | Jr. | Mesquite, Texas |
| Deantrey Loche | Tarleton State | CB | Sr. | Diboll, Texas |
| Jarred Ross | Angelo State | CB | Sr. | Corinth, Texas |
| Izzy Eziakor | Texas A&M-Commerce | S | Sr. | Wylie, Texas |
| Dayvyon Henry | Midwestern State | S | Sr. | Plano, Texas |
| Steven Baker | Texas A&M-Commerce | S | R-Fr. | San Antonio, Texas |
| Mitchell Henton | Midwestern State | P | R-Fr. | Dallas, Texas |
| Charlie Savedra | Eastern New Mexico | DS | Sr. | Socorro, N.M |
| |
| HONORABLE MENTION | |
| William Jurek | Eastern New Mexico | OG | Jr. | Gonzales, Texas |
| Jordan DeCorte | Texas A&M-Commerce | OG | Sr. | Kailua, Hawaii |
| Shane Thompson | Texas A&M-Commerce | OG | Jr. | Keller, Texas |
| John Rowell | Midwestern State | OT | R-Fr. | Stafford, Texas |
| Rance Layton | Angelo State | OT | So. | Seminole, Texas |
| Rumzee Fakhouri | Texas A&M-Commerce | OT | Sr. | Modesto, Calif. |
| Will McLane | Tarleton State | C | Sr. | San Antonio, Texas |
| Ma'naima Lang | Eastern New Mexico | C | Jr. | Pago Pago, AS |
| Christian Garcia | Texas A&M-Kingsville | C | Jr. | Eagle Pass, Texas |
| Michael Boyefio | Texas A&M-Commerce | C | Sr. | Wylie, Texas |
| Tyler Hamilton | Angelo State | C | So. | San Antonio, Texas |
| Taylor Peasha | Texas A&M-Commerce | TE | Sr. | Herald, Calif. |
| Bubba Tandy | Tarleton State | WR | So. | Hopkinsville, Ky. |
| La'nard Meyers | Tarleton State | WR | Jr. | Gatesville, Texas |
| Statron Jones | Midwestern State | WR | So. | Manor, Texas |
| Talon Smith | Angelo State | WR | Jr. | Odessa, Texas |
| Chris Omigie | Angelo State | WR | Sr. | Arlington, Texas |
| Collin Strahan | Tarleton State | QB | So. | Mesquite, Texas |
| Jeremy Buurma | Eastern New Mexico | QB | Jr. | Las Cruces, NM |
| Chauncey Harris | Midwestern State | RB | Sr. | San Antonio, Texas |
| Shawn Vasquez | Texas A&M-Kingsville | RB | Jr. | Brentwood, Calif. |
| Peter Marquez | Angelo State | PK | Jr. | Costa Mesa, Calif. |
| Kevin Reaves | Eastern New Mexico | RS | Sr. | Albuquerque, NM |
| Shawn Hooks | Texas A&M-Commerce | RS | R-Fr. | Longview, Texas |
| Juan Gonzales | Tarleton State | DT | Sr. | Arlington, Texas |
| LaPear Willrich | West Texas A&M | DT | So. | Giddings, Texas |
| Ashton Dorsey | Texas A&M-Commerce | DE | Sr. | Tyler, Texas |
| Iosia Iosia | West Texas A&M | DE | Jr. | San Francisco, Calif. |
| Calvin Middlebrooks | McMurry | DE | Jr. | San Antonio, Texas |
| Julian Yearwood | Eastern New Mexico | ILB | Sr. | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Alex Anderson | Tarleton State | ILB | Sr. | Wills Point, Texas |
| Marc Martinez | Tarleton State | ILB | Sr. | Waco, Texas |
| Daniel Laudermilk | Midwestern State | ILB | Jr. | Austin, Texas |
| Blair Smith | Angelo State | ILB | Sr. | Mississauga, Canada |
| Cole Pitts | Texas A&M-Commerce | ILB | Jr. | Alvin, Texas |
| Trevor Moses | Texas A&M-Kingsville | ILB | Fr. | Calallen, Texas |
| Tyree Barton | Texas A&M-Commerce | OLB | Jr. | Beaverton, Ore. |
| Elliot Peters | Eastern New Mexico | OLB | So. | Pago Pago, AS |
| Kelechi Amushie | Texas A&M-Kingsville | CB | So. | Houston,Texas |
| Traven Johnson | Texas A&M-Commerce | CB | So. | Tyler, Texas |
| Ryan Clapsaddle | Angelo State | S | Jr. | The Woodlands, Texas |
| Elliot Moore | West Texas A&M | P | Jr. | Danville, Calif. |
| Chase Thrasher | Texas A&M-Commerce | P | Jr. | Rowlett, Texas |
| Josh Beal | West Texas A&M | DS | Jr. | San Antonio, Texas |
| Cameron Rogers | Texas A&M-Commerce | DS | So. | San Antonio, Texas |
| Bobby Joe Nielsen | Midwestern State | DS | Fr. | Kempner, Texas |
