2012 All-Lone Star Conference Football Selections (PDF)
RICHARDSON, Texas -- A&M-Commerce senior linebacker Danny Mason has been named the 2012 Lone Star Conference Linebacker of the Year, announced today by league officials. The 2012 Lone Star Conference postseason football awards were released with Mason and junior wide receiver Garrett Smith receiving recognition.
Mason was named a first team All-Lone Star Conference selection at linebacker in addition to being named the Linebacker of the Year after leading the Lone Star Conference in tackles per game (11.5) and ranking third nationally after tallying 115 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Mason surpassed 15 tackles on three occasions this season, including a career-best 17 stops at Eastern New Mexico and 16 in the season-opener against Southeastern Oklahoma. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the season.
Mason, who was also a first team All-LSC selection in 2010, becomes the eighth Lion linebacker to earn a pair of first team all-conference nods, joining Lion greats such as Danny Kirk, Antonio Wilson and Cory Whitfield. He closes out his A&M-Commerce career with 272 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and five sacks, setting personal bests in his final season as a Lion.
Smith made an immediate in his first season for A&M-Commerce, leading the team in both receptions (51) and receiving yards (581) with a pair of touchdowns. He ranked fourth in the Lone Star Conference in receptions per game (5.1) and eighth in receiving yards per game (58.1), sitting among the national leaders in both categories. Smith also became just the 10th player in program history to catch 50 passes in a season, including a career-best nine catches for 93 yards against Abilene Christian.
The awards highlight what was an up-and-down season for A&M-Commerce as the Lions head into the offseason with a number of questions marks. The Lions will be looking to fill a few key roles on both sides of the ball, including who will fill Mason's shoes among the linebacking corps. On top of it all, A&M-Commerce will be looking for a new head man to guide the team after head coach Guy Morriss stepped down earlier this week.
2012 Lone Star Conference Football Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year (J.W. Rollins Award): Dustin Vaughan - West Texas A&M
Offensive Back of the Year: Khiry Robinson - West Texas A&M
Receivers of the Year: Torrence Allen - West Texas A&M; Robert Armstrong - Texas A&M-Kingsville; Taylor Gabriel - Abilene Christian
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Ken Van Heule - Midwestern State
Freshman of the Year: Clayton Callicutt - Angelo State
Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes Award): Ethan Westbrooks - West Texas A&M
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Rufus Johnson - Tarleton State
Linebacker of the Year: Danny Mason - A&M-Commerce
Defensive Back of the Year: LB Suggs - Abilene Christian
Coach of the Year: Bill Maskill - Midwestern State; Don Carthel - West Texas A&M; Bo Atterberry - Texas A&M-Kingsville
