RICHARDSON – The Lone Star Conference announced its annual football awards Friday, and the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions earned 25 recognitions. Colby Carthel was named the Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year and Kristov Martinez was named the Academic Player of the Year.
 
The Lions were the LSC runners-up with a 7-1 conference record and a 9-2 overall record. A&M-Commerce qualified for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, and will take on Minnesota-Duluth in the regional quarterfinal round on Saturday.
 
Carthel wins the LSC Coach of the Year award for the first time in his six seasons as the Lions' head coach. He is the first Lion coach to win LSC Coach of the Year since Guy Morriss in 2009. The last Lion leader prior to win the award prior to that was Eddie Vowell in 1990. This is the eighth time a Lion head coach has won the award since its creation in 1962. Vowell won the award twice and Ernest Hawkins won four times.
 
Martinez becomes the second Lion to win Academic Player of the Year honors, following Taylor Fore in 2011. He earned All-Academic team honors for the third consecutive season, and was also named first team all-LSC for the second straight year. He is a three-time all-LSC pick after earning second team honors in 2016.
 
Martinez is a graduate student from Edinburg, majoring in secondary education. He earned his bachelor's degree in December 2017 in business administration. He was named the Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athlete for the 2017-18 academic year and has been named to the Dean's List twice, the President's List three times, the Best In Class list four times, and the Athletics Director's List four times. He has been named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll six times and is a two-time recipient of the Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Award.
 
On the field, Martinez is 14-for-19 on field goal attempts and 44-for-44 on PAT attempts in 2018. He is now 68-of-90 on field goal attempts in his career, which is tied for second in Division II history. He is the active career leader in Division II in field goals, PATs, and kick scoring. His 424 career points rank third in Lone Star Conference history, only 13 points away from the all-time lead. He has made 99 consecutive PATs entering the Division II playoffs. He was a third team All-American in 2017 and a finalist for the Mitchell Award.
 
Joining Martinez as first team all-LSC honorees are offensive tackle Amon Simon (Humble – Atascocita), wide receiver Marquis Wimberly (Duarte, Calif.), return specialist Reggie Kincade (Everman), defensive end Michael Onuoha (Edmond, Okla.), inside linebacker Brucks Saathoff (San Antonio – Reagan), and safety Dominique Ramsey (Converse – Judson).
 
Second team all-LSC honorees for the Lions are offensive tackle Malik Ellis (Daingerfield), tight end Vincent Hobbs (Mesquite – Horn), defensive tackle DD Fletcher (Arlington – Martin), outside linebacker Mark Westbrook (Schertz – Clemens), and cornerback Kader Kohou (Euless – Trinity).
 
Earning all-LSC honorable mention are offensive guard Christian Hernandez (Frisco – Lone Star), wide receiver Ryan Stokes (St. Louis, Mo.), quarterback Kane Wilson (New Orleans, La.), running back Ovie Urevbu (Plano – Legacy Christian Acad.), defensive tackle Pierre Leonard (Tyler – John Tyler), inside linebacker Garrett Blubaugh (Keller), cornerback L.A. Dawson (Austin – LBJ), punter Tristan Perry (Mineral Wells), and long snapper Drake Flores (San Antonio – Johnson).
 
Simon earns all-LSC honors for the first time in his career. He started in every game for the Lions as a redshirt sophomore, establishing himself as one of the league's top young talents and most dominant linemen.
 
Wimberly earns his first all-LSC honor after catching 50 passes for 674 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games of his senior campaign. He ranked sixth in the league in receiving yardage and third in receiving touchdowns.
 
Kincade established himself as one of the top return threats in the nation and earns his first all-conference honor. He ranks first in the LSC and second nationally in kickoff return average at 38.7 yards per return. He has two kickoff returns for touchdowns this season. He was also previously a track All-American on the Lions' outdoor 4x100-meter relay team.
 
Onuoha earns first team all-LSC honors for the second consecutive season. In his senior campaign, he has made 42 tackles with 14.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, an interception with a 48-yard return, and two blocked kicks.
 
Saathoff earns his second consecutive first team all-LSC recognition. He ranks fourth in Lion history in career tackles. In his senior season, he has made 85 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
 
Ramsey earns his first career all-conference recognition. He has made 33 tackles and been a threat in the backfield with three interceptions. Ramsey has 226 return yards, averaging 75.3 yards per interception return. This does not include an interception on a two-point conversion attempt in the A&M-Kingsville game, which the NCAA statistics policy does not count as an interception. Ramsey's interception return yardage leads the nation.
 
Ellis showed his dominance at tackle for his third season as a Lion and earned his second career all-LSC honor. He was honorable mention to the conference teams in 2016.
 
Hobbs battled through injuries in his senior season to earn all-conference honors for the second time in his career after earning first team honors as a junior. In 2018, he has 25 receptions for 247 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Fletcher earns second team all-LSC honors for the second straight season. He has made 37 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks this season.
 
Westbrook earns his first career all-conference honor as the Lions' second-leading tackler. He has made 57 tackles with a career-high 12 tackles against Tarleton.
 
Kohou earns his first all-conference honor after ranking fourth in the conference in passes defended with an interception and 11 pass breakups. He returned his interception for a touchdown at Western New Mexico. He also leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally in forced fumbles. He has 33 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss.
 
Blubaugh was also named to the All-Academic team for the second season in addition to his honorable mention.
 
2018 LSC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
SPECIAL AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year (J.W. Rollins award): Layton Rabb, Midwestern State
Offensive Back of the Year: Xavier Turner, Tarleton State
Receiver of the Year: Juwan Johnson, Midwestern State
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Deon Sheppard, Tarleton State
Freshman of the Year: Tobias Harris, West Texas A&M
Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes award): Markus Jones, Angelo State
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Markus Jones, Angelo State
Linebacker of the Year: Chris Hoad, UT Permian Basin
Defensive Back of the Year: Devin Hafford, Tarleton State
Coach of the Year: Colby Carthel, A&M-Commerce
 
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Kevin Fisher, Jr	Midwestern State	OG	Sr.	Lakeland, Florida
Jovan Pruitt	Tarleton State	OG	Sr.	Dallas, Texas
Deon Sheppard	Tarleton State	OT	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
Amon Simon	A&M-COMMERCE	OT	So.	Humble, Texas
A.J. Roland	Midwestern State	C	Sr.	Sachse, Texas
Brant Bailey	Tarleton State	TE	Jr.	Eastland, Texas
Torrey Thomas	Texas A&M-Kingsville	TE	Sr.	Katy, Texas
Keke Chism	Angelo State	WR	So.	Dangerfield, Texas
Juwan Johnson	Midwestern State	WR	So.	Springfield, Missouri
Zimari Manning	Tarleton State	WR	Jr.	Long Beach, California
Marquis Wimberly	A&M-COMMERCE	WR	Sr.	Duarte, California
Layton Rabb	Midwestern State	QB	Sr.	Llano, Texas
Vincent Johnson	Midwestern State	RB	Sr.	Lubbock, Texas
Xavier Turner	Tarleton State	RB	Sr.	Birdville, Texas
Paul Terry	Eastern New Mexico	FB	Jr.	Canyon, Texas
Kristov Martinez	A&M-COMMERCE	PK	Sr.	Edinburg, Texas
Reggie Kincade	A&M-COMMERCE	RS	Sr.	Everman, Texas

 
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE                  

Bright Ihegworo	Angelo State	DT	Jr.	Sugar Land, Texas
Tyrell Thompson	Tarleton State	DT	Sr.	Copperas Cove, Texas
Markus Jones	Angelo State	DE	Sr.	Fort Worth, Texas
Michael Onuoha	A&M-COMMERCE	DE	Sr.	Edmond, Oklahoma
Brucks Saathoff	A&M-COMMERCE	ILB	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
Chris Hoad	UT Permian Basin	ILB	Jr.	Leander, Texas
Donavyn Jackson	Angelo State	OLB	So.	San Angelo, Texas
Paul Manus	Midwestern State	OLB	Sr.	Claremont, California
Devin Hafford	Tarleton State	CB	Jr.	Atascocita, Texas
Prince Robinson	Tarleton State	CB	Jr.	Houston, Texas
Sir'Vell Ford	Midwestern State	S	Sr.	Richmond, Texas
Jai Edwards	Tarleton State	S	Jr.	Atascocita, Texas
Dominique Ramsey	A&M-COMMERCE	S	So.	Converse, Texas
John Cummings	West Texas A&M	P	Sr.	Plano, Texas
Roope Henry	Eastern New Mexico	DS	So.	Rio Rancho, New Mexico

 
 
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Mister Birdo	Eastern New Mexico	OG	Sr.	Albuquerque, New Mexico
D'Andre Despanie	Midwestern State	OG	Jr.	Lafayette, Louisiana
Austan Davis	Midwestern State	OT	Jr.	Suphur Springs, Texas
Malik Ellis	A&M-COMMERCE	OT	Sr.	Daingerfield, Texas
Travis Vornkahl	West Texas A&M	OT	Sr.	Sealy, Texas
Tytus Timoteo	Western New Mexico	C	So.	Honolulu, Hawaii
Vincent Hobbs	A&M-COMMERCE	TE	Sr.	Mesquite, Texas
Lawson Ayo	Angelo State	WR	Jr.	Sunnyvale, Texas
Xavier Land	Midwestern State	WR	Jr.	Dallas, Texas
JF Thomas	Tarleton State	WR	So.	Dallas, Texas
Kourde Roberts	Western New Mexico	WR	R-Fr.	Las Vegas, Nevada
Ben Holmes	Tarleton State	QB	Jr.	Buffalo, New York
Daniel McCants	Tarleton State	RB	Jr.	Killeen, Texas
Duke Carter IV	West Texas A&M	RB	Jr.	Grand Prairie, Texas
Brent Hertel	Texas A&M-Kingsville	FB	Jr.	Cypress, Texas
Tyler Vargus	Eastern New Mexico	PK	Jr.	San Diego, California
Daniel McCants	Tarleton State	RS	Jr.	Killeen, Texas

 
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE                                                                                                                       

DD Fletcher	A&M-COMMERCE	DT	Jr.	Arlington, Texas
Connor Mowat	Western New Mexico	DT	Sr.	Lahina, Hawaii
Gary Moore	Tarleton State	DE	Sr.	Clarksville, Texas
Chris Radford	Tarleton State	DE	Jr.	Mansfield, Texas
Noah Sweitzer	Eastern New Mexico	ILB	So.	Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Ronnell Wilson	Tarleton State	ILB	So.	Abilene, Texas
EJ Speed	Tarleton State	OLB	Sr.	Crowley, Texas
Mark Westbrook	A&M-COMMERCE	OLB	Jr.	Schertz, Texas
Eric Collins	West Texas A&M	OLB	So.	Cedar Hill, Texas
DaMarcus Wilson	Midwestern State	CB	Jr.	Fort Worth, Texas
Kader Kohou	A&M-COMMERCE	CB	So.	Euless, Texas
Leddy French	Angelo State	S	So.	Brock, Texas
Dante Urrea	Eastern New Mexico	S	So.	Deming, New Mexico
Josh Wydermyer	Midwestern State	S	Sr.	Austin, Texas
Tyler Vargus	Eastern New Mexico	P	Jr.	San Diego, California
Jacob Sherrill	Midwestern State	DS	Sr.	Burleson, Texas

 
HONORABLE MENTION

Blake Harrison	Angelo State	OG	Jr.	Fort Worth, Texas
Israel Lorenzo	Tarleton State	OG	Sr.	Monteballo, California
Christian Hernandez	A&M-COMMERCE	OG	So.	Frisco, Texas
Michael Whitfield	West Texas A&M	OG	Sr.	Odessa, Texas
Andre Gillette	Angelo State	OT	Sr.	Odessa, Texas
Emmanuel Henry	Angelo State	OT	Sr.	Gurnee, Illinois
Isaih Callahan	Eastern New Mexico	OT	Jr.	Clovis, New Mexico
Caleb Ortiz	Eastern New Mexico	OT	So.	Estancia, New Mexico
Caleb Brown	Midwestern State	OT	So.	Rowlett, Texas
Wesley Hooks	Tarleton State	OT	Sr.	New Boston, Texas
AJ Wozniak	Angelo State	C	So.	Flower Mound, Texas
Noah Perez	Tarleton State	C	Jr.	Stephenville, Texas
Tyler Lynch	Eastern New Mexico	TE	Jr.	Gilbert, Arizona
Ryan Stokes	A&M-COMMERCE	WR	Jr.	St. Louis, Missouri
Tyler Wilson	Texas A&M-Kingsville	WR	Jr.	Bay City, Texas
Kristian Brown	UT Permian Basin	WR	Jr.	Waco, Texas
Kyle McBride	UT Permian Basin	WR	Jr.	Dayton, Texas
Semaj Mitchell	West Texas A&M	WR	Jr.	Arlington, Texas
Kane Wilson	A&M-COMMERCE	QB	Jr.	New Orleans, Louisiana
Koy Detmer	Texas A&M-Kingsville	QB	Jr.	Somerset, Texas
Taylor Null	UT Permian Basin	QB	Fr.	Artesia, New Mexico
Tyrese Nathan	Angelo State	RB	So.	Lubbock, Texas
Johnny Smith	Eastern New Mexico	RB	Jr.	El Paso, Texas
Ovie Urevbu	A&M-COMMERCE	RB	Sr.	Plano, Texas
Nick Pelrean	Texas A&M-Kingsville	RB	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Deandre Williams	Western New Mexico	RB	Jr.	Tucson, Arizona
Connor Flanigan	Angelo State	PK	Jr.	Austin, Texas
Julio DeLaGarza	Texas A&M-Kingsville	PK	Sr.	Brownsville, Texas
Larry Johnson	Angelo State	RS	Jr.	Fort Worth, Texas
Tobias Harris	West Texas A&M	RS	Fr.	Pflugerville, Texas
Jamar Claibourne	Eastern New Mexico	DT	Jr.	Sacramento, California
Michael Nash	Midwestern State	DT	So.	Wichita Falls, Texas
David Fangupo	Tarleton State	DT	Sr.	Kailug-Kona, Hawaii
Jordan Phillips	Tarleton State	DT	Jr.	Fullerton, California
Pierre Leonard	A&M-COMMERCE	DT	Jr.	Tyler, Texas
Alec DiValerio	Midwestern State	DE	Sr.	Sachse, Texas
Brandon Jones	Texas A&M-Kingsville	DE	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Gerred Johnson	West Texas A&M	DE	Jr.	Mansfield, Texas
Lance Hyder	West Texas A&M	DE	Sr.	Austin, Texas
James Lee	Western New Mexico	DE	Jr.	Bayard, New Mexico
Grant Aschenbeck	Angelo State	ILB	Sr.	East Bernard, Texas
Hunter Kyle	Angelo State	ILB	So.	Wichita Falls, Texas
Brad Hardin	Eastern New Mexico	ILB	Sr.	Aztec, New Mexico
Garrett Blubaugh	A&M-COMMERCE	ILB	Sr.	Keller, Texas
Tre'Michael Tutt	Texas A&M-Kingsville	ILB	So.	Channel View, Texas
Keegan Gray	UT Permian Basin	ILB	Jr.	Andrews, Texas
Roosevelt Calhoun	Western New Mexico	ILB	Jr.	Reno, Nevada
Todd Countee	Eastern New Mexico	OLB	Sr.	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Charles Countee	Eastern New Mexico	CB	Jr.	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jaydon Cunigan	Midwestern State	CB	Jr.	Beaumont, Texas
LA Dawson	A&M-COMMERCE	CB	Jr.	Austin, Texas
Jordan Semanat	Texas A&M-Kingsville	CB	Jr.	San Antonio, Texas
Tobias Harris	West Texas A&M	CB	Fr.	Pflugerville, Texas
Darrick Dickerson	Angelo State	S	So.	Missouri City, Texas
Ricky Barfield	Eastern New Mexico	S	Jr.	St. Louis, Missouri
Tre Johnson	Tarleton State	S	So.	Fort Worth, Texas
Edward Hayes	Tarleton State	S	Jr.	Coldspring, Texas
Devonte Williams	Texas A&M-Kingsville	S	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Payton Hendrix	Texas A&M-Kingsville	S	Sr.	Dallas, Texas
Sean Landez	Texas A&M-Kingsville	S	Sr.	Mission, Texas
Tristan Perry	A&M-COMMERCE	P	So.	Mineral Wells, Texas
Drake Flores	A&M-COMMERCE	DS	So.	San Antonio, Texas

 
 
2018 LSC FOOTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC AWARDS

Player	Team	Pos.	Yr.	Major	Hometown
Josh Jacks	Angelo State	OL	Jr.	Biology	Round Rock, Texas
Grant Aschenbeck	Angelo State	LB	Grad	Business Administration	East Bernard, Texas
Russell Montoya	Eastern New Mexico	WR	Sr.	Accounting	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Wyatt Strand	Eastern New Mexico	QB	Jr.	Math & Agricultural Science	Logan, New Mexico
Layton Rabb	Midwestern State	QB	Sr.	Finance	Llano, Texas
Jacob Sherrill	Midwestern State	LB/LS	Sr.	Pre-Med	Burleson, Texas
Brant Bailey	Tarleton State	TE	Jr.	Kinesiology	Eastland, Texas
Kristov Martinez	A&M-COMMERCE	K	Sr.	Sec. Educ./Business Admin.	Edinburg, Texas
Garrett Blubaugh	A&M-COMMERCE	LB	Sr.	Biological Sciences	Keller, Texas
John Cummings	West Texas A&M	P	Grad	Criminal Justice	Plano, Texas
Michael Whitfield	West Texas A&M	OL	Grad	Criminal Justice	Odessa, Texas

 
Special Recognition
Academic Player of the Year: Kristov Martinez, Texas A&M-Commerce