RICHARDSON – The playoff-bound Texas A&M University-Commerce football team earned 23 honors Friday when the Lone Star Conference announced its superlative awards, all-conference, and all-academic honors. These honorees are led by Offensive Lineman of the Year Amon Simon and Academic Player of the Year Alex Shillow.
 
In addition to the two superlative award winners, the Lions had six first team All-LSC selections, seven second team All-LSC picks, six players who earned All-LSC Honorable Mention, and two All-Academic honorees.
 
Simon (Humble – Atascocita) earned Offensive Lineman of the Year and First Team All-LSC honors at offensive tackle. This is the second consecutive year the redshirt junior has earned First Team All-LSC honors. He blocked for an offense that averaged 407.9 yards and 36.1 points per game. He is the seventh Lion to earn LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year honors since the award was inaugurated in 1984. He joins Jared Machorro (2017), R.J. Brisbon (2008 and 2009), Darron Sheppard (2007), Ryan Graves (2005), and Trent Dagen (1997) as Lions who have won the award.
 
Shillow (Pflugerville) adds to a lengthy list of accolades with his Academic Player of the Year honor. He also earned Second Team All-LSC honors at safety. Last week, he was named CoSIDA Academic All-District and was the only LSC student-athlete to earn that award this year. He is the national chair of the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and president of the A&M-Commerce SAAC, which has won last the last three Lone Star Conference SAAC Cups. He was a 2019 nominee for the American Football Coaches' Association's Good Works Team and recipient of the NACDA John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship.
 
He has been named to the President's List four times, Dean's List two times, and LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll six times, and was D2ADA Academic Achievement Award winner twice. He earned his bachelor's degree in sports management in August.
 
On the field, the 2017 National Champion has 151 career tackles with four interceptions, 13 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, a blocked kick returned for a two-point conversion, and 4.5 tackles for loss. He has 35 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and three pass breakups in the 2019 season.  He is the second consecutive Lion to win Academic Player of the Year and the third overall, joining Kristov Martinez (2018) and Taylor Fore (2011).
 
Dominique Ramsey (Converse – Judson) picked up a trio of awards, earning All-Academic honors, First Team All-LSC at return specialist, and First Team All-LSC at safety. The redshirt junior carries excellent scholastic credentials while double majoring in mathematics and electrical engineering, earning Dean's List and LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll distinction four times. He earned LSC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in 2019, ranking second in the nation in kickoff return average at 37.5 yards per return, and second in the LSC and ninth in the nation in punt return average at 14.7 yards per return. His return prowess has seen teams kick away from him insomuch as he has not returned a kickoff in the last three games. He also has 39 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups, and two tackles for loss on defense.
 
Joining Simon as a First Team All-LSC offensive lineman is guard Deion Malone (Batesville, Miss.). The graduate transfer from Arkansas has established himself as a dominant force, paving the way for the Lion attack. Also along the Lion offensive front, center Christian Hernandez (Frisco – Lone Star) and tight end Tyler Guice (Atlanta, Ga.) earned All-LSC Honorable Mention.
 
Running back Antonio Leali'ie'e (Copperas Cove) earned First Team All-LSC honors. The redshirt junior ranks fifth in the LSC in rushing at 73.6 yards per game, and ranks third in the league in yards per carry at 6.8 yards per tote. He has three games in conference play with over 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in six of his last seven games. This is his first career all-conference honor.
 
Defensively, Ramsey is joined on the All-LSC First Team by cornerback Kader Kohou (Euless – Trinity). The redshirt junior earned his second All-LSC honor after being named to the second team in 2018. In eight games, Kohou has three interceptions, 22 tackles, and two fumble recoveries as one of the top turnover creators in the league.
 
The All-LSC Second Team offense was led by quarterback Miklo Smalls (Plano – East Senior). The redshirt sophomore's impressive Lion debut season has been highlighted by four LSC Offensive Player of the Week honors. His 69.2 percent (193-of-279) completion percentage for the season ranks sixth in Division II and he ranks 14th in the nation in passing efficiency at 161.7. Smalls also ranks in the top 25 nationally in completions per game and passing touchdowns, and the top 30 in passing yards per game, and yards per pass attempt. Overall, he's passed for 2,329 yards with 22 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
 
Ryan Stokes (St. Louis, Mo.) earned Second Team All-LSC honors at wide receiver. He had earned Honorable Mention in 2018. He has 36 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns this year, averaging 50.0 yards per game and 13.9 yards per reception.
 
Kicker Jake Viquez (Rockwall) picked up Second Team All-LSC honors in his first season as the Lions' full-time kicker. He ranks second in the LSC with 7.7 kicking points per game, making 44-of-46 PATs and 11-of-15 field goals. His 48-yard field goal against UT Permian Basin was the longest made kick in the LSC this season and he has also been fantastic on kickoffs, as the Lions rank 10th in the nation in kickoff return defense.
 
The Lions' defensive line earned a pair of Second Team All-LSC honors, as defensive tackle Chris Williams (Atlanta, Ga.) and defensive end Jaylon Hodge (Houston – FB Travis) picked up conference accolades. Williams had 27 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and eight quarterback hurries in his only season as a Lion. Hodge had 23 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, six quarterback hurries, and a team-high six sacks.
 
Arkansas transfer Terrell Collins (St. Louis, Mo.) earned Second Team All-LSC honors at inside linebacker. He was the Lions' leading tackler with 66 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, four quarterback hurries, and 1.5 sacks. He ranks 11^th in the LSC in tackles per game.
 
The other Lions who earned All-LSC Honorable Mention are wide receiver Chance Cooper (Leander – Rouse), cornerback L.A. Dawson (Austin – LBJ), punter Andrew Gomez (Richardson), and deep snapper Wyatt Leath (Rockwall – Heath).
 
The LSC runner-up Lions open their fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Championships tomorrow with a rematch against LSC Champion Tarleton. Kickoff in Stephenville is set for 1 p.m.
 

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2019 LSC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
SPECIAL AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year (J.W. Rollins award): Ben Holmes, Tarleton State
Offensive Back of the Year: Daniel McCants, Tarleton State
Receiver of the Year: Zimari Manning, Tarleton State
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Amon Simon, Texas A&M-Commerce
Freshman of the Year: Josh Powell, Western New Mexico
Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes award): BJ Jefferson, Tarleton State
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Jordan Wells, Tarleton State
Linebacker of the Year: Chris Hoad, UT Permian Basin
Defensive Back of the Year: Prince Robinson, Tarleton State
Coaches of the Year: Jeff Girsch, Angelo State, and Todd Whitten, Tarleton State
Academic Player of the Year: Alex Shillow, Texas A&M-Commerce
 

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FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Junior Pierre	Tarleton State	OG	Sr.	Palm Beach, Fla.
Deion Malone	Texas A&M-Commerce	OG	Sr.	Batesville, Miss.
Amon Simon	Texas A&M-Commerce	OT	Jr.	Humble, Texas
Cody Hayes	Tarleton State	OT	Sr.	Fort Worth, Texas
Noah Perez	Tarleton State	C	Sr.	Stephenville, Texas
Jordan Johnson	West Texas A&M	TE	Jr.	Eagle Lake, Texas
Zimari Manning	Tarleton State	WR	Sr.	Long Beach, Calif.
Keke Chism	Angelo State	WR	Jr.	Dangerfield, Texas
Reginald Colson III	Western New Mexico	WR	Jr.	Hollywood, Fla.
JF Thomas	Tarleton State	WR	Jr.	Dallas, Texas
Ben Holmes	Tarleton State	QB	Sr.	Orchard Park, N.Y.
Daniel McCants	Tarleton State	RB	Sr.	Killeen, Texas
Antonio Leali'ie'e	Texas A&M-Commerce	RB	Jr.	Copperas Cove, Texas
Paul Terry	Eastern New Mexico	FB	Sr.	Canyon, Texas
Tyler Vargus	Eastern New Mexico	PK	Sr.	San Diego, Calif.
Dominique Ramsey	Texas A&M-Commerce	RS	Jr.	Converse, Texas

 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Jordan Wells	Tarleton State	DT	Jr.	Navasota, Texas
G'Karri McCoy	Angelo State	DT	So.	Dallas, Texas
BJ Jefferson	Tarleton State	DE	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Gerred Johnson	West Texas A&M	DE	Sr.	Mansfield, Texas
Ronell Wilson	Tarleton State	ILB	Jr.	Abilene, Texas
Chris Hoad	UT Permian Basin	ILB	Sr.	Leander, Texas
Frank Honang	West Texas A&M	OLB	Sr.	Saginaw, Texas
Eric Collins	West Texas A&M	OLB	Jr.	Cedar Hill, Texas
Prince Robinson	Tarleton State	CB	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Kader Kohou	Texas A&M-Commerce	CB	Jr.	Euless, Texas
Jai Edwards	Tarleton State	S	Sr.	Atascocita, Texas
Dominique Ramsey	Texas A&M-Commerce	S	Jr.	Converse, Texas
Leddy French	Angelo State	S	Jr.	Brock, Texas
Sergio Landeros	UT Permian Basin	P	So.	Seminole, Texas
Brock Gerlich	West Texas A&M	DS	Sr.	New Braunfels, Texas

 

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Vili Fisiiahi	Eastern New Mexico	OG	Jr.	Honolulu, Hawaii
Kendall Dearth	Tarleton State	OG	So.	Atascocita, Texas
Caleb Brown	Midwestern State	OT	Jr.	Rowlett, Texas
Parker Hanna	West Texas A&M	OT	So.	Stratford, Texas
Tytus Timoteo	Western New Mexico	C	Jr.	Honolulu, Hawaii
Isaac Crichton	Western New Mexico	TE	Jr.	Honolulu, Hawaii
Lawson Ayo	Angelo State	WR	Sr.	Sunnyvale, Texas
Darian Hambrick	Texas A&M-Kingsville	WR	Jr.	Nashville, Tenn.
Josh Powell	Western New Mexico	WR	Fr.	St. Louis, Mo.
Ryan Stokes	Texas A&M-Commerce	WR	Sr.	St. Louis, Mo.
Miklo Smalls	Texas A&M-Commerce	QB	So.	Plano, Texas
Quinton Childs	Midwestern State	RB	Sr.	El Paso, Texas
Wyatt Strand	Eastern New Mexico	RB	Sr.	Logan, N.M.
Kyle Williams	Texas A&M-Kingsville	FB	Sr.	Katy, Texas
Jake Viquez	Texas A&M-Commerce	PK	Jr.	Rockwall, Texas
Tobias Harris	West Texas A&M	RS	So.	Austin, Texas

 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Chris Williams	Texas A&M-Commerce	DT	Sr.	Atlanta, Ga.
Jordan Phillips	Tarleton State	DT	Sr.	Fullerton, Calif.
Jaylon Hodge	Texas A&M-Commerce	DE	Jr.	Houston, Texas
Mazin Richards	Eastern New Mexico	DE	Fr.	Burleson, Texas
Terrell Collins	Texas A&M-Commerce	ILB	Sr.	St. Louis, Mo.
Hunter Kyle	Angelo State	ILB	Jr.	Wichita Falls, Texas
Tank Morgan	Tarleton State	OLB	Jr.	Daytona Beach, Fla.
Dwayne Tate	Midwestern State	OLB	Jr.	Arlington, Texas
Tobias Harris	West Texas A&M	CB	So.	Austin, Texas
Devin Washington	Angelo State	CB	Jr.	Jacksonville, Fla.
Darrick Dickerson	Angelo State	S	Jr.	Missouri City, Texas
Alex Shillow	Texas A&M-Commerce	S	Jr.	Pflugerville, Texas
Benjie Franklin	Tarleton State	S	Jr.	Houston, Texas
Tyler Vargas	Eastern New Mexico	P	Sr.	San Diego, Calif.
Dane McElrath	Angelo State	DS	Jr.	Needville, Texas

 

HONORABLE MENTION
Pablo Gutierrez	UT Permian Basin	OG	Sr.	Odessa, Texas
Bailey Adair	Eastern New Mexico	OG	So.	Gatesville, Texas
Blake Harrison	Angelo State	OT	Sr.	Fort Worth, Texas
Zach Perry	Tarleton State	OT	So.	Fort Worth, Texas
Aseli Finau	Eastern New Mexico	OT	So.	Anchorage, Alaska
Chris Ulufale	Western New Mexico	OT	Sr.	Honolulu, Hawaii
Hunter Bowers	UT Permian Basin	OT	Sr.	Corpus Christi
Isaiah Callahan	Eastern New Mexico	OT	Sr.	Clovis, N.M.
Christian Hernandez	Texas A&M-Commerce	C	Jr.	Frisco, Texas
Braeden Fox	Eastern New Mexico	C	Sr.	West Jordan, Utah
AJ Wozniak	Angelo State	C	Jr.	Flower Mound, Texas
Tyler Guice	Texas A&M-Commerce	TE	Sr.	Atlanta, Ga.
Brant Bailey	Tarleton State	TE	Sr.	Eastland, Texas
Tyler Lynch	Eastern New Mexico	TE	Sr.	Gilbert, Ariz.
Xavier Land	Midwestern State	WR	Sr.	Dallas, Texas
Devin Milburn	Texas A&M-Kingsville	WR	Sr.	Galveston, Texas
Kyle McBride	UT Permian Basin	WR	Sr.	Dayton, Texas
Chance Cooper	Texas A&M-Commerce	WR	Jr.	Leander, Texas
CJ Fowler	Western New Mexico	QB	Jr.	Mesa, Ariz.
Payne Sullins	Angelo State	QB	Sr.	Gatesville, Texas
DeAndre Williams	Western New Mexico	RB	Sr.	Tucson, Ariz.
Duke Carter IV	West Texas A&M	RB	Sr.	Grand Prairie, Texas
Johnny Smith	Eastern New Mexico	RB	Sr.	El Paso, Texas
Khalil Banks	Tarleton State	RB	Jr.	The Colony, Texas
Lazarus Fisher	Midwestern State	RB	R-So.	Clinton, Okla.
Luis Lopez	Texas A&M-Kingsville	RB	Sr.	San Diego, Texas
Oly Ta'ase	Western New Mexico	FB	Jr.	Pago Pago, American Samoa
Connor Flanigan	Angelo State	PK	Sr.	Austin, Texas
Donte Ross	Texas A&M-Kingsville	RS	Jr.	Palmdale, Calif.
Justin Mannyweather	Eastern New Mexico	RS	Jr.	Fullerton, Calif.
Jamar Claibourn	Eastern New Mexico	DT	Sr.	Sacramento, Calif.
Tavaris Owens	Tarleton State	DT	Sr.	Whitley, Texas
Sesi Salt	Texas A&M-Kingsville	DT	So.	Salt Lake City, Utah
Cody Gardner	Texas A&M-Kingsville	DT	So.	Spring, Texas
Melik Owens	Midwestern State	DE	So.	Houston, Texas
James Lee	Western New Mexico	DE	Sr.	Bayard, N.M.
Diego Assad	UT Permian Basin	DE	Sr.	El Paso, Texas
Dagen Dunham	Angelo State	DE	So.	Muleshoe, Texas
Jacob Clarkson	Texas A&M-Kingsville	DE	Jr.	Houston, Texas
Keegan Gray	UT Permian Basin	ILB	Sr.	Andrews, Texas
Tre'Michael Tutt	Texas A&M-Kingsville	ILB	Jr.	Channelview, Texas
Noah Sweitzer	Eastern New Mexico	ILB	Jr.	Albuquerque, N.M.
Roosevelt Calhoun Jr.	Western New Mexico	ILB	Sr.	Reno, Nev.
Hayden Dennis	West Texas A&M	ILB	Jr.	San Antonio, Texas
Colby Russ	Eastern New Mexico	OLB	So.	Canyon, Texas
Deshaun Douglas	Angelo State	CB	So.	Carrollton, Texas
L.A. Dawson	Texas A&M-Commerce	CB	Sr.	Austin, Texas
Tre Johnson	Tarleton State	CB	Jr.	Fort Worth, Texas
Charles Countee	Eastern New Mexico	CB	Sr.	Albuquerque, N.M.
Izell Price	Western New Mexico	CB	Jr.	Atlanta, Ga.
Jaydon Cunigan	Midwestern State	CB	Sr.	Beaumont, Texas
Josh Wilson	Texas A&M-Kingsville	S	Sr.	Corpus Christi, Texas
Marcus Wilkerson	Midwestern State	S	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Donta Stuart	UT Permian Basin	S	Fr.	Waco, Texas
Vicente Walker	Eastern New Mexico	S	Jr.	Augusta, Ga.
Andrew Gomez	Texas A&M-Commerce	P	Jr.	Richardson, Texas
Karch Kaspar	Texas A&M-Kingsville	P	Fr.	Brazoria, Texas
Roope Henry	Eastern New Mexico	DS	Jr.	Rio Rancho, N.M.
Wyatt Leath	Texas A&M-Commerce	DS	Jr.	Rockwall, Texas
Clay Endelhardt	Texas A&M-Kingsville	DS	Fr.	San Antonio, Texas

 

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2019 LSC FOOTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC AWARDS
Player	Team	Pos.	Yr.	Major	Hometown
Josh Jacks	Angelo State	Grad	OL	Business Administration	Round Rock, Texas
Lawson Ayo	Angelo State	Sr.	WR	Marketing	Sunnyvale, Texas
Payne Sullins	Angelo State	Grad	QB	Business Administration	Gatesville, Texas
Blake Harrison	Angelo State	Grad	OL	Business Administration	Fort Worth, Texas
Wyatt Strand	Eastern New Mexico	Grad	QB	Math & Agri. Sciences	Logan, N.M.
Charles Countee	Eastern New Mexico	Grad	DB	Business Administration	Albuquerque, N.M.
Brant Bailey	Tarleton State	Sr.	TE	Kinesiology	Eastland, Texas.
Alex Shillow	Texas A&M-Commerce	Grad	S	Sports Management/MBA	Pflugerville, Texas
Dominique Ramsey	Texas A&M-Commerce	Jr.	DB/RS	Math & Elec. Engineering	Converse, Texas
Chris Hoad	UT Permian Basin	Sr.	LB	Criminology	Leander, Texas
Anthony Harper	Western New Mexico	Sr.	OL	History	Stockton, Calif.