FRISCO – Four Texas A&M University-Commerce football players earned preseason all-conference recognition from the Southland Conference on Friday morning.
Leon Young (Dallas – Cedar Hill),
Max Epps (Spring – Dekaney), and
Daryion Taylor (Humble – Atascocita) are named to second team all-conference defense, while Sean Krystoff-King (Humble – Summer Creek) is selected as a second team all-conference kick returner.
Young, who enters his junior season, was part of the defensive unit that finished first in the Southland Conference last season for total defense. The defensive lineman played in all 11 games last season, totaling 26 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
Epps posted 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, four breakups and two interceptions last season in the secondary. He is entering his junior season as well.
Taylor was third on the team last season with 63 tackles as well as six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, playing primarily as a defensive back. He also recorded two interceptions, one breakup, and forced fumble, entering his senior season.
Krystoff-King goes into his sophomore season as one of the best returners in the Southland. He averaged 22.67 per return last season with the longest return of 59 yards. He finished the 2022 season fifth in the SLC in return average and return yardage.
Returning all-conference selections from the previous season are automatically named to the preseason all-conference teams and may advance to higher team slots if they are vacated by non-returning players. Open positions are nominated and voted upon by the conference's head coaches.
The Lions begin the 2023 season on August 31 at home against UC Davis. A&M-Commerce went 3-3 in SLC play last season.
The Southland Conference Media Day takes place on Monday at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. virtually on
ESPN+. A&M-Commerce's contingent is slated to appear at 1:30 p.m.
Season tickets, tailgate spots, and reserved parking spots for the 2023 season are now on sale and can be purchased at
LionAthletics.com/Tickets or by calling 903-468-8756.
2023 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Zachary Clement* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Jr. |
Broussard, La. |
| RB |
Collin Guggenheim |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
Kenner, La. |
| RB |
Khalan Griffen |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Tyler, Texas |
| TE/HB |
Travon Jones* |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Miami, Fla. |
| WR |
Zach Patterson* |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
Corinth, Miss. |
| WR |
Karl Reynolds |
HCU |
Sr. |
Humble, Texas |
| WR |
Brandon Porter |
UIW |
Gr. |
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. |
| OL |
John Allen* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Jackson, Miss. |
| OL |
Evan Roussel* |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
Lutcher, La. |
| OL |
Jhy Orgeron* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Jr. |
Galliano, La. |
| OL |
Jalen Bell |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Amory, Miss. |
| OL |
Stanley Mark^ |
UIW |
Gr. |
Seguin, Texas |
| OL |
Mark Barthelemy^ |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Opelousas, La. |
| PK |
Garrison Smith* |
McNeese |
So. |
Norwalk, Ohio |
| P |
Austin Dunlap* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Slidell, La. |
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE DEFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Steven Parker* |
UIW |
Jr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| DL |
Perry Ganci* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| DL |
Jalyx Hunt* |
HCU |
Jr. |
DeBary, Fla. |
| DL |
Arlen Willaims* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
R-Sr. |
Boothville, La. |
| LB |
Rodney Dansby* |
HCU |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| LB |
Donte' Daniels* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Jr. |
Slidell, La. |
| LB |
Eli Ennis* |
Nicholls |
So. |
Ohatchee, Ala. |
| DB |
Jordan Jackson* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Prairieville, La. |
| DB |
Devion Hargrove |
HCU |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| DB |
Kevin Davis |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Freeport, Texas |
| DB |
Brandon Richard |
UIW |
Gr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| DB |
Tyler Morton |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
St. Rose, La. |
| KR |
Jaylon Spears |
Nicholls |
R-So. |
New Orleans, La. |
| PR |
Darius Lewis |
Southeastern Louisiana |
R-Jr. |
New Orleans, La. |
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Eli Sawyer |
Southeastern Louisiana |
R-So. |
Vestavia Hills, Ala. |
| RB |
Rodeo Graham, Jr. |
Southeastern Louisiana |
So. |
Baton Rouge, La. |
| RB |
Scooter Adams |
Northwestern State |
R-Sr. |
Hallettsville, Texas |
| TE/HB |
Ivan Drobocky* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Jr. |
Bowling Green, Ky. |
| WR |
Ke'Nard King |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| WR |
Sevonne Rhea |
Lamar |
So. |
Houston, Texas |
| WR |
CJ Hardy |
UIW |
Gr. |
Cypress, Texas |
| OL |
Brockhim Wicks |
Southeastern Louisiana |
R-Jr. |
Plaquemine, La. |
| OL |
Cole Leclair |
McNeese |
So. |
Middleburg, Fla. |
| OL |
Christian Hood |
HCU |
Sr. |
Marshall, Texas |
| OL |
D'Andre Richard |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Baton Rouge, La. |
| OL |
Dylan Dauzart |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Alexandria, La. |
| PK |
Riley Callaghan* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
So. |
Ashburn, Va. |
| P |
Kylan Dupre |
Nicholls |
So. |
Geismar, La. |
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE DEFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Marcus Brown |
UIW |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| DL |
Garrett Crawford |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Slidell, La. |
| DL |
Welland Williams |
McNeese |
R-So. |
Reserve, La. |
| DL |
Leon Young |
A&M-Commerce |
Jr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| LB |
Kylin White |
Nicholls |
R-So. |
Boutte, La. |
| LB |
Herman Christophe IV |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Plaquemine, La. |
| LB |
Anthony Britton, Jr. |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Stockbridge, Ga. |
| DB |
Max Epps |
A&M-Commerce |
Jr. |
Spring, Texas |
| DB |
Javon Davis |
McNeese |
So. |
River Ridge, La. |
| DB |
Kristian Pugh |
Lamar |
So. |
Beaumont, Texas |
| DB |
Ramond Stevens |
Lamar^ |
Jr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| DB |
Tyrone Leggette |
Southeastern Louisiana^ |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| DB |
Daryion Taylor |
A&M-Commerce^ |
Sr. |
Humble, Texas |
| KR |
Sean Krystoff-King |
A&M-Commerce |
So. |
Humble, Texas |
| PR |
Dekaylon Taylor |
UIW |
So. |
Longview, Texas |
*
Automatic selection; returning all-conference and superlative player
^ Denotes tie in voting
-TAMUC-
