FRISCO – Being one of the leading tacklers in the country, East Texas A&M University linebacker Brandon Tucker was honored as the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year, highlighting four all-conference honors for the Lion football program.
 
Tucker (DeSoto) is the first Lion football player to earn a Player of the Year award in the Southland era and the first Defensive Player of the Year from the program since Toni Pulu in 2014.
 
He was also named to first team all-conference defense, joined there by teammate and defensive back Max Epps (Spring – Dekaney), while both defensive back Jaden Rios (Frisco – Lone Star) and wide receiver Christian Jourdain (New Orleans, La.) were named to the second team.
 
This season, Tucker set the program's record for most tackles in a season with 141, which was second in the conference and second in the country. He also led the conference with 15 tackles for loss. He was also fourth in forced fumbles with two and had two fumble recoveries as well. This is the first career all-conference honor for Tucker.
 
Epps is named to first team all-conference defense for the second year in a row. He ranks 15^th in the conference in tackles with 76, eighth in pass breakups, 10^th in interceptions. The redshirt senior defensive back was an All-American a year ago.
 
Rios, who was a preseason all-conference honoree, finished the season ninth in the SLC with nine passes defended, second with three interceptions, and totaled 30 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss. This is also the first career all-conference recognition for Rios.
 
Jourdain totaled 683 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions this season, ranking sixth in the conference for receiving yards and fifth in receiving touchdowns. The senior wide receiver played just one season as a Lion and earned all-conference honors.
 
The four all-conference honorees for the Lions are the most since 2022.
 
2024 FOOTBALL ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE HONORS
Player of the Year: Zach Calzada, UIW
Offensive Player of the Year: Jalen Walthall, UIW
Defensive Player of the Year: Brandon Tucker, East Texas A&M
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Evan Roussel, Nicholls
Newcomer of the Year: Sam Vidlak, SFA
Freshman of the Year: Miequle Brock, Nicholls
Coach of the Year: Clint Killough, UIW
 
All-Conference First Team Offense

QB	Zach Calzada	UIW
RB	Antonio Martin Jr.	Southeastern
RB	DeKalon Taylor	UIW
TE/H	Logan Compton	UIW
WR	Jalen Walthall	UIW
WR	Kylon Harris	SFA
WR	Darius Lewis	Southeastern
OL	Evan Roussel	Nicholls
OL	Brockhim Wicks	Southeastern
OL	Traveon Newsome	UIW
OL	Mason Williams	UIW
OL	Cole Leclair	McNeese
PK	Chris Campos	SFA
P	Finn Lappin	McNeese

 
All-Conference First Team Defense

DL	Declan Williams	UIW
DL	Warren Peeples	Southeastern
DL	Rasheed Lovelace	Nicholls
DL	Zack Bernard	Nicholls
LB	Brandon Tucker	East Texas A&M
LB	Eli Ennis	Nicholls
LB	Jake Dalmado	Nicholls
DB	Darius Sanders	UIW
DB	Max Epps	East Texas A&M
DB	Mason Chambers	UIW
DB	Keydrain Calligan	Southeastern
DB	Jeremiah Walker	SFA
KR	Brandon Hayes	Southeastern
PR	Darius Lewis	Southeastern

 
All-Conference Second Team Offense

QB	Sam Vidlak	SFA
RB	Khalan Griffin	Lamar
RB	Joshon Barbie	McNeese
TE/H	Devyn Gibbs	Lamar
WR	Roy Alexander	UIW
WR	AJ Wilson	HCU
WR	Kyndon Fuselier*	Lamar
WR	Christian Jourdain*	East Texas A&M
OL	Nolan Hay	UIW
OL	Rasheed Jackson	UIW
OL	Dion Daniels	HCU
OL	Elias Ripley	Lamar
OL	Javale Roberson*	Lamar
OL	Kortez Winslow*	Lamar
OL	Nate Adams*	SFA
PK	Dillon Fedor*	HCU
PK	Riley Callaghan*	Southeastern
P	Alec Mahler	Southeastern

 
All-Conference Second Team Defense

DL	Aaron Austin	SFA
DL	Ed Bobino III	SFA
DL	Kaleb Proctor	Southeastern
DL	Devin Grant*	UIW
DL	Caleb Williams*	Lamar
DL	Shemar Pearl*	Southeastern
LB	KK Reno	Southeastern
LB	Mister Williams	UIW
LB	Micah Davey	McNeese
DB	Jaden Rios	East Texas A&M
DB	Charles Demmings	SFA
DB	Kristian Pugh	Lamar
DB	Khamron Ford	Southeastern
DB	Coryell Pierce	Southeastern
KR	Champ Dozier	HCU
PR	DeKalon Taylor	UIW

 
*Indicates tie for final spot