SEMO Dominates All-OVC Awards

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Southeast Missouri State’s Harris and Samuel, Eastern Kentucky’s Soucy, Jacksonville State’s Blanchard Highlight 2010 OVC Football Honors
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri State, the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference champions, took home two of the four major individual OVC postseason awards in voting conducted by league head coaches and sports information directors and announced on Tuesday.
Southeast Missouri State running back Henry Harris was named Offensive Player of the Year while his head coach, Tony Samuel, was named the OVC Roy Kidd Coach of the Year. In the other major awards, Eastern Kentucky senior defensive lineman Andrew Soucy was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year while Jacksonville State punter/quarterback Coty Blanchard earned the Freshman of the Year award.
Southeast Missouri led the way with eight first-team selections (including six of the 11 first-team offensive picks) while Jacksonville State led the way with 13 total selections spread across the first-team, second-team and All-Newcomer squads. The first-team included 16 seniors, six juniors and three sophomores, while the second-team had 15 senior selections, seven juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.
Harris, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, is the first Southeast Missouri State player to win the Offensive Player of the Year award since joining the Conference in 1991. Harris leads the nation in all-purpose yards (219.82/game), ranks second nationally in rushing yards (147.91/game) and fourth in scoring (9.82 points/game). The senior rushed for 100 yards or more in a game nine times this season after previously achieving that feat just once in his career.
His 1,627 rushing yards in 2010 is the fifth-highest mark in OVC history (just 159 yards away from the record) and he is eighth in OVC single-season scoring (108 points, just one touchdown away from fourth-place all-time). During the year Harris set Southeast Missouri records for rushing yards, all-purpose yards (2,418), rushing attempts (285), rushing touchdowns (17) and total touchdowns (18). In a win against Southwest Baptist on Nov. 6, Harris rushed for 293 yards, which is the highest single-game total in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) this year. The senior was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week a league-best four times in 2010. Harris helped Southeast Missouri to a 9-2 overall record, 7-1 OVC mark, its first-ever OVC Championship, its first Top 10 national ranking and the program’s first playoff berth at any level of football.
After his team was picked next to last (tied for seventh) in a preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors, Southeast Missouri State’s Samuel led the Redhawks to arguably the best season in the 104-year history of the program. Southeast opened the season with a close loss to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent Ball State then reeled off nine-straight victories (at the time the longest in the FCS ranks) on its way to a 9-2 overall record, 7-1 Conference mark and the OVC Championship (the first for the program since joining the league and Division I ranks in 1991). Southeast Missouri made the 20-team FCS Playoff field, marking the first-ever playoff appearance for the team at any level of football in its 104-year history. Along the way the Redhawks had a key road victory over regional rival and nationally-ranked foe Southern Illinois and dropped only one game the rest of the way,
a two-point loss at No. 6 Jacksonville State, a game that was decided with 11 seconds to play. Southeast jumped into the Top 25 in the fifth week of the season and were ranked as high as No. 7 nationally, the highest-ranking ever for the program. The nine overall victories for the team are tied for the most in program history (with the 1937 and 1955 squads) and the winning season is only the third for the team at the Division I level. The Redhawks also finished undefeated at home (5-0) for the first time since joining the OVC. After finishing 2-9 overall (and 1-7 in the OVC) last season, the team’s 7-game improvement this season ranks as the 10th-best turnaround in FCS history (since the classification was formed in 1978). Overall the seven win improvement is tied for the best all-time in OVC history, equaling the marks also set by the 1964 Austin Peay team (from 1-9 to 8-1-1) and the 1978 Western Kentucky squad (from 1-8-1 to 8-2). Overall the nine wins are the most in a single-season for Samuel, who is in his 13th season as a Division I head coach (and fifth season at Southeast Missouri). Samuel is the third Southeast Missouri State coach to earn OVC Coach of the Year honors, joining John Mumford in 1994 and Tim Billings in 2002.
Soucy was the mainstay on the Colonels defensive line and keyed a defensive attack that led the OVC and ranked 10th nationally in sacks/game (2.91) and was first in the Conference and 29th nationally in rush defense (125.5 yards/game). EKU also had the second-ranked scoring defense in the OVC, allowing just 22.7 points/game. That defense helped Eastern Kentucky to four-straight wins to end the season (including a victory over No. 2-ranked Jacksonville State that ended the nation’s longest winning streak), giving the team a 6-5 overall record and marking the program’s 42nd winning season in the past 44 years. Despite being the focus of every team’s blocking schemes, individually Soucy ranked fifth in the OVC in sacks (0.41/game) and 10th in tackles-for-loss (0.91/game). He finished the season with 28 tackles (16 solo), 10.0 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, three quarterback hurries and a blocked kick. Soucy had a season-high six tackles in a win over in-state rival Murray State and a season-high 2.0 sacks in a game at UT Martin. Soucy is the 13th EKU player to be named OVC Defensive Player of the Year (a group that includes current or former NFL players Aaron Jones, Chad Bratzke and Yeremiah Bell) and first since the 2007 season (defensive back Derrick Huff).
Blanchard made an immediate impact for the Gamecocks, helping Jacksonville State to a victory over FBS foe Ole Miss in his first game. Splitting time at quarterback, Blanchard completed 9-of-13 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. After the team trailed 31-13 entering the fourth quarter, Blanchard’s touchdown pass with 6:17 left cut the margin to 31-26. But his two biggest plays would come in the second overtime as the true freshman completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kevyn Cooper on 4th and 15th to tie the game. Instead of going for the extra point and forcing a third overtime, the Gamecocks went for the two-point conversion, which saw Blanchard complete a shovel pass to Calvin Middleton to win the game 49-48. The two plays were named the Capitol One Impact Performance of the week on a national vote at ESPN.com and his play earned him National Offensive Player of the Week honors. The win snapped a 50-game losing streak to FBS opponents for OVC teams and marked the first win for an OVC team over an SEC school since the league was formed in 1948 (OVC teams had previously been 0-22 against SEC teams). It also marked the first loss by an SEC squad to a FCS foe since 2004. The rest of the season Blanchard filled the backup quarterback role, throwing touchdown passes in six games, including two against Austin Peay. For the season he completed 27-of-40 passes (67.5%) for 296 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed the ball 54 times for 282 yards (5.2 yards/carry) and two more scores. As the team’s starting punter, Blanchard averaged 39.5 yards/punt on 40 punts, with a long of 57 yards. He downed 18 of those punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and had six punts go for 50 yards or longer. His play helped the Gamecocks to a 9-2 overall record, second place OVC finish, a Top 10 national ranking and its third Division I playoff berth. Blanchard is the first Jacksonville State player to be named OVC Freshman of the Year since the award was started in 2004.

The All-OVC first-team featured players from all nine OVC football-playing institutions and was highlighted by Harris at running back. Harris became the first Southeast Missouri running back to make the first-team since the 1998 season (Corey Williams). Joining Harris on the team is the Redhawks starting quarterback, Matt Scheible, the first Southeast signal caller named a first-team All-OVC selection since the program joined the OVC in 1991.
The junior led a balanced offensive attack that saw him pass for 1,177 yards and eight touchdowns (while throwing only one interception) and rush for 830 yards and seven additional touchdowns. His 75.5 yards/game rushing total was third-best in the OVC and was part of the Redhawk rushing attack (along with Harris), that ranked third nationally in rushing offense (271.09 yards/game). Joining the Redhawk teammates at two of the skills positions were Murray State running back Mike Harris and Racer wide receiver Marcus Harris. The running back Harris, a junior newcomer, averaged 100.4 yards/game on the ground (second-best in the OVC) while scoring 10 touchdowns in just nine games. The wide receiver Harris completed a stellar career by finishing second in OVC history in career receptions (216) and 10th in all-time receiving yards (2,471) while catching 84 passes this year, the fourth-most in league single-season history. Limited to just nine games due to injury, Harris still managed 1,057 receiving yards and ranked first nationally in catches/game (9.33), second in receiving yards/game (117.44) and 17th in all-purpose yards (146.33/game). At the other wide receiver slot was Tennessee Tech junior Tim Benford, the only repeat selection on the first-team offensive unit. Benford pulled down 47 catches for 779 yards and nine touchdowns during the season. Jacksonville State senior Cory Freeman, a second-team selection a year ago, moved up to the first-team this season after grabbing 11 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown and being a key blocker for the Gamecocks offense. The offensive line was dominated by Southeast Missouri State, as the league champions had four of the five selections, only the second time in OVC history, and first time since 1956 (Middle Tennessee), that one team had four first-team offensive line selections. Those selections included senior center Sean Middleton, senior guards Bryan Curry and Frank Knights and sophomore tackle Evan Conrad. That unit helped Southeast Missouri rank third nationally in rushing offense and 25th nationally in total offense (310.0 yards/game). The line was rounded out by Jacksonville State senior Curt Porter, a second-team selection from a year ago.
The first-team defense was headlined by Soucy, one of four OVC players who were first-team repeat selections from a season ago. Joining the senior on the defensive line were Eastern Illinois senior Spyros Bazigos, Jacksonville State junior Monte Lewis and Southeast Missouri senior J.J. Sanchez.
Bazigos led the OVC and ranked 38th nationally in tackles-for-loss (1.23/game) while adding 46 tackles for the Panthers. Lewis helped key a defensive line for a Gamecocks team that was 9-2 overall, as he had 29 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks and a fumble recovery during the season. Sanchez finished the regular season with 45 tackles, 6.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks and four quarterback hurries. The linebacker group included Eastern Illinois senior Nick Nasti, Eastern Kentucky senior Jordan Dalrymple and UT Martin senior Josh Bey. Nasti led the OVC in tackles (114 total - 10.36/game), which ranked 20th-best nationally. Dalrymple, a second-team selection last season, moved up to the first-team after netting 65 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble during the season. Bey, the preseason OVC Defensive Player of the Year, was a repeat first-team selection after another impressive year keying the Skyhawk defense, which led the OVC and ranked 14th nationally this season, allowing just 299.27 yards/game. Bey had 91 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles on the season. The first-team defensive backs unit combined for 18 interceptions on the season and included two repeat selections in Eastern Kentucky junior Jeremy Caldwell and Tennessee State senior Eugene Clifford. Caldwell, who battled injuries much of the season, still managed to pick off three passes, including returning one 80 yards for a touchdown against FBS foe Louisville. On the year Caldwell had an interception return, kickoff return and punt return for a score. Clifford, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award which is given to the nation’s top defensive player, capped his career with 83 tackles, four interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 14 pass deflections in 11 games (that ranked him 10th nationally in passes defended at 1.27/game). The defensive back unit was rounded out by a pair of sophomores in Southeast Missouri’s Tylor Brock and Jacksonville State’s Keginald Harris. Brock ranked 10th nationally in interceptions (6 total, 0.55/game) and returned two of those for touchdowns while Harris was 23rd nationally in interceptions (5 total, 0.45/game) and had five pass breakups and 10 pass deflections.
The first-team All-OVC specialist selections have each appeared on one of the All-OVC teams in previous seasons. Murray State junior kicker Kienan Cullen, a second-team pick at place kicker last season, made the first-team this season after making 15-of-23 field goals (including a long of 43) and connecting on 44-of-48 point after attempts for the high-powered Racer offense that ranked fifth nationally in scoring (36.09 yards/game). The punter position was filled by Eastern Illinois senior Kevin Cook who was a second-team and OVC All-Newcomer pick in 2007. He capped his career by ranking eighth nationally in punting (42.91) including a long of 86 yards this season. Austin Peay senior Terrence Holt capped an incredible career by being named first-team return specialist for the third year in a row (he was also a All-Newcomer selection as a freshman in 2007). Holt, who averaged 23.4
yards per kickoff return (including scoring a touchdown), finished the season with 1,100 kick return yards, as he became the first player in NCAA history to have four seasons with 1,000 or more kickoff return yards. Holt finished his career with 4,683 kick return yards, which is a NCAA all divisions (FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III) record. Holt was also named a second-team All-OVC selection at running back.
The All-OVC second-team offensive unit was highlighted by Murray State quarterback Casey Brockman, who passed for 2,442 yards and 15 touchdowns, rushed for seven touchdowns and even caught a touchdown despite starting just six games. Brockman was named National Offensive Player of the Week twice during the season after games in which he threw for 570 yards and seven touchdowns (both OVC records) and 497 yards; the two passing outputs are the top two passing games nationally this season. He is joined on the second-team by Austin Peay’s Holt (793 yards, 8 TD’s), Tennessee State senior running back Preston Brown (who ran for 760 yards and six touchdowns in just five games before suffering a season-ending injury), Eastern Kentucky sophomore wide receiver Orlandus Harris (56 catches, 940 yards, 7 TD’s), Jacksonville State senior wide receiver Jeffrey Cameron (34 catches, 671 yards, 5 TD’s), Eastern Illinois senior tight end Cody Bruns (20 catches, 238 yards, 3 TD’s), Jacksonville State senior center Tyler Ogletree and senior guard Justin Kay, Tennessee State senior guard Alex Davis and senior tackle Gershom Jordan and UT Martin senior tackle Jeremy Buchanan.
The second-team defensive unit was comprised of four defensive lineman, including Eastern Kentucky junior Emory Attig (34 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks), Jacksonville State junior Jamison Wadley (38 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks), Tennessee Tech senior Justin Hilliard (45 tackles, 6.5 TFL) and UT Martin senior Tim Cox (45 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks). The linebackers (which included four selections due to a tie in voting) included Jacksonville State senior
Antonio Bonner (71 tackles, 7.0 TFL), Southeast Missouri State seniors Joshua Jackson (70 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 FF) and Justin Woodlief (64 tackles, 4 INT’s) and Tennessee State junior Rico Council (79 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks). The defensive backs were Eastern Illinois senior CJ James (56 tackles, 5.0 TFL), Eastern Kentucky senior Patrick McClellan (team-high 68 tackles, 1 INT), Murray State junior newcomer Dontrell Johnson (67 tackles, 2 INT’s)
and UT Martin senior defensive back Kendal Harper (42 tackles, 3 INT’s).
The second-team specialists were Jacksonville State sophomore kicker James Esco (13-of-19 FG’s, 41-of-43 PAT’s), Eastern Kentucky redshirt freshman Jordan Berry (42.9 punt average, Long of 75, 22 inside 20-yard line) and Murray State’s Johnson (a nation-best 22.8 yards/punt return, 2 TD’s), who was also a second-team selection at defensive back.
Eleven players were selected to the All-OVC Newcomer squad. To be selected to the team an individual had to be a first-year player (freshman or transfer) in the OVC. One of the selections was Jacksonville State’s Blanchard, who was named OVC Freshman of the Year. The team included three players who were either first or second-team selections including Murray State running back Harris (first-team), Murray State defensive back/return specialist Johnson (second-team at both positions) and Eastern Kentucky punter Berry (second-team). The remaining All-Newcomer selections included Eastern Illinois freshman quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (1639 yards, 14 TD’s), Eastern Kentucky redshirt freshman defensive lineman Anthony Brown (59 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks), Jacksonville State freshman running back Darius Barksdale (322 yards, 1 TD), Jacksonville State junior defensive lineman Marquis George (31 tackles, 6.0 TFL), Murray State redshirt freshman wide receiver Arthur Brackett (62 catches, 617 yards, 3 TD’s), Tennessee State freshman linebacker Wilson Robinson (24 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks) and Tennessee Tech senior running back Jocques Crawford (568 yards, 8 TD’s).

2010 All-Ohio Valley Conference Football Team
(Selected by OVC Head Football Coaches and Sports Information Directors)

OVC Offensive Player of the Year: Henry Harris, Southeast Missouri
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Soucy, Eastern Kentucky
OVC Freshman of the Year: Coty Blanchard, Jacksonville State
OVC Roy Kidd Coach of the Year: Tony Samuel, Southeast Missouri

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Player, School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Key Stats
Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri QB 6-1 200 Jr. Washington, Mo. 1177 pass yds., 8 TD’s, 830 rush yds., 7 TD’s
Henry Harris, Southeast Missouri RB 5-8 185 Sr. Memphis, Tenn. 1627 yards, 18 total TD’s, 147.91 yards/game
Mike Harris, Murray State RB 5-11 200 Jr. Tulsa, Okla. 904 yards (6.5 ypc), 10 TD’s, 100.4 yds/game
Marcus Harris, Murray State WR 6-1 185 Sr. St. Louis, Mo. 84 catches, 1057 yards (12.6 ypc), 9 TD’s
Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech *! WR 6-1 195 Jr. Chattanooga, Tenn. 47 catches, 779 yards (16.6 ypc), 9 TD’s
Cory Freeman, Jacksonville State # TE 6-3 245 Sr. Brewton, Ala. 11 catches, 88 yards (8.0 ypc), 1 TD
Sean Middleton, Southeast Missouri C 6-3 305 Sr. Los Angeles, Calif. Graded out at 90%, 68 knockdowns
Bryan Curry, Southeast Missouri OG 6-3 320 Sr. Nashville, Tenn. Graded out at 87%, 49 knockdowns
Frank Knights, Southeast Missouri OG 6-1 300 Sr. Aptos, Calif. Graded out at 88%, 54 knockdowns
Curt Porter, Jacksonville State # OT 6-7 290 Sr. Fayette, Ala. Graded out at 92%, 81 knockdowns
Evan Conrad, Southeast Missouri OT 6-3 305 So. Columbia, Mo. Graded out at 91%, 77 knockdowns

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Player, School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Key Stats
Andrew Soucy, Eastern Kentucky * DL 6-2 298 Sr. Canton, Ga. 28 tackles, 10.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 3 QBH, 1 FF
Spyros Bazigos, Eastern Illinois DL 5-11 279 Sr. Glen Ellyn, Ill. 46 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 1 QBH, 1 FR
Monte Lewis, Jacksonville State DL 6-3 251 Jr. Abbeville, Ala. 29 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 QBH, 1 FR
J.J. Sanchez, Southeast Missouri DL 6-1 277 Sr. Glendale, Ariz. 45 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 4 QBH
Nick Nasti, Eastern Illinois LB 6-1 232 Sr. Plano, Ill. 114 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 INT, 4 PD, 2 QBH, 1 FR
Jordan Dalrymple, Eastern Kentucky # LB 6-0 227 Sr. Chuluota, Fla. 65 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 2 QBH, 1 FF
Josh Bey, UT Martin *^ LB 6-0 222 Sr. Springfield, Tenn. 91 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 QBH, 3 FF
Jeremy Caldwell, Eastern Kentucky * DB 5-10 183 Jr. Chattanooga, Tenn. 32 tackles, 3 INT’s, 1 TD, 4 PBU, 7 PD, 1 FF
Keginald Harris, Jacksonville State DB 6-3 190 So. Town Creek, Ala. 49 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 5 INT’s, 5 PBU, 10 PD
Tylor Brock, Southeast Missouri DB 6-3 195 So. St. Louis, Mo. 53 tackles, 6 INT’s, 2 TD’s, 2 PBU, 8 PD
Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State *^! DB 6-2 205 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio 83 tackles, 4 INT’s, 10 PBU, 14 PD, 2 FF

FIRST-TEAM SPECIALISTS
Player, School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Key Stats
Kienan Cullen, Murray State # K 6-3 224 Jr. Louisville, Ky. 15-of-23 FG’s, Long of 43, 44-of-48 PAT’s
Kevin Cook, Eastern Illinois &^^ P 6-2 219 Sr. Libertyville, Ill. 42.9 average, Long of 86, 19 inside 20-yd. line
Terrence Holt, Austin Peay *$^^ RS 5-7 186 Sr. Nashville, Tenn. 47 KOR, 1100 yards (23.4 ypc), 1 TD
* - 1st team All-OVC team in 2009 # - 2nd team All-OVC team in 2009 % - OVC All-Newcomer team in 2009
$ - 1st team All-OVC in 2008 ^ 2nd team All-OVC in 2008 ! - OVC All-Newcomer in 2008
&- 2nd team All-OVC in 2007 ^^ - OVC All-Newcomer in 2007

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Player, School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Key Stats
Casey Brockman, Murray State QB 6-2 205 So. Murray, Ky. 213-of-320, 2442 yards, 15 TD’s, 7 rush TD’s
Terrence Holt, Austin Peay * RB 5-7 186 Sr. Nashville, Tenn. 793 yards (5.4 ypc), 8 TD’s, 72.1 yards/game
Preston Brown, Tennessee State RB 5-10 190 Sr. Nashville, Tenn. 760 yards (6.1 ypc), 6 TD’s, 152.0 yards/game
Orlandus Harris, Eastern Kentucky WR 6-0 185 So. Chattanooga, Tenn. 56 catches, 940 yards (16.8 ypc), 7 TD’s
Jeffrey Cameron, Jacksonville State WR 6-2 185 Sr. Tupelo, Miss. 34 catches, 671 yards (19.7 ypc), 5 TD’s
Cody Bruns, Eastern Illinois TE 6-4 214 Sr. Phoenix, Ariz. 20 catches, 238 yards (11.9 ypc), 3 TD’s
Tyler Ogletree, Jacksonville State C 6-1 295 Sr. Griffin, Ga. Graded out at 89%, 89.5 knockdowns
Justin Kay, Jacksonville State OG 6-3 290 Sr. Vestavia Hills, Ala. Graded out at 89%, 80 knockdowns
Alex Davis, Tennessee State OG 6-2 318 Sr. Sarasota, Fla. Graded out over 90% all season
Gershom Jordan, Tennessee State OT 6-6 325 Sr. Nashville, Tenn. Graded out over 95% all season
Jeremy Buchanan, UT Martin OT 6-3 299 Sr. Antioch, Tenn.

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
Player, School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Key Stats
Emory Attig, Eastern Kentucky DL 6-2 294 Jr. Alpharetta, Ga. 34 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 FR
Jamison Wadley, Jacksonville State DL 6-3 260 Jr. Gadsden, Ala. 38 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 FR
Justin Hilliard, Tennessee Tech DL 6-3 285 Sr. Pikeville, Tenn. 45 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 PD
Tim Cox, UT Martin DL 5-11 226 Sr. Jackson, Miss. 45 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, 3 QBH, 2 FF
Antonio Bonner, Jacksonville State LB 6-2 245 Sr. Marietta, Ga. 71 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 PD, 1 QBH
Joshua Jackson, Southeast Missouri LB 6-1 220 Sr. Baytown, Texas 70 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 1 QBH, 1 FF
Justin Woodlief, Southeast Missouri % LB 6-3 240 Sr. Santa Cruz, Calif. 64 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 4 INT’s, 4 PD, 2 FF
Rico Council, Tennessee State ! LB 6-1 255 Jr. Chattanooga, Tenn. 79 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 PD
CJ James, Eastern Illinois * DB 5-8 182 Sr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 56 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 3 PBU, 3 PD
Patrick McClellan, Eastern Kentucky DB 6-3 216 Jr. Maineville, Ohio 68 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 6 PD
Dontrell Johnson, Murray State DB 5-11 180 Jr. Moultrie, Ga. 67 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2 INT’s, 8 PBU, 10 PD
Kendal Harper, UT Martin DB 5-10 183 Jr. Trenton, Tenn. 42 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 3 INT’s, 6 PBU, 9 PD

SECOND-TEAM SPECIALISTS
Player, School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Key Stats
James Esco, Jacksonville State K 6-2 175 So Leesburg, Ga. 13-of-19 FG’s, Long of 45, 41-of-43 PAT’s
Jordan Berry, Eastern Kentucky P 6-5 195 R-Fr. Essendon, Australia 42.9 average, Long of 75, 22 inside 20-yd. line
Dontrell Johnson, Murray State RS 5-11 180 Jr. Moultrie, Ga. 15 PR, 22.8 yds/return, 2 TD’s, 16 KR, 20.2 yds/rt.
* - 1st team All-OVC team in 2009 # - 2nd team All-OVC team in 2009 % - OVC All-Newcomer team in 2009
$ - 1st team All-OVC in 2008 ^ - 2nd team All-OVC in 2008 ! - OVC All-Newcomer in 2008
&- 2nd team All-OVC in 2007 ^^ - OVC All-Newcomer in 2007

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
Player, School Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Key Stats
Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois QB 6-3 208 Fr. Rolling Meadows, Ill. 124-of-211 (58.8%), 1639 yards, 14 TD’s
Jordan Berry, Eastern Kentucky P 6-5 195 R-Fr. Essendon, Australia 42.9 average, Long of 75, 22 inside 20-yd. line
Anthony Brown, Eastern Kentucky DL 6-0 228 R-Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio 59 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 4 QBH, 1 FF
Darius Barksdale, Jacksonville State RB 6-1 205 Fr. Batesville, Miss. 322 yards (3.6 ypc), 1 TD, 2 catches
Coty Blanchard, Jacksonville State P/QB 6-0 180 Fr. Leesburg, Ala. 39.5 punt avg., 296 pass yds., 8 TD’s, 2 rush TD’s
Marquis George, Jacksonville State DL 6-4 242 Jr. Elsner, Del. 31 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 1 QBH
Arthur Brackett, Murray State WR 6-0 180 R-Fr. Madison, Ala. 62 catches, 617 yards (10.0 ypc), 3 TD’s
Mike Harris, Murray State RB 5-11 200 Jr. Tulsa, Okla. 904 yards (6.5 ypc), 10 TD’s, 100.4 yds/game
Dontrell Johnson, Murray State DB/RS 5-11 180 Jr. Moultrie, Ga. 67 tackles, 2 INT’s, 22.8 yards/PR, 2 TD’s
Wilson Robinson, Tennessee State LB 6-3 218 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. 24 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 QBH
Jocques Crawford, Tennessee Tech RB 6-1 238 Sr. Memphis, Tenn. 568 yards (5.1 ypc), 8 TD’s, 56.8 yards/game

Note: The All-Newcomer team is comprised of first-year players in the OVC - that can be either true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or first-year transfers. The team consists of 11 total players and is not voted on by position. There were 12 players on the All-OVC second-team (4 LB’s) due to a tie in voting.