BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Twenty members of the Shepherd University football team had been named to the 2015 All-MEC team as announced by the league office today. Additionally, head coach Monte Cater was named MEC Coach of the Year, junior quarterback Jeff Ziemba (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) garnered MEC Offensive Player of the Year honors, and senior defensive end Shaneil Jenkins (District Heights, Md./Suitland) earned MEC Defensive Player of the Year accolades.

Cater directed Shepherd to its fifth undefeated regular season and its second Mountain East Conference championship in three years. The Rams are one of just four undefeated teams in NCAA Division II and are the top seed in Super Region One in the upcoming playoffs. Cater earned conference Coach of the Year honors for the 11th time in his career at Shepherd.

Ziemba led the MEC with 275 yards passing per game tossed a school-record 26 touchdowns against just two interceptions. He is third in the country in passing efficiency (170.6) and his 2,842 passing yards are the second-most in school history.

Jenkins led a Rams unit that topped  the league in total defense (288.5) and scoring defense (16.9). Jenkins averaged a league-best 1.05 sacks per game (10.5 total) and added 17.5 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.

Other first team selections for the Rams include: junior wide receiver Billy Brown (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg), senior fullback Jon Hammer (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford),sophomore offensive lineman Lavonte Hights (N. Chesterfield, Va./Meadowbrook), sophomore defensive end Myles Humphrey (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise), sophomore linebacker James Gupton (Waldorf, Md./North Point), junior defensive back Tre Sullivan (Accokeek, Md./Gwynn Park), senior kicker Ryan Earls (Stevensville, Md./Kent Island), and junior return specialist CJ Davis (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown).

Brown leads the Rams with 61 receptions for 1,017 yards and five touchdowns. He is first player in program history to record 60 receptions or more and have over 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

Hammer, a key in the Shepherd offense with his blocking ability, had four receptions for 41 yards on the season.
Hights keyed an offensive line as the starter all season at right tackle.

Humphrey recorded 33 tackles (25 solo) with 9.0 tackles-for-loss (-39 yards) and 4.0 sacks (-18 yards. He added a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a blocked kick.

Gupton registered 53 tackles (31 solo) with 2.5 tackles-for-loss. He added a pass breakup.

Sullivan recorded 44 tackles (30 solo) with 2.0 tackles-for-loss (-4 yards). He leads the team with nine pass breakups and ties for the team lead with three interceptions. He also has forced fumble, a fumble return for a score, and a return of a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Earls has connected on 47-of-52 extra points and 16-of-20 field goals for 96 points He is the program's all-time leading kick scorer (291 points) and his 16 field goals this season set a Shepherd mark.

Davis leads the Rams with 17 kickoff returns for 564 yards (33.2 average) and a touchdown. He also has 18 punt returns for 205 yards (11.4 average).

Senior running back Allen Cross (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach), junior running back Jabre Lolley (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's), junior tight end Jamie Deason (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend), senior offensive lineman (McLean, Va./Langley), junior center Jacob Kingston (Pasadena, Md./DeMatha), senior defensive lineman Isaiah Ross (Bowie, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt), senior defensive back Keon Robinson (Fairfax Station, Va./Lake Braddock), junior linebacker Octavius Thomas (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach) and junior defensive back Adam Coles (Oxon Hill, Md./Potomac) were second team selections.

Cross rushed 152 times for 696 yards and six touchdowns. He added 10 receptions for 97 yards.

Lolley had 110 carries for 565 yards and 13 touchdowns. He added 15 catches for 255 yards and three scores.

Deason, a main cog in the Shepherd offense as blocker, had three receptions for 23 yards, including a pair of touchdown grabs.

Buffkin and Kingston have both started every game on the offensive line for the Rams.

Ross has recorded 21 tackles (14 solo). He has added 7.0 tackles-for-loss (-40 yards), four sacks (-27 yards), and a forced fumble.

Robinson leads the Rams with 58 tackles (47 solo). He adds 2.0 tackles-for-loss (-5 yards), five pass breakups, two blocked kicks, a forced fumble and an interception.

Thomas recorded 36 tackles (23 solo) in eight games. He has 5.0 tackles-for-loss (-14 yards) and a sack (-8 yards).Thomas adds two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup.

Coles has 13 tackles (11 solo) on the season. He is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and also has six pass breakups.

Junior outside linebacker Jaylen Johnson (Bowie, Md./Bowie) gained honorable mention honors.  He is third on the team with 47 tackles (37 solo). He has 6.0 tackles-for-loss (-13 yards), four pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

2015 MEC Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Jeff Ziemba (Shepherd)
Offensive Freshman of the Year: D.J. Greene (Notre Dame)
Defensive Player of the Year: Shaneil Jenkins (Shepherd)
Defensive Freshman of the Year: Fitz Mofor (Glenville State)
Coach of the Year: Monte Cater (Shepherd)

2015 All-MEC First Team
Pos. Name School Cl. Hometown
QB Jeff Ziemba Shepherd Jr. Newark, Del.
RB Michael Anderson W.Va. Wesleyan Jr. Elkridge, Md.
RB Tevin Drake Glenville State Sr. Brooksville, Fla.
RB Calvinaugh Jones Concord Sr. Glen Burnie, Md.
RB Rahmann Lee Glenville State Sr. Capitol Heights, Md.
WR Joey Augustin Charleston Jr. Christiansburg, Va.
WR Billy Brown Shepherd Jr. Gaithersburg, Md.
WR Terrence Younger UVa-Wise Sr. Naruna, Va.
TE Daree' Goodwin West Liberty Sr. Wheeling, W.Va.
FB/H-Back Jon Hammer Shepherd Sr. Jarrettsville, Md.
OL Juwaughn Arnold Charleston Sr. Mocksville, N.C.
OL Zach Erb Charleston Jr. Mechanicsville, Va.
OL Lavonte Hights Shepherd So. N. Chesterfield, Va.
OL Leon Hill Glenville State Sr. Olympia Fields, Ill.
OL Justin Johnson Charleston Jr. Parkersburg, W.Va.
OL Coleman Osborne Concord Jr. Gretna, Va.
==   
DL Myles Humphrey Shepherd So. Upper Marlboro, Md.
DL Shaneil Jenkins Shepherd Sr. District Heights, Md.
DL James King Charleston Jr. Polaski, Va.
DL Brandon Taylor Concord Sr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
DL Darnell Vickers West Liberty Jr. Akron, Ohio
LB Zachary Blair UVa-Wise Jr. Front Royal, Va.
LB Dennis Gardeck W.Va. State So. Crystal Lake, Ill.
LB James Gupton Shepherd So. Waldorf, Md.
LB Rhakeem Stallings Charleston Jr. Chesapeake, Va.
LB Marcus Umu Glenville State Sr. Ewa Beach, Hawaii
LB D'Gary Wallace Urbana Sr. Dayton, Ohio
DB Jacob Jean-Charles Fairmont State Jr. Miami, Fla.
DB Jeremiah Johnson Concord So. Baltimore, Md.
DB Zaire Lewis Charleston So. Akron, Ohio
DB Tre Sullivan Shepherd Jr. Accokeek, Md.
DB Torie Wagner Charleston Sr. Severn, Md.
==   
P Brett Benes Charleston Jr. Boca Raton, Fla.
K Ryan Earls Shepherd Sr. Stevensville, Md.
KR/PR C.J. Davis Shepherd Jr. Hagerstown, Md.
   
2015 All-MEC Second Team
QB Malik Grove Notre Dame So. Cincinnati, Ohio
QB Jeremy Johnson Charleston Sr. Silsbee, Texas
RB Allen Cross Shepherd Sr. Elkridge, Md.
RB D.J. Greene Notre Dame Fr. Willoughby, Ohio
RB Jabre Lolley Shepherd Jr. Wilmington, Del.
WR Dante Absher Glenville State Jr. Sterling, Va.
WR Fabian Guerra Fairmont State Jr. Miami, Fla.
WR Mitchell Shegos Notre Dame Jr. Fenton, Mich.
TE Jamie Deason  Shepherd Jr. Fredericksburg, Va.
FB/H-Back Shaun Workinger Concord Sr. Greensboro, N.C.
OL Zack Buffkin Shepherd Sr. Langley, Va.
OL Rodney Carroll Fairmont State So. Fredericksburg, Va.
OL Jonathan Dupree Glenville State Sr. Lake City, Fla.
OL Jacob Kingston Shepherd Jr. Pasadena, Md.
OL Dalton Shannon W.Va. State Jr. Ocklawaha, Fla.
OL Paul Smith Concord Jr. Roanoke, Va.
==   
DL Ian Andrews Glenville State Jr. Beltsville, Md.
DL Darius James Notre Dame Sr. Springfield, Ohio
DL Claudy Mathieu Notre Dame So. Philadelphia, Pa.
DL Ervin Moore Concord Sr. Lancaster, S.C.
DL Quincy Redmon Fairmont State So. Keysey, W.Va.
DL Isaiah Ross Shepherd Sr. Bowie, Md.
LB Kevin Chapple Urbana Jr. Columbus, Ohio
LB Austin Dotson Concord Sr. Clintwood, Va.
LB Darius Lee Fairmont State Sr. Ft. Washington, Md.
LB Marcus Porter Fairmont State So. Accokeek, Md.
LB Keon Robinson Shepherd Sr. Fairfax Station, Va.
LB Octavius Thomas Shepherd Jr. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
DB Adam Coles Shepherd Jr. Oxon Hill, Md.
DB Stephin Gomez W.Va. State Sr. Freemont, Calif.
DB D'Andre Muhammad West Liberty Sr. Stockbridge, Ga.
DB Earon Settles Glenville State So. Suitland, Md.
DB Chaudlier Shepherd Concord So. Upper Marlboro, Md.
==   
P Christan Morris West Liberty Fr. Orlando, Fla.
K Kyle Kaplan Notre Dame Jr. Hilliard, Ohio
KR/PR Torie Wagner Charleston Sr. Severn, Md.
   
2015 All-MEC Honorable Mention
QB: Dakota Conwell (West Liberty), Sean Steele (Glenville State)
RB: Jeremiah Ortiz (West Liberty), Austin White (Fairmont State)
WR: Jermeil Douse (Concord), Quinton Gray (West Virginia State), Anton McCallum (West Liberty), Trevon Saunders (Urbana), T.J. Smith (Concord)
TE: Kyle Perkins (Notre Dame)
FB/H-Back: Jake Harper (Glenville State)
OL: Andrew Garland (Urbana), Corey Ernest (West Liberty), Dalton Shannon (W.Va. State), Jake Turley (West Liberty), Richard Sloan (Glenville State)
DL: Ben Funny (UVa-Wise), Cody Goode (W.Va. Wesleyan), Jonah Harper (Notre Dame), Alex Robinson (Glenville State)
LB: Zach Chatlain (Notre Dame), Jaylen Johnson (Shepherd), Mitch Rowell (W.Va. State) Onslow Williams (Notre Dame), James Johnson (Glenville State)
DB: Andre Hamilton (UVa-Wise), Emanuel Ivey (Fairmont State), William Merritt (West Virginia State)
P: Tanner Collins (Glenville State)
K: Johnny Dearstine (Fairmont State)