CLARION, Pa. – Nine members of the Shepherd University football team have been named to the 2017 Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-Super Region 1 Team as released by the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Region Committee today.
Senior offensive lineman Lavonte Hights (N. Chesterfield, Va./Meadowbrook), senior quarterback Connor Jessop (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run/Virginia Tech) and senior defensive end Myles Humphrey (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise), sophomore tight end D.J. Cornish (Felton, Del./Lake Forest), junior wide receiver Ryan Feiss (Forest Hill, Md./North Harford), and senior linebacker James Gupton (Waldorf, Md./North Point) were first team selections.
Hights, who finished third in the Gene Upshaw award balloting, was a D2Football.com All-America choice for the second consecutive year. He set the Shepherd all-time mark for consecutive starts with 49. Hights anchored an offensive line that helped Shepherd rank third nationally in scoring offense, fifth in total offense, and seventh in passing offense.
Jessop, who finished fourth in the Harlon Hill award balloting, completed 240-of-294 passes for 3,532 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also rushed 61 times for 355 yards and six scores. He set Shepherd single-season marks for total offense (3,887), passing touchdowns, touchdowns responsible for (47), and points responsible for (282). Jessop ranks second nationally in passing yards per game (321.1), points responsible for (282), and points responsible for per game (25.6) while ranking third in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense (353.4). He ranks sixth in passing efficiency (167.4).
Humphrey led the Rams with 13 sacks (-73 yards) and 20.5 tackles-for-loss (-92 yards). He recorded 59 tackles (47 solo stops) on the year. Humphrey also added four forced fumbles and three pass breakups. He is the program's all-time leader in sacks with 40 (-229 yards). His 69 career tackles-for-loss tie Howard Jones (2010-13) for the most in program history.
Cornish had 36 receptions for 561 yards and six touchdowns. He was third on the team in all three categories. His 70.13 receiving yards per game average was also third on the team.
Feiss led the Rams with 95 receptions for 1,391 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranked third in NCAA II in receiving yards, receptions per game (8.6), while ranking fourth in receiving yards per game (126.5).
Gupton led the Rams with 87 (60 solos) total tackles. He added 13.5 tackles-for-loss (-68 yards), 5.0 sacks (-42 yards), two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Senior running back Jabre Lolley (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) and senior center Jaime Colon (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) were second team choices.
Lolley led the Shepherd ground attack as he rushed 176 times for 1,115 yards and 15 touchdowns. He added 12 receptions for 172 yards and three scores.
Colon helped anchor an offensive line that paved the way for Shepherd to average 507.1 yards of total offense.
Senior safety Tre Anderson (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) garnered third team honors.
Anderson posted 38 tackles (31 solos) with one tackle-for-loss (-4 yards). He led the Rams with four interceptions (41 return yards). Anderson added three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Shepherd finished the season with a 10-1 record as the Mountain East Conference champion. The Rams advanced to the NCAA II playoffs for the 11th time.
The Don Hansen team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988. Don Hansen's FB Gazette began selecting Division II All-Region squads in 2003.
The first-team and second-team All-Region selections advance to a national ballot from which the 2017 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America team will be named later this month.
IUP and Shepherd led first team selections with 6, while Assumption posted 5 and Findlay had four. Edinboro, Ohio Dominican, Slippery Rock, California and West Chester had two each, while Gannon, Bentley, LIU-Post, Bloomsburg, Millersville and Shippensburg had one each.
IUP led the overall team with 10 selections, Shepherd and Assumption had 9 each, Findlay and Ohio Dominican posted 8 choices, California, Shippensburg and LIU-Post had 7 and West Chester and Slippery Rock secured 6 each.
Super Region 1 is compiled of universities from four conferences including the PSAC, MEC, NE10 and the GMAC. A total of 40 teams and 145 players are represented on this team.
2017 Don Hansen's Football Gazette All Super Region 1 Team
First Team Offense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB Connor Jessop 6-5 220 Sr. Shepherd Ashburn, Va. Broad Run
RB Walter Fletcher 5-9 191 So. Edinboro Columbia, Md. Centennial
RB Marc Jones 5-11 225 Jr. Gannon Painesville, Oh. Riverside
RB Daouda Sylla 5-9 210 Sr. Findlay Ypsilanti, Mi. Ypsilanti
FB Theo Blackston 6-0 235 Jr. Mercyhurst Wheeling, W.V. Wheeling Park
WR Cory Contini 6-1 195 Jr. Ohio Dom. Dover, Ohio Dover
WR Ryan Feiss 5-10 190 Jr. Shepherd Forest Hill, Md. North Harford
WR Marcus Johnson 6-2 190 Sr. S. Rock Pittsburgh, Pa. Univ - Prep
WR Austin Ryan 6-0 185 Fr. Bentley Foxborough, Mass. Williston/Northampton
TE D.J. Cornish 6-2 260 So. Shepherd Felton, De. Lake Forest
OC Taylor Nikithser 6-4 300 Sr. California Wexford, Pa. North Allegheny
OG Andrew Alten 6-2 308 Sr. Findlay Loveland, Ohio Loveland
OG Colin McAllister 6-2 290 So. IUP Boothwyn, Pa. Chichester
OT Lavonte Hights 6-4 300 Sr. Shepherd N. Chesterfield, Va. Meadowbrook
OT Joe Lacey 6-6 328 Sr. LIU-Post Medford, NY. Patchogue-Medford
OT Jerron Searles 6-5 280 Sr. IUP Atlantic City, N.J. Atlantic City
AP Deonte Harris 5-6 170 Jr. Assumption Baltimore, Md. Archbishop Curley
PK Cole Tracy 5-11 190 Sr. Assumption Camarillo, Ca. Newbury Park
First Team Defense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Jemal Averette 6-2 288 Sr. IUP Upper Marlboro, Md. O.L. Good Counsel
DL Tristan Kehres 6-2 280 Jr. Ohio Dom. Shelby, Oh. Shelby
DL Jake Klinger 6-2 275 Jr. Bloomsburg Berwick, Pa. Central Columbia
DE Johnny Hopkins 6-1 265 Sr. Findlay Radcliff, Ky. North Hardin
DE Myles Humphrey 6-2 245 Sr. Shepherd Upper Marlboro, Md. Wise
DE Marcus Martin 6-2 255 Sr. S. Rock West Mifflin, Pa. West Mifflin
DE Ray Sarkodieh 6-2 245 Sr. Assumption Worcester, Mass. St. Peter Marian
LB Sean Dugan 5-11 210 Sr. Millersville Springdale, Pa. Springdale
LB James Gupton 5-10 210 Sr. Shepherd Waldorf, Md. North Point
LB Luke Hrapchak 6-2 240 Sr. California Fairmont WV. Fairmont Senior
LB Damon Lloyd 6-0 235 So. IUP Bel Air, Md. John Carroll
LB Tyler Morrissey 6-3 256 Jr. W. Chester Springfield, Pa. Delco
CB Zuril Hendrick 6-0 181 Jr. Edinboro Rochester, N.Y. Pittsford Mendon
CB JR Stevens 6-0 175 So. IUP Langhorne, Pa. Neshaminy
CB Kevin Taylor 5-10 180 Sr. Shippensburg E. Orange, NJ. Seton Hall Prep
SAF Andrew Benson 6-2 205 Sr. Assumption E. Bridgewater,Mass. E. Bridgewater
SAF Aaron Ivery 6-1 202 Sr. Findlay Cleveland, Ohio Glenville
SAF Max Redfield 6-1 205 St. IUP Mission Viejo, Ca. Notre Dame
P Brendan Paulison 6-0 210 Jr. W. Chester Milford, Pa. Del. Valley
RS Deonte Harris 5-6 17o Jr. Assumption Baltimore, Md. Archbishop Curley
Second Team Offense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB Grant Russell 6-4 225 Sr. Ohio Dom. Newark, Oh. Newark
QB Lenny Williams 5-11 202 Jr. IUP McKees Rocks, Pa. Sto-Rox
RB Samir Bullock 5-8 175 So. IUP Philadelphia, Pa. Archbishop Ryan
RB Jarel Elder 5-7 165 Sr. W. Chester Allentown, Pa. Parkland
RB Jabre Lolley 6-0 220 Sr. Shepherd Wilmington, De. St. Mark's
FB Evan Byrd 5-11 215 Sr. Seton Hill Baltimore, Md. Archbishop Spalding
WR James Clark 6-1 176 So. Edinboro Coatesville, Pa. Coatesville
WR Winston Eubanks 6-0 180 Fr. Shippensburg Philadelphia, Pa. LaSalle
WR Jason Moore 6-3 218 Jr. Findlay Oberlin, Oh. Oberlin
TE Luke Stuffel 6-5 264 So. Findlay Canton, Oh. Central Catholic
OC Jamie Colon 6-2 285 Jr. Shepherd Fredericksburg, Va. Riverbend
OC James McNerney 6-0 275 Sr. Assumption Northvale, N.J. Saint Joseph Reg.
OG Ian Park 6-4 315 Sr. S.Rock Upper St. Clair, Pa. Upper St. Clair
OG Frank Tranzilli 6-2 290 So. W. Chester Lansdale, Pa. North Penn
OT Craig McCorkle 6-5 285 So. California Cincinnati, Oh. Winton Woods
OT Zach Williams 6-3 275 Sr. Ohio Dom. Hilliad, Oh. Darby
AP Jarvis McClam 6-1 190 Sr. Seton Hill Laurel, Md. Laurel
AP Malik Pierre 5-10 200 Jr. LIU-Post Holbrook, N.Y. Sachem North
PK Will Brazill 6-0 180 Sr. California Kansas City, Mo. Park Hill
Second Team Defense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Anthony Appleton 6-0 320 Sr. AIC Brooklyn, N.Y. Sheepshead Bay
DL Cody Goode 5-11 265 Sr. WV Wesleyan Ruther Glen, Va. Fredericksburg Chr.
DL Anthony DeNunzio 6-3 270 Sr. LIU-Post Seaford, NY. MacArthur
DE Deandre Easterling 6-1 225 Jr. IUP Washington, D.C. Gonzaga
DE Claudy Mathieu 6-6 250 Sr. Notre Dame Philadelphia, Pa. George Washington
DE George Shipp 6-1 225 Sr. W. Chester Harleysville, Pa. North Penn
LB Cliff Clark 6-4 235 Jr. W. Liberty Cambridge, Oh. Cambridge
LB Tajier Jefferson 5-8 205 Jr. Kutztown E. Orange, N.J. Queen of Peace
LB Marcus Porter 6-0 225 Sr. Fairmont St. Accokeek, Md. Gwynn Park
LB Ryan Weber 5-11 210 Sr. Malone Butler, Oh. Loudonville
CB Ahkee Cox-Cowan 5-9 175 So. Kutztown Harrisburg, Pa. Harrisburg
CB Jeremiah Johnson 6-1 185 Sr. Concord Baltimore, Md. Perry Hall
CB Michael Porter 5-11 185 So. Fairmont St. Accokeek, Md. Gwynn PArk
SAF Brandon Anderson 6-0 191 So. Edinboro Willingboro, N.J. Holy Cross
SAF Lamont McPhatter 5-11 190 So. California New Castle, Pa. New Castle
SAF Stephen Turner 6-0 225 Jr. Fairmont St. Clinton, Md. Gwynn Park
P Garrett Lee 6-1 185 Sr. Concord Pearlsburg, Va. Giles
RS Marcus Johnson 6-2 190 Sr. S. Rock Pittsburgh, Pa. Univ - Prep
Third Team Offense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB Tanner Garry 6-2 215 Sr. S. Rock McDonald, Pa. Fort Cherry
QB Yianni Gavalas 6-2 220 Gr. LIU-Post Manhasset, N.Y. Holy Cross
QB Matt Kinnick 6-0 195 Gr. W.V. State Saint Clairsville, Oh. Saint Clairsville
QB Ryan Zapoticky 6-1 205 Sr. Shippensburg Dallas, Pa. Dallas
RB Jaymar Anderson 6-1 225 Jr. E.Stroudsburg Philadelphia, Pa. W.Windsor-Plainsboro N.
RB Jhalen Bien-Aime 5-10 195 Jr. Pace Dorchester, Mass. Bridgton Academy
RB Michael Campbell 5-7 182 Jr. Findlay Abbeville, La. Vermilion Catholic
RB Jeremiah Ortiz 5-9 200 Sr. W. Liberty Rochester, N.Y. Eastridge
FB Nick Loftin 5-8 190 Sr. Concord Tacoma, Wash. High Island
FB Devante Robinson 5-8 185 Fr. E.Stroudsburg Allentown, Pa. Dieruff
WR Trey Brock 6-3 219 Jr. Hillsdale Missouri City, Tx. Ridge Point
WR Ashton Dulin 6-2 210 Jr. Malone Reynoldsburg, Oh. Reynoldsburg
WR Ashton Grant 6-2 210 Sr. Assumption Manchester, Ct. Manchester
WR Quinton Gray 5-11 175 Sr. W.V. State Stafford, Va. Mountain View
WR Andrew Jamiel 5-10 175 So. Stonehill Yarmouth, Mass. Dennis-Yarmouth
WR Milly Raye 5-9 175 Sr. S. Rock Pittsburgh, Pa. Taylor Allderdice
TE Andrew Garbarino 6-5 275 Sr. Kutztown Peckville, Pa. Valley View
TE Ryne Griesenauer 6-5 260 Sr. S. Conn. St. Naugatuck, Ct. Naugatuck
TE Justin Lamb 6-1 240 Jr. Stonehill Plymouth, Mass. South
TE Bryce Mostoller 6-3 250 Jr. Mercyhurst Somerset, Pa. Somerset
OC Jeff Arnold 6-3 280 So. IUP Pittsburgh, Pa. Brashear
OC Andrew Lorenz 6-3 285 Sr. Ohio Dom. Dublin, Oh. Bishop Watterson
OC Zach Warren 6-3 270 So. Shippensburg Newark, De. Salesianum
OG Tyler Armillay 6-0 260 Sr. Assumption Taylor, Pa. Riverside
OG Trent Fielding 6-3 270 Sr. Lock Haven Sunbury, Oh. Urbana
OG James Louison 6-5 300 Jr. LIU-Post Hauppauge, NY. Hauppauge
OG Donovan McNelis 6-1 280 So. A-Broaddus Irwin, Pa. Penn Trafford
OG Zach Morris 6-0 290 Jr. Clarion Pittsburgh, Pa. Upper St. Clair
OT Jake Bull 6-6 301 Sr. Hillsdale Hudsonville, Mi. Hudsonville
OT Chris Coles 6-3 280 Jr. LIU-Post Hackensack, N.J. Hackensack
OT Travis Krall 6-5 325 Jr. Bloomsburg New Columbia, Pa. Milton
OT Mike Kyle 6-5 320 So. Notre Dame Columbus, Oh. Northland
AP Cole Chiappialle 5-10 210 Sr. Shippensburg Beaver Falls, Pa. Blackhawk
AP Craig Reynolds 5-11 215 Jr. Kutztown Willow Grove, PA. Abington
AP Trevon Sanders 5-8 162 Sr. Urbana Columbus, Oh. Africentric
PK Ryan Abbott 5-11 165 Jr. Bloomsburg Hagerstown, Md. Saint James
PK Sam Keil 5-11 195 Sr. Fairmont St. Carmichael, Ca. San Juan
PK Marcus Moeller 6-4 195 Jr. Malone Denmark Cornerstone
Third Team Defense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Malik Akins 6-0 285 Jr. California Aliquippa, Pa. Aliquippa
DL Josh Ganzelli 6-0 285 Sr. West Chester Downingtown, Pa. Downingtown East
DL Jordon Harlamert 6-1 281 Sr. Hillsdale Coldwater, Oh. Coldwater
DL Jesse Jones 6-0 320 Jr. Merrimack Newark, N.J. Trinity Pawling
DE Joey Bruno 6-3 245 Sr. Assumption Old Forge, Pa. Old Forge
DE John Cominsky 6-5 275 Jr. Charleston Barberton, Oh. Barberton
DE N. Harris-Lyles 6-1 255 So. Gannon Atlantic City, N.J. Atlantic City
DE Richard Nase 6-3 235 Jr. Shippensburg Summit Hill, Pa. Panther Valley
DE Mikal Toliver 6-0 210 So. Urbana Dayton, Oh. Wayne
LB Durray Hall 6-1 200 So. Urbana Cleveland, Oh. Ginn Academy
LB Anthony Howard 6-0 205 Jr. Gannon Temple Hills, Md. Bishop O'Connell
LB Cameron Kohl 6-1 225 Sr. Ohio Dom. Hilliard, Oh. Darby
LB Jalen Nelson 6-1 230 Jr. Charleston Springfield, Oh. Shawnee
LB Isaiah Robinson 6-3 200 So. AIC Staten Island, N.Y. Curtis
LB Cameron Tarver 6-3 255 Sr. California Columbus, Oh. Central Crossing
CB Chiebuka Chukwuneke5-8 173 Jr. Findlay Edison, N.J. John P. Stevens
CB Devonte Dillon 5-9 185 Sr. AIC Windsor, Ct. Windsor
CB Dante Redwood 5-10 185 Jr. Mercyhurst N. Ridgeville, Oh. Grafton
CB Peter Thorbahn 6-0 190 So. Bentley Norwell, Mass. Xaverian Brothers
SAF Tre Anderson 5-9 190 Sr. Shepherd Hagerstown, Md. N. Hagerstown
SAF Jared Chester 5-10 190 Sr. LIU-Post Mount Vernon, N.Y. St. Michael Acad.
SAF Isaiah Flamer 5-9 180 Jr. Lock Haven Coatesville, Pa. Coatesville
SAF Tre McIntyre 6-0 210 Sr. Ohio Dom. N. Lewisburg, Oh. Triad
SAF Richard Sheler 5-11 200 Jr. Shippensburg Washington, D.C. Woodrow Wilson
P Brendan Cole 5-11 180 So. Mercyhurst Queens, N.Y. Saint Francis
P Dean Krcic 6-2 210 Fr. Kutztown Saylorsburg, Pa. Pleasant Valley
P Logan Neidhardt 6-2 220 Fr. Ohio Dom. Hicksville, Oh. Hicksville
P Danny Stock 6-0 180 Sr. New Haven N. Massapequa, NY. Plainedge
RS Marquis Fells 5-8 160 Jr. E.Stroudsburg York, PA. Central York
RS Ta'Nauz Gregory 5-9 163 So. Edinboro Erie, Pa. Cathedral Prep
RS Marvelle Ross 5-9 160 So. Notre Dame Cleveland, Oh. V. Angela-St. Joe's
RS Maurice Thomas 5-7 165 Jr. A-Broaddus Altamonte, Fl. Lake Brantley
COACH OF THE YEAR: Paul Tortorella - IUP
OFF. PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Marcus Jones - Gannon
DEF. PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Marcus Martin, Slippery Rock
SP. TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Deonte Harris - Assumption
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Austin Ryan - Bentley
