BROOKFIELD, Ill. – Eight members of the Shepherd University football team have been named to the 2017 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team as released by the Don Hansen Football 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), junior wide receiver Ryan Feiss (Forest Hill, Md./North Harford) were second team selections, sophomore tight end D.J. Cornish (Felton, Del./Lake Forest) was a third team choice, while senior running back Jabre Lolley (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) and junior center Jaime Colon (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend), and senior linebacker James Gupton (Waldorf, Md./North Point) were named to the honorable mention team.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
2017 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team
First Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Luis Perez 6-3 220 SR Texas A&M-Commerce Chula Vista, Calif.
FB Jordan Johnson 6-1 231 SO West Texas A&M Eagle Lake, Texas
RB Marc Jones 5-11 225 JR Gannon Painesville, Ohio
RB Cameron Mayberry 5-11 200 SO Colorado Mines Stillwater, Okla.
WR Weston Carr 6-2 200 SO Azusa Pacific Benica, Calif.
WR J.T. Luper 5-9 175 SR Central Oklahoma Sherman, Texas
WR Austin Ryan 6-0 185 FR Bentley Foxborough, Mass.
TE Nick Keizer 6-5 255 SR Grand Valley State Portage, Mich.
OC Taylor Nikithser 6-4 300 SR California (Pa.) Wexford, Pa.
OG Bryan Redmond 6-2 312 SR Bowie State Upper Marlboro, Md.
OG Nic Sawyer 6-5 305 JR Ferris State Ann Arbor, Mich.
OT Jared Machorro 6-7 280 SR Texas A&M-Commerce Coldspring, Texas
OT Travis Talley 6-3 285 SR Fort Hays State Colorado Springs, Colo.
AP Trenton Cannon 5-11 175 SR Virginia State Hampton, Va.
PK Cole Tracy 5-11 190 SR Assumption Camarillo, Calif.
First Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE Marcus Martin 6-2 255 SR Slippery Rock West Mifflin, Pa.
DE Zach Sieler 6-6 290 JR Ferris State Pinckney, Mich.
DT Jake Klinger 6-2 275 JR Bloomsburg Berwick, Pa.
DT Nathan Shepherd 6-5 300 SR Fort Hays State Ajak, Ontario, Canada
LB Kirby Hora 6-2 210 JR Augustana (S.D.) Sioux Falls, S.D.
LB Kyle Kitchens 6-2 205 SR Catawba Decatur. Ga.
LB Osband Thompson 6-0 205 SR Tuskegee Miami, Fla.
LB Collin Schlosser 6-1 230 SR Grand Valley State Ada, Mich.
S Andrew Benson 6-2 205 SR Assumption East Bridgewater, Mass.
S Chris Johnson 6-3 200 JR North Alabama Birmingham, Ala.
CB Tyler Hasty 6-0 190 JR Central Washington Bellevue, Wash.
CB Zuril Hendrick 6-0 181 JR Edinboro Rochester, N.Y.
P Justin Marcha 6-1 200 SR Emporia State Edmond, Okla.
RS Deonte Harris 5-6 170 JR Assumption Baltimore, Md.
Second Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Connor Jessop 6-5 220 SR Shepherd Ashburn, Va.
FB Chris Eastburn 6-0 244 JR Arkansas Tech Pearcy, Ark.
RB Kamal Cass 5-11 185 SR Eastern New Mexico Clovis, N.M.
RB Walter Fletcher 5-9 191 SO Edinboro Columbia, Md.
WR Cory Contini 6-1 195 JR Ohio Dominican Dover, Ohio
WR Ryan Feiss 5-10 190 JR Shepherd Forest Hill, Md.
WR Keshaun Taylor 6-1 180 SR Mars Hill Homestead, Fla.
TE Vincent Hobbs 6-3 255 JR Texas A&M-Commerce Mesquite, Texas
OC Dominic Giunta 6-3 284 SR Ashland Willoughby, Ohio
OG Innis Claud V 6-0 290 SO Delta State Albany, Ga.
OG Colin McAllister 6-2 290 SO Indiana (Pa.) Boothwyn, Pa.
OT John Conner 6-5 293 SR Ashland Akron, Ohio
OT Lavonte Hights 6-4 300 SR Shepherd North Chesterfield, Va.
AP Ja'Quan Gardner 5-7 205 SR Humboldt State Ceres, Calif.
PK Casey Bednarski 6-1 230 JR Minnesota State Oconomowoc, Wis.
Second Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE Myles Humphrey 6-2 245 SR Shepherd Upper Marlboro, Md.
DE James Prater, Jr. 6-0 253 JR Ashland Columbus, Ohio
DT Jemal Averette 6-2 288 SR Indiana (Pa.) Upper Marlboro, Md.
DT Freddie Reed 6-0 309 SR North Alabama West Point, Miss.
LB Sam Blankenship 6-2 205 JR Harding Tulsa, Okla.
LB Dennis Gareck 6-0 205 SR Sioux Falls Lake in the Hills, Ill.
LB Kevin Haynes 6-1 228 SR Central Washington Battle Ground, Wash.
S Glenn Harris 6-1 180 SR Wayne State (Neb.) Kansas City, Mo.
S Andrew Spencer 6-1 210 SR Winona State Lake Villa, Ill.
CB J.R. Stevens 6-0 175 SO Indiana (Pa.) Langhorne, Pa.
CB Darius Williams 6-0 195 JR Colorado State-Pueblo Gilbert, Ariz.
P Zach Gaines 6-1 218 SO West Alabama Calera, Ala.
RS Trenton Cannon 5-11 175 SR Virginia State Hampton, Va.
RS Vashon Nutt 5-9 175 SR Northwood Northridge, Calif.
Third Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Amir Hall 6-4 180 JR Bowie State Bowie, Md.
FB Theo Blackston 6-0 235 JR Mercyhurst Wheeling, W. Va.
RB Daouda Sylla 5-9 210 SR Findlay Ypsilanti, Mich.
RB David Tann 5-10 210 SR Colorado Mesa Cedar Rapids, Iowa
WR James Clark 6-1 176 SO Edinboro Coatesville, Pa.
WR Chad Hovasse 6-1 215 JR Adams State Colorado Springs, Calif.
WR Jalen Tolliver 6-3 210 SR Arkansas-Monticello Rayville, La.
TE D.J. Cornish 6-2 260 SO Shepherd Felton, Del.
OC A.J. Roland 6-0 230 JR Midwestern State Temple, Texas
OG Chris Gomez 6-3 330 SR Central Missouri Lenexa, Kan.
OG Islam Sbeih 6-1 298 SR Midwestern State East Oakland Calif.
OT Frank Ball 6-3 280 SO Virginia State Hampton, Va.
OT Devon Johnson 6-7 315 JR Ferris State Aurora, Ill.
OT Jerron Searles 6-5 280 SR Indiana (Pa.) Atlantic City, N.J.
AP Deshawn Jones 5-9 185 SO Missouri S&T Olympia Fields, Ill.
PK Kristov Martinez 5-6 135 JR Texas A&M-Commerce Edinburg, Texas
Third Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE Markus Jones 6-3 255 JR Angelo State Crowley, Texas
DE John Williamson 6-3 240 JR West Florida Stockton, Ala.
DT Chris Okoye 6-6 320 SR Ferris State Novi, Mich.
DT Simanu'a Thomas 6-1 288 SO Pittsburg State Independence, Mo.
LB Ben Althoff 6-1 220 JR Northwest Missouri Palmyra, Mo.
LB Jose Delgado 5-11 200 JR Fort Hays State Derby, Kan.
LB Damon Lloyd 6-0 235 SO Indiana (Pa.) Bel Air, Md.
S Sterling Hammon 6-1 210 SO Virginia Union Caret, Va.
S D.J. Olmstead 5-11 185 SR Washburn Scottsdale, Ariz.
CB Jeremy Jackson 5-8 200 SR Arkansas-Monticello Hahnville, La.
CB Monteze Latimore 6-0 185 SR Central Missouri St. Louis, Mo.
CB Tavierre Thomas 6-0 205 SR Ferris State Detroit, Mich.
P Zach Davidson 6-7 230 FR Central Missouri Webb City, Mo.
RS Corey Ballentine 6-0 204 JR Washburn Topeka, Kan.
Honorable Mention
ALPHABETICAL, BY SCHOOL — Adams State: Marquese Surrell, AP; American International: Anthony Appleton, DT; Angelo State: Justin Jackson, LB; Fred Lawrence, CB;Arkansas Tech: K.J. Reid, LB; Clayton Watson, P; Ashland: Aidan Simenc, PK; Travis Tarnowski, QB; Assumption: James McNerney, OC; Ray Sarkodieh, DE; Bemidji State: Gunner Olszewski, CB; Bowie State: Brandon Britton, WR; Robert Chesson, RB; Sean Copeland, DT; Victor Tamba, OT; Derrick Tate, DE; California (Pa.): Will Brazill, PK; Luke Hrapchak, LB; Craig McCorkle, OT; Carson-Newman: Darius Williams, S; Catawba: Sam Mobley, WR; Cris Page, CB; Quinzavious Sands, OG; Central Missouri: Brook Bolles, QB; Seth Hebert, TE; Devante Turner, RB; Central Oklahoma: Sam Noble, OT; Central Washington: Nicholas Aumua, DT; Bo Banner, DE; James Moore, OT; Kyle Self, TE; Chowan: Drew Buck, TE;Colorado Mesa: Austin Fleer, OT; Virnel Moon, RS; Blake Nelson, DE; Aaron Simons, OG;Colorado State-Pueblo: Corbin Feenstra, OC; Emery Taylor, CB; Concord: Jeremiah Johnson, CB; Garrett Lee, P; Delta State: Jamoral Graham, CB; Eastern New Mexico: Tayshaun Gary, FB; Emporia State: Justin Brown, WR; Fairmont State: Marcus Porter, LB; Michael Porter, CB; Stephen Turner, S; Ferris State: Jake Daugherty, OC; Findlay: Andrew Alten, OG; Johnny Hopkins, DE; Aaron Ivery, S; Luke Stuffel, TE; Florida Tech: Adonis Davis, DE; Fort Hays State: Brandon Brown, PK; Dante Brown, P; Monterio Burchfield, WR; Kenneth Iheme, RB; Doyin Jibowu, S; Fort Valley State: Lorenzo Smothers, RS; Grand Valley State: Marty Carter, RB; Harding: Gavin De Los Santos, OT; Humboldt State: Alex Cappa, OT; Robert Webber, QB; Indiana (Pa.): Max Redfield, S; Lenny Williams, QB; Indianapolis: Jordan Bedan, OG;Kentucky State: Brett Sylve, AP; Kutztown: Ahkee Cox-Cowan, CB; Lane: MarQuel Shelton, DE; Limestone: Alex Haynes, P; LIU-Post: Anthony DeNunzio, DT; Joe Lacey, OT; Malik Pierre, AP; Malone: Ryan Weber, LB; Mars Hill: Brandon Berridge, OT; McKendree: Austin Weltha, LB; Midwestern State: Josh Wydermyer, S; Miles: Justin Hardy, RB; Millersville:Sean Dugan, LB; Minnesota Crookston: Rod Stewart, RS; Minnesota Duluth: Nolan Folkert, OT; Minnesota State: Brendan Chrystal, LB; Nate Gunn, RB; Evan Perrizo, DE; Sam Schrauth, OG; Missouri S&T: Roderick Chapman, CB; Tershawn Wharton, DE; North Alabama: Maurice Carnell, CB; North Carolina-Pembroke: Tyler Hinton, DE; North Greenville: Matt Gravely, PK; Northeastern State: Gary McKnight, WR; Northern Michigan: Jake Mayon, AP;Northwood: Nick Tripp, S; Northwest Missouri: Austen Eskew, DE; Zach Flott, OG; Marcus Jones, CB; Caleb Mather, DT; Notre Dame (Ohio): Claudy Mathieu, DE; Ohio Dominican:Tristan Kehres, DT; Grant Russell, QB; Zach Williams, OT; Pittsburg State: Bo Farrow, OC; Codey Funk, OT; Austin Panko, RS; Michael Rose, RB; Saginaw Valley State: Chad Gailliard, WR; Seton Hill: Evan Byrd, FB; Shepherd: Jaime Colon, OC; James Gupton, LB; Jabre Lolley, RB; Shippensburg: Winston Eubanks, WR; Kevin Taylor, CB; Shorter: Lewis Hayes, WR;Slippery Rock: Marcus Johnson, RS; Ian Park, OG; Southeastern Oklahoma: Joel Carlos, PK; O.J. Walker, RS; Southern Arkansas: Davondrick Lison, DT; Elgin Moore, S; Southwest Baptist: Corey Hanger, CB; Kendrick Payne, WR; Tarleton State: Tyrell Thompson, DT; Texas A&M-Commerce: Michael Onuoha, DE; Brucks Saathoff, LB; Texas A&M-Kingsville: Jordan Thomas, WR; Tuskegee: Leward Brown, OC; Jonah McCutcheaon, S; Valdosta State: Kevin Battle, OG; Virginia Union: Karl Calhoun, LB; West Alabama: Donta Armstrong, WR; Qua Boyd, TE; Tevin Madison, CB; Terry Samuel, LB; Harry Satterwhite, QB; West Chester: Tyler Morrissey, LB; Brendan Paulison, P; West Florida: Austin Williams, PK; West Georgia:Desmond Harrison, OT; Harley Vaughan, OC; West Liberty: Cliff Clark, LB; West Texas A&M: John Cummings, P; West Virginia Wesleyan: Cody Goode, DT; Western New Mexico:D'Angelo Bowie, WR; Western Oregon: Paul Revis, WR; Wingate: Buck Muckelvene, RS; Daniel Owens, OC; Lawrence Pittman, RB; Winona State: Jake Balliu, RS; Michael Gomez, DT; Jake Gronholz, OG.
Offensive Player of the Year: Luis Perez, QB, Texas A&M-Commerce
Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Martin, DE, Slippery Rock
Special Teams Player of the Year: Deonte Harris, RS, Assumption
Freshman of the Year: Austin Ryan, WR, Bentley
Co-Coaches of the Year: Pete Shinnick, West Florida & Paul Tortorella, Indiana (Pa.)
