AP Release

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Five members of the Shepherd University football team have been named to the 2022 Division II Associated Press (AP) All-America Team. Senior tight end Brian Walker (Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg), senior offensive lineman Joey Fisher (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Spring), and junior running back Ronnie Brown (Baltimore, Md./Dundalk) were first team selections, while senior quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) and senior defensive end Kyle Smith (Sterling, Va./Dominion) were named to the second team. 

Walker earned All-America honors in his first season as a full-time starter. He hauled in 63 grabs for 799 yards and five touchdowns this season. Walker had three or more receptions in 12 games and averaged 53.27 receiving yards per game. 

Fisher, who finished fourth in the Gene Upshaw Award balloting, keyed an offensive line that helps Shepherd rank second nationally in total offense (489.3), second in first downs offense (354), and seventh in passing offense (312.5). 

Brown had 219 carries for 1,863 yards and 19 touchdowns. He added 56 receptions for 589 yards and five scores. Brown had 19 kickoff returns for 546 yards, including a 100-yard return for a score against California (Pa.). He rushed for 100 yards or more in nine games and had three games in which he ran for over 200 yards. Brown averaged 185.75 rushing yards in Shepherd's four postseason games. 

Bagent completed 400-of-572 passes for 4,580 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also rushed for 71 yards and five scores. He passed for three touchdowns or more in eight games and passed for more than 300 yards in seven contests. Bagent holds numerous NCAA II records and set the NCAA all-division mark with 159 career touchdown passes. 

Smith had 60 tackles (33 solos) with a team-best 21.5 tackles-for-loss (-110 yards) and a team-best 13.0 sacks (-97 yards). He also had an interception return for a touchdown, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two pass breakups, and a blocked kick. 

Associated Press D-II All-America Team 

FIRST TEAM 

Offense 

Quarterback — John Matocha, senior, Colorado School of Mines 

Running backs — Mario Anderson, sophomore, Newberry; Ronnie Brown, junior, Shepherd. 

Linemen — Matt Armendariz, Senior, Colorado School of Mines; Quinton Barrow, senior, Grand Valley State; Joey Fisher, senior, Shepherd; Nicolas Meslop, graduate, Delta State; Dalton Simpler, senior, West Florida. 

Tight end — Brian Walker, senior, Shepherd. 

Wide receivers — Brendan Beaulieu, senior, Bemidji State; Jarod Bowie, junior, Concord; Marquis Gray, junior, Southeastern Oklahoma State. 

All-purpose players — David Durden, senior, West Florida. 

Kicker — Nick Herber, sophomore, Delta State 

Defense 

Linemen — D.J. Adediwura, senior, Slippery Rock; Elijah Green, senior, Northwest Missouri State; Zollie Kaplan, senior, Bemidji State; Caleb Murphy, senior, Ferris State. 

Linebackers — Michael Anderson, graduate; West Alabama; Grant Bruner, senior, Washburn; Davon Gilmore, sophomore; Wingate. 

Defensive backs — Daniel Bone, sophomore, Colorado State Pueblo; Nyzier Fourqurean, sophomore; Grand Valley State; Tre Morrison, junior, Wingate; Andrew Pitts, redshirt freshman, Angelo State; Darius Swanson, senior, Nebraska-Kearney. 

Punter — Ethan Evans, senior, Wingate. 

SECOND TEAM 

Offense 

Quarterback — Tyson Bagent, senior, Shepherd 

Running backs — Jada Byers, sophomore, Virginia Union; TJ Cole, senior, Ouachita Baptist. 

Linemen — Ty Cobb, junior, Bemidji State; Jake Long, redshirt freshman, Angelo State; Adam Seiler, senior, Ferris State; Peyton Stafford, senior, Ouachita Baptist; Evan Surgeon, graduate, Wingate. 

Tight end — Devon Garrison, junior, Pittsburg State. 

Wide receivers — Duane Brown, senior, Indiana (Pa.); Xavier Malone, senior, Henderson State; Max McLeod., junior, Colorado School of Mines. 

All-purpose players — Gage Porter, senior, Southern Nazarene. 

Kicker — Cameron Shirkey, junior, Notre Dame (Ohio). 

Defense 

Linemen — DJ Horne, senior, Wingate; Ian Marshall, graduate, Northern State; Joshua Pryor, senior, Bowie State; Kyle Smith, graduate, Shepherd. 

Linebackers — Daron Allman, junior, Angelo State; Abe Swanson, junior, Grand Valley State; Jackson Taylor, junior, West Chester. 

Defensive backs — Kijana Caldwell, graduate, Findlay; Robert Carter, senior, West Georgia; Wendell McClain, redshirt freshman, Notre Dame (Ohio); Mason Pierce, senior, Colorado School of Mines; Joey Sinclair, senior, Western Oregon. 

Punter — Myles Prosser, graduate, North Greenville.