WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Four members of the Shepherd University football team have been named to the 2022 D2CCA All-America Team released by the Division II Conference Commissioners' Association. Senior tight end Brian Walker (Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg) and senior offensive lineman Joey Fisher (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Spring) were first team selections, while senior quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) and junior running back Ronnie Brown (Baltimore, Md./Dundalk) were second team choices.
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).
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.
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.
The complete All-America team is listed below.
2022 D2CCA All-America Team
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
POS PLAYER SCHOOL CLASS HT. WT. HOMETOWN
TE Brian Walker Shepherd Sr. 6-5 240 Clarksburg, Maryland
OL Matt Armendariz Colorado School of Mines Sr. 6-2 305 Austin, Texas
OL Quinton Barrow Grand Valley State Sr. 6-6 331 Romulus, Mich.
OL Adam Sieler Ferris State Sr. 6-5 336 Pinckney, Mich.
OL Dalton Simpler West Florida Sr. 6-4 310 Freeport, Fla.
OL Joey Fisher Shepherd Sr. 6-5 322 Hagerstown, Md.
WR Jarod Bowie Concord Jr. 5-9 160 Martinsburg, W. Va.
WR Brendan Beaulieu Bemidji State Sr. 6-3 215 Cottage Grove, Minn.
QB John Matocha Colorado School of Mines Sr. 5-11 180 Magnolia, Texas
RB Jada Byers Virginia Union So. 5-7 180 Hammonton, N.J.
RB TJ Cole Ouachita Baptist Sr. 6-0 185 Texarkana, Texas
RS James Letcher, Jr. Washburn Sr. 5-8 175 Kansas City, Kan.
PK Nick Herber Delta State So. 5-7 175 Naples, Fla.
DEFENSE
POS PLAYER SCHOOL CLASS HT. WT. HOMETOWN
DL Caleb Murphy Ferris State Sr. 6-4 245 Dowagiac, Mich.
DL Ian Marshall Northern State Sr. 6-1 270 Springfield, Mo.
DL Elijah Green Northwest Missouri State Sr. 5-11 263 Maryville, Mo.
LB Grant Bruner Washburn Sr. 6-0 220 Gretna, Neb.
LB Abe Swanson Grand Valley State Jr. 6-1 222 St. Charles, Ill.
LB Nathan Moore Notre Dame Sr. 6-3 230 Rootstown, Ohio
LB Jaylin Parnell Western Oregon Sr. 6-0 215 Medford, Ore.
S Daniel Bone Colorado State-Pueblo So. 6-0 175 Colorado Springs, Colo.
S Joey Sinclair Western Oregon Sr. 6-0 180 Tacoma, Wash.
CB Andrew Pitts Angelo State Fr-RS 5-9 156 McKinney, Texas
CB Shon Stephens West Liberty Jr. 6-0 180 Bakersfield, Calif.
P Ethan Evans Wingate Sr. 6-4 235 Mt. Airy, N.C.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
POS PLAYER SCHOOL CLASS HT. WT. HOMETOWN
TE Ty Snelson Mars Hill Sr. 6-2 250 Hot Springs, N.C.
OL Nicolas Melsop Delta State Sr. 6-8 325 Columbus, Ohio
OL Jacob Long Angelo State Fr-RS 6-3 322 Waco, Texas
OL Peyton Stafford Ouachita Baptist Sr. 6-2 300 Amarillo, Texas
OL Anthony Chairez Ouachita Baptist Sr. 6-6 305 Sherwood, Ark.
OL Ty Cobb Bemidji State Jr. 6-2 290 Mounds View, Minn.
WR Marquis Gray Southeastern Oklahoma Jr. 5-9 165 Tyler, Texas
WR Xavier Malone Henderson State Sr. 5-9 180 Mound Bayou, Miss.
QB Tyson Bagent Shepherd Sr. 6-3 215 Martinsburg, W. Va.
RB Ronnie Brown Shepherd Jr. 6-0 190 Baltimore, Md.
RB Mario Anderson Newberry So. 5-9 210 Summerville, S.C.
RS Trey Vaval Minnesota State Jr. 6-0 170 Blue Springs, Mo.
PK Jesus Zizumbo Arkansas Tech Sr. 5-9 240 Springdale, Ark.
DEFENSE
POS PLAYER SCHOOL CLASS HT. WT. HOMETOWN
DL Zollie Kaplan Bemidji State Sr. 6-2 245 St. Louis Park, Minn.
DL D.J. Adediwura Slippery Rock Sr. 6-2 270 Columbia, Md.
DL DJ Horne Wingate Sr. 6-0 235 Lawrenceville, Ala.
LB Jaylen McDuffie Seton Hill Sr. 6-2 235 Waldorf, Md.
LB Davon Gilmore Wingate So. 6-3 235 North Charleston, S.C.
LB Devon Roush East Central Jr. 6-1 215 Manvel, Texas
LB Daron Allman Angelo State Jr. 6-1 230 Killeen, Texas
S Darius Swanson Nebraska-Kearney Sr. 6-3 200 Aurora, Colo.
S Cade Pugh Harding Sr. 6-1 215 Helena, Ala.
CB Tre Morrison Wingate Jr. 6-2 185 Moncks Corner, S.C.
CB Mason Pierce Colorado School of Mines Sr. 5-10 185 Bulverde, Texas
P Joe Couch Ouachita Baptist Jr. 5-11 210 Torquay, Australia