BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford junior quarterback
Devlin Hodges and junior defensive lineman
Ahmad Gooden were named the Southern Conference's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, when the league released its postseason football awards Tuesday.
In addition to the Player of the Year awards, the All-SoCon teams for both the coaches and media were released Tuesday.
On the Coaches first team, Hodges and Gooden were joined by wide receiver
Kelvin McKnight, linebacker
Shaheed Salmon and defensive back
Omari Williams. Offensive lineman Nick Nixon, wide receiver Chris Shelling, defensive back
Darius Harvey and punter
Austin Barnard were named to the Coaches second team.
The media named Hodges, Gooden, McKnight, Salmon and Williams to its first team. The second team members from the media were Shelling, Barnard and Harvey as a return specialist.
Montrell Washington, Mike Williams, Koi Freeman and Brett Granger were named to the All-Freshman team by the coaches.
Hodges, who is also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, has thrown for 3,587 yards and 30 touchdowns this season, while completing 66.7 percent of his passes. Hodges leads the Southern Conference and ranks sixth nationally in both passing yards per game and total offense per game. This marks the second-straight season Hodges has earned Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Gooden, also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, leads the team and ranks fifth in the SoCon in total tackles with 98 so far this season. He also leads the team and ranks second in the league in tackles for loss with 15.5.
The Bulldogs will open play in the 2017 NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs by playing at Kennesaw State Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT). To purchase tickets click here:
PLAYOFF GAME TICKETS.
All-Southern Conference Coaches Team
Offensive Player of the Year
Devlin Hodges, Samford, R-Jr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year
Ahmad Gooden, Samford, Jr., DL
Freshman of the Year
Kaelan Riley, Mercer, QB
Jacobs Blocking Award
Matthew Schmidt, Furman, Sr., OL
Coach of the Year
Clay Hendrix, Furman
First Team Offense
QB Devlin Hodges, Samford
RB Antonio Wilcox, Furman
RB Detrez Newsome, Western Carolina
OL Tyler Davis, The Citadel
OL Terrell Bush, Furman
OL Matthew Schmidt, Furman
OL Zach Weeks, Western Carolina
OL Ross Demmel, Wofford
TE Andy Schumpert, Furman
WR Kelvin McKnight, Samford
WR Terryon Robinson, Western Carolina
First Team Defense
DL Isaiah Buehler, Mercer
DL Ahmad Gooden, Samford
DL Miles Brown, Wofford
DL Tyler Vaughn, Wofford
LB Lee Bennett, Mercer
LB Shaheed Salmon, Samford
LB Tahjai Watt, Western Carolina
DB Kailik Williams, The Citadel
DB Omari Williams, Samford
DB Lucas Webb, Chattanooga
DB Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
DB Devin Watson, Wofford
First Team Special Teams
PK Luke Carter, Wofford
P Ian Berryman, Western Carolina
RS Chandler Curtis, Mercer
Second Team Offense
QB Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
RB Tee Mitchell, Mercer
RB Andre Stoddard, Wofford
OL Alex Rios, ETSU
OL Thomas Marchman, Mercer
OL Austin Sanders, Mercer
OL Nick Nixon, Samford
OL Josh Cardiello, Chattanooga
TE Bailey Lenoir, Chattanooga
WR Chris Shelling, Samford
WR Steffon Hill, Western Carolina
Second Team Defense
DL Jaylan Reid, Furman
DL Isaiah Mack, Chattanooga
DL Derek Mahaffey, Chattanooga
DL Mikel Horton, Wofford
LB Myles Pierce, The Citadel
LB LeMarkus Bailey, Mercer
LB Allan Cratsenberg, VMI
DB Aron Spann III, The Citadel
DB Aaquil Annoor, Furman
DB Darius Harvey, Samford
DB Greg Sanders, VMI
Second Team Special Teams
PK JJ Jerman, ETSU
P Austin Barnard, Samford
RS Quan Harrison, ETSU
All-Freshman Offense
Jonathan Cole, The Citadel
Jon Barrett Lewis, The Citadel
Brandon Rainey, The Citadel
Reed Kroeber, Furman
Darius Morehead, Furman
Kaelan Riley, Mercer
Montrell Washington, Samford
Mike Williams, Samford
Cole Copeland, Chattanooga
Kris Thornton, VMI
Donnavan Spencer, Western Carolina
All-Freshman Defense
Blake Bockrath, ETSU
Reynard Ellis, Furman
Elijah McKoy, Furman
Malique Fleming, Mercer
Sidney Otiwu, Mercer
Koi Freeman, Samford
Brett Granger, Samford
Jerrell Lawson, Chattanooga
A.J. Smith, VMI
Michael Murphy, Western Carolina
Deon Priester, Wofford
All-Freshman Special Teams
Grayson Atkins, Furman
Brandon Dowdell, Chattanooga
Victor Ulmo, Chattanooga
All-Southern Conference Media Team
Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year
Devlin Hodges, Samford, R-Jr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year
Ahmad Gooden, Samford, Jr., DL
Freshman of the Year
Kaelan Riley, Mercer, QB
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year
Clay Hendrix, Furman
First Team Offense
QB Devlin Hodges, Samford
RB Detrez Newsome, Western Carolina
RB Andre Stoddard, Wofford
OL Tyler Davis, The Citadel
OL Terrell Bush, Furman
OL Matthew Schmidt, Furman
OL Roo Daniels, Wofford
OL Ross Demmel, Wofford
TE Andy Schumpert, Furman
WR Kelvin McKnight, Samford
WR Terryon Robinson, Western Carolina
First Team Defense
DL Nasir Player, ETSU
DL Isaiah Buehler, Mercer
DL Ahmad Gooden, Samford
DL Miles Brown, Wofford
LB Lee Bennett, Mercer
LB Shaheed Salmon, Samford
LB Allan Cratsenberg, VMI
DB Aron Spann III, The Citadel
DB Omari Williams, Samford
DB Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
DB Devin Watson, Wofford
First Team Special Teams
PK Luke Carter, Wofford
P Ian Berryman, Western Carolina
RS Chandler Curtis, Mercer
Second Team Offense
QB P.J. Blazejowski, Furman
RB Kealand Dirks, Furman
RB Antonio Wilcox, Furman
RB Tee Mitchell, Mercer
OL Thomas Marchman, Mercer
OL Josh Cardiello, Chattanooga
OL Andrew Miles, Western Carolina
OL Zach Weeks, Western Carolina
OL Jared Jacon-Duffy, Wofford
TE Bailey Lenoir, Chattanooga
WR Marquise Irvin, Mercer
WR Chris Shelling, Samford
Second Team Defense
DL Ja'Lon Williams, The Citadel
DL Jaylan Reid, Furman
DL Nate Link, Western Carolina
DL Mikel Horton, Wofford
LB Myles Pierce, The Citadel
LB Brian Lipscomb, VMI
LB A.J. Newman, Western Carolina
DB Aaquil Annoor, Furman
DB Eric Jackson, Mercer
DB Lucas Webb, Chattanooga
DB Greg Sanders, VMI
Second Team Special Teams
PK JJ Jerman, ETSU
P Austin Barnard, Samford
RS Darius Harvey, Samford
