Hodges And Gooden Earn SoCon Player Of The Year Honors

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

Hodges And Gooden Earn SoCon Player Of The Year Honors

Players Mentioned

Austin Barnard

Ahmad Gooden

Darius Harvey

Devlin Hodges

Kelvin McKnight

Shaheed Salmon

Omari Williams

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Hodges And Gooden Earn SoCon Player Of The Year Honors

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Players Mentioned

Austin Barnard

Ahmad Gooden

Darius Harvey

Devlin Hodges

Kelvin McKnight

Shaheed Salmon

Omari Williams

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