SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the third year in a row Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges was named the Southern Conference's Offensive Player of the Year when the league released its postseason football awards Tuesday afternoon.
 
The league also released its All-Conference teams from both the coaches and media, and the All-Freshman team from the coaches. Hodges was joined on both the coaches and media first teams by wide receiver Kelvin McKnight and defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden.
 
Samford's coaches second team honorees were offensive lineman Antwan Johnson, wide receiver Chris Shelling and linebacker Aaron Harris. Samford's media second team members included Johnson and offensive lineman Nick Nixon. Samford's All-Freshman team honorees were DeMarcus Ware on offense, Nathan East, Nelson Jordan and Jordan Montgomery on defense, and Mitchell Fineran on special teams.
 
Hodges earned the Offensive Player of the Year honor from both the coaches and the media. Isaiah Mack from Chattanooga earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in both polls. Quay Holmes from ETSU was named the Freshman of the Year, while his head coach, Randy Sanders earned Coach of the Year honors by both the coaches and media. The coaches also awarded the Jacobs Blocking Award to Matt Pyke of ETSU.
 
Hodges set a school record for single-season passing yards, throwing for 4,283 yards this season, breaking the old record of 4,088, set by Hodges in 2016. He also became the all-time leader in career passing yards in FCS history. His 14,584 career passing yards broke the old FCS national record of 14,496, set by Steve McNair at Alcorn State from 1991-94.
 
Hodges will leave Samford as the most decorated player in program history. Not only has he won the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year award three times, but he was recently named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in all of FCS football.
 
McKnight ends his career as Samford's all-time leader in career receiving yards (4,144), receptions (313) and touchdown receptions (32). This season, McKnight caught 100 passes for 1,453 yards and nine touchdowns. He had at least 100 receiving yards in 10 of Samford's 11 games this season.
 
Gooden posted an impressive 15.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this season. He had 49 total tackles, 12 quarterback hurries and four pass break-ups. He also recovered two fumbles, returning one for a 58-yard touchdown at Furman.
 
Samford finished the 2018 season with a record of 6-5 overall and 5-3 in SoCon play. The record marks Samford's eighth-straight winning season, the longest streak in program history.
 
2018 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team
 
Offensive Player of the Year – Devlin Hodges, Samford, R-Sr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year – Isaiah Mack, Chattanooga, Sr., DL
Freshman of the Year – Quay Holmes, ETSU, RB
Jacobs Blocking Award – Matt Pyke, ETSU, Sr., OL
Coach of the Year – Randy Sanders, ETSU
 
First team offense
QB     Devlin Hodges, Samford
RB      Quay Holmes, ETSU
RB      Andre Stoddard, Wofford
OL      Tyler Davis, The Citadel
OL      Matt Pyke, ETSU
OL      Bo Layton, Furman
OL      Zach Weeks, Western Carolina
OL      Justus Basinger, Wofford
TE      Owen Cosenke, Western Carolina
WR     Kelvin McKnight, Samford
WR     Bryce Nunnelly, Chattanooga
 
First team defense
DL      Nasir Player, ETSU
DL      Ahmad Gooden, Samford
DL      Isaiah Mack, Chattanooga
DL      Miles Brown, Wofford
LB      Noah Dawkins, The Citadel
LB      Jared Folks, ETSU
LB      Dylan Weigel, ETSU
DB      Aron Spann III, The Citadel
DB      Tyree Robinson, ETSU
DB      Brandon Dowdell, Chattanooga
DB      Kareem Orr, Chattanooga
 
First team special teams
PK      Grayson Atkins, Furman
P        Matthew Campbell, The Citadel
RS      Dejuan Bell, Furman
 
Second team offense
QB     Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
RB      Tee Mitchell, Mercer
RB      Lennox McAfee, Wofford
OL      Andy Godwin, Furman
OL      Austin Sanders, Mercer
OL     Antwan Johnson, Samford
OL      Noah Ramsey, Chattanooga
OL      Cole Strange, Chattanooga
TE      Evan Wick, ETSU
WR     Marquise Irvin, Mercer
WR     Chris Shelling, Samford
 
Second team defense
DL      Joseph Randolph II, The Citadel
DL      Tremond Ferrell, ETSU
DL      Jaylan Reid, Furman
DL      Derek Mahaffey, Chattanooga
DL      Thad Mangum, Wofford
LB      Adrian Hope, Furman
LB      LeMarkus Bailey, Mercer
LB      Aaron Harris, Samford
LB      Marshall Cooper, Chattanooga
DB      Jeremy Lewis, ETSU
DB      Aaquil Annoor, Furman
DB      Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
DB      JoJo Tillery, Wofford
 
Second team special teams
PK      JJ Jerman, ETSU
P        Luke Carter, Wofford
RS      Rohan Martin, VMI
 
All-Freshman Offense
Haden Haas, The Citadel
Clay Harris, The Citadel
Quay Holmes, ETSU
Jacob Saylors, ETSU
Tremond Shorts, ETSU
Corey Watkins, Furman
David Durden, Mercer
Robert Riddle, Mercer
DeMarcus Ware, Samford
Marshall Gill, VMI
Jakob Herres, VMI
 
All-Freshman Defense
Chris Beverly, The Citadel
Mason Kinsey, The Citadel
Adrian Hope, Furman
Nathan East, Samford
Nelson Jordan, Samford
Jordan Montgomery, Samford
Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga
Ethan Caselberry, VMI
Brett Howell, VMI
Colin Loftis, VMI
Ronald Kent Jr., Western Carolina
 
All-Freshman Special Teams
Matthew Campbell, The Citadel
Quay Holmes, ETSU
Dejuan Bell, Furman
Mitchell Fineran, Samford
 
2018 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team
 
Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Devlin Hodges, Samford, R-Sr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year – Isaiah Mack, Chattanooga, Sr., DL
Freshman of the Year – Quay Holmes, ETSU, RB
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Randy Sanders, ETSU
 
 
First team offense
QB     Devlin Hodges, Samford
RB      Quay Holmes, ETSU
RB      Andre Stoddard, Wofford
OL      Tyler Davis, The Citadel
OL      Matt Pyke, ETSU
OL      Austin Sanders, Mercer
OL      Zach Weeks, Western Carolina
OL      Michael Ralph, Wofford
OL      Justus Basinger, Wofford
TE      Owen Cosenke, Western Carolina
WR     Kelvin McKnight, Samford
WR     Bryce Nunnelly, Chattanooga
 
First team defense
DL      Joseph Randolph II, The Citadel
DL      Nasir Player, ETSU
DL      Ahmad Gooden, Samford
DL      Isaiah Mack, Chattanooga
DL      Miles Brown, Wofford
LB      Dylan Weigel, ETSU
LB      Adrian Hope, Furman
LB      Mitchell Chancey, Western Carolina
DB      Jeremy Lewis, ETSU
DB      Tyree Robinson, ETSU
DB      Kareem Orr, Chattanooga
DB      Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
DB      George Gbesee, Wofford
 
First team special teams
PK      Grayson Atkins, Furman
P        Matthew Campbell, The Citadel
RS      Dejuan Bell, Furman
 
 
Second team offense
QB     Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
RB      Tee Mitchell, Mercer
RB      Tyrell Price, Chattanooga
OL      Bo Layton, Furman
OL     Antwan Johnson, Samford
OL     Nick Nixon, Samford
OL      Blake Jeresaty, Wofford
OL      Josh Burger, Wofford
TE      Evan Wick, ETSU
WR     Marquise Irvin, Mercer
WR     Kris Thornton, VMI
 
Second team defense
DL      Tremond Ferrell, ETSU
DL      Jaylan Reid, Furman
DL      Derek Mahaffey, Chattanooga
DL      Solomon Clark, Western Carolina
LB      Noah Dawkins, The Citadel
LB      Jared Folks, ETSU
LB      Marshall Cooper, Chattanooga
DB      Aron Spann III, The Citadel
DB      Aaquil Annoor, Furman
DB      Malique Fleming, Mercer
DB      Brandon Dowdell, Chattanooga
DB      A.J. Smith, VMI
 
Second team special teams
PK      JJ Jerman, ETSU
P        Luke Carter, Wofford
RS      Quay Holmes, ETSU