Nov. 25, 2009
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -
The Southern Conference Sports Media Association released its All-Conference teams for football on Wednesday, with five Samford players being named to the two teams.
Four Samford players were named first-team All-Conference, and one other was named second-team All-Conference. Junior running back Chris Evans, senior center Jon Weber, junior linebacker Bryce Smith and junior punter Bob Hooper were all named first-team All-Conference, while junior defensive lineman John Michael Clay was named to the league's second team.
Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Ewards was named the Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year. The Defensive Player of the Year went to Chattanooga defensive lineman Josh Beard, while Western Carolina running back Michael Johnson was named the league's Freshman of the Year. Chattanooga's Russ Huesman was named the league's Coach of the Year.
Evans led the SoCon in rushing, averaging 104.7 yards per game. He rushed for 1,152 yards for the season, making him the first player in Samford history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three-straight seasons. Evans also became Samford's all-time leader in career rushing yards this season, finishing his junior season with 3,469 career rushing yards.
Weber has been Samford's starting center for the past three years. He has been the leader of an offensive line that has helped produce Samford's all-time leading rusher over the past three seasons.
Smith, despite missing one game due to injury, tallied 102 tackles, an average of 10.2 tackles per game, the third-highest average in the SoCon. Smith averaged 6.7 solo tackles per game, the highest average in the nation. Smith also led the Bulldogs in interceptions with four, and he had 11.0 tackled for a loss, tied for the second-highest total on the team.
Hooper ranked second in the SoCon in punting average, with an average of 41.5 yards per punt. Hooper had a long punt of 59 yards on the season. Also, he placed 25 kicks inside the opponents' 20-yard line and he produced three touchbacks and six fair catches.
2009 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team
Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year - Armanti Edwards, Sr., QB, Appalachian State *
Defensive Player of the Year - Josh Beard, Sr., DE, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year - Michael Johnson, RB, Western Carolina
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year - Russ Huesman, Chattanooga
* - Unanimous selection
First Team Offense
QB Armanti Edwards, Sr., Appalachian State
RB Chris Evans, Jr., Samford
RB Devon Moore, Jr., Appalachian State
OL Mario Acitelli, Sr., Appalachian State
OL David Harrison, Sr., Elon
OL Jon Weber, Sr., Samford
OL Pat Illig, Jr., Wofford
OL Brett Irvin, Jr., Appalachian State
TE Alex Sellars, Jr., The Citadel
WR Terrell Hudgins, Sr., Elon
WR Andre Roberts, Sr., The Citadel
First Team Defense
DL Josh Beard, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Andre Campbell, Sr., Elon
DL Jabari Fletcher, Jr., Appalachian State
DL Brent Russell, Fr., Georgia Southern
LB D.J. Smith, Jr., Appalachian State
LB Kadarron Anderson, So., Furman
LB Bryce Smith, Jr., Samford
DB Mark LeGree, Jr., Appalachian State
DB Jordan Tippit, So., Chattanooga
DB Ryan Steed, So., Furman
DB Cortez Gilbert, Sr., Appalachian State
First Team Specialists
PK Craig Camay, Sr., Chattanooga
P Bob Hooper, So., Samford
RS CoCo Hillary, Jr., Appalachian State
Second Team Offense
QB Scott Riddle, Jr., Elon
RB Tersoo Uhaa, So., Furman
RB Jamal Shuman, So., Elon
OL Chris Werden, Sr., Elon
OL Daniel DeHaven, Sr., The Citadel
OL Tyler Haynes, Sr., Furman
OL Pat Mills, Jr., Appalachian State
OL Chris Harr, Jr., Chattanooga
TE Ben Jorden, So., Appalachian State
WR Blue Cooper, Sr., Chattanooga
WR Adam Mims, Jr., Furman
Second Team Defense
DL John Michael Clay, Jr., Samford
DL Lanston Tanyi, So., Appalachian State
DL Eric Ludwig, Sr., Elon
DL Joshua Williams, Fr., Chattanooga
LB Adrian McLeod, Sr., Western Carolina
LB Chris Collins, Sr., Western Carolina
LB Jacque Roman, Sr., Appalachian State
DB Karlos Sullivan, Sr., Elon
DB Buster Skrine, Jr., Chattanooga
DB Cortez Allen, Jr., The Citadel
DB Ed Gainey, So., Appalachian State
Second Team Specialists
PK Jason Vitaris, Jr., Appalachian State
P Chris Tommie, Sr., Wofford
RS Andre Roberts, Sr., The Citadel
