HobbsDailyReport.com
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne University has four All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) football players this season, with sophomore running back Nelson Brown a first-team pick.
In voting by conference head coaches released by SAC officials on Tuesday, Brown was selected among the top players in the NCAA Division II league. He gained 1,071 yards and had 10 rushing touchdowns this season.
BROWN
LRU’s other picks were for the second-team – junior center Jalen Soto, sophomore linebacker Sherrod Williams and sophomore safety Kyle Dugger.
Brown, from Salisbury, Md., was a second-team pick last season as a freshman. He rushed for 256 yards this season against Tusculum, in a 23-7 victory, the fourth-best single-game total in LRU history. He averaged 107.1 yards per game rushing, second in the league.
Soto, from Vacaville, Calif., started all 10 games for the Bears this season, anchoring their offensive line.
Williams, from Edison, Ga., was second in tackles for LRU this season with 72. He also had two fumble recoveries and forced a fumble.
Dugger, from Fayetteville, Ga., led the Bears in tackles with 87 and had six pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, an interception and LRU’s return specialist. He was the league’s Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2015.
LRU finished 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the SAC.
ALL-SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
First-team offense
Quarterback – Patrick O’Brien, Catawba
Running Back – Jared Dillingham, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Nelson Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne
Running Back – Lawrence Pittman, Wingate
Wide Receiver – Sam Mobley, Catawba
Wide Receiver – Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Craig Rucker, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Phil McDowell, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Quinzavious Sands, Catawba
Offensive Line – Brandon Berridge, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Dakota Mozingo, Newberry
Offensive Line – Daniel Owens, Wingate
Tight End – Jourdan Osinskie, Catawba
Placekicker – Lee Brackman, Catawba
Long Snapper – Will Brasington, Limestone
Return Specialist – B.J. Muckelvene, Wingate
First-team defense
Defensive Line – Montel Presley, Carson-Newman
Defensive Line – Jamarcus Henderson, Newberry
Defensive Line – Keito Jordan, Newberry
Defensive Line – Auntrell Mack, Wingate
Linebacker – Sha’Heem Stupart, Carson-Newman
Linebacker – Trey Evans, Catawba
Linebacker – Joe Blue, Newberry
Linebacker – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
Defensive Back – Darius Williams, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – Cris Page, Catawba
Defensive Back – Martez Thompkins, Tusculum
Punter – Hunter Cantrell, Tusculum and Alex Haynes, Limestone
Second-team offense
Quarterback – Derrick Evans, Carson-Newman and David Salmon, Mars Hill
Running Back – Eamon Smart, Catawba
Running Back – Jerko’ya Patton, Limestone
Running Back – Blake Hayes, Wingate
Wide Receiver – Dorren Miller, Carson-Newman
Wide Receiver – Markell Castle, Newberry
Wide Receiver – Vyncint Smith, Limestone
Offensive Line – Jordan Seal, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Brandon Floyd, Catawba
Offensive Line – Jalen Soto, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Tyler Anderson, Newberry
Offensive Line – Connor Baroniunas, Wingate
Tight End – Jake Jensen, Wingate
Placekicker – Nick Smith, Limestone
Long Snapper – Ian O’Grady, Tusculum
Return Specialist – Jay Boyd, Tusculum
Second-team defense
Defensive Line – Brian Bembry, Carson-Newman
Defensive Line – Omar Staley, Catawba
Defensive Line – Jordan Hemingway, Catawba
Defensive Line – Kelvin Atkins, Limestone AND Cardell Rawlings, Wingate
Linebacker – Sherrod Williams, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Evan Patrick, Limestone
Linebacker – L’Keith Brown, Tusculum
Linebacker – Robbie Wallace, Wingate
Defensive Back – Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Jawanza Adams, Newberry
Defensive Back – Dee Alford, Tusculum
Defensive Back – Kam Johnson, Wingate
OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Jerko’ya Patton, Limestone
DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Earl Adams, Mars Hill
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Lawrence Pittman, Wingate
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
JACOBS BLOCKING TROPHY – Daniel Owens, Wingate
COACH OF THE YEAR – Joe Reich, Wingate
- Reported by LRU Sports Information