WISE - - UVa-Wise saw three players earn All-SAC Second-Team for their play during the 2019 football season. Sophomore linebacker Austin Hicks, redshirt junior defensive back Marcus Tarrer and junior return specialist Demetrius Mann all earned all-conference accolades to become the first group of student-athletes to receive postseason honors from the SAC since the school joined the league this season.

Hicks, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound transfer from East Tennessee State University finished second on the team and second in the league with 91 tackles. The linebacker posted a season-high 15 tackles against Limestone and had four games of 10 or more tackles.

Tarrer, a 5-foot-11 native of Richmond, Va led the team and league in tackles with 97 tackles. Tarrer had 10 or more tackles in five games, including 12 in the season-finale against UNC – Pembroke when he matched his season-high. Tarrer finished with 52 solo tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss as part of his league-leading season. This is the second consecutive season Tarrer has earned all-conference honors. A year ago, the defensive back earned All-Mountain East Conference First-Team and third-team all-region acclaim. Overall, Tarrer ranks 44th nationally in tackles per game at 8.8.

Mann, a 5-foot-9 transfer from Eastern Kentucky University set the single-season UVa-WIse punt return touchdowns with two while tying the league mark. The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder led the league and finished second in average yards per punt return at 20.9 across 16 returns. The 20.9 yards per return is the second highest single-season total in school history.

A complete list of this year's award winners may be found below:

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB –       Grayson Willingham, Lenoir-Rhyne

RB –        Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman

RB –        Nijere Peoples, Wingate

RB –        Domineke McNeill, Wingate

WR –     Craig Rucker, Mars Hill

WR –     Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman

WR –     Jalen Brooks, Wingate

OL –       Andrew Strickland, Wingate

OL –       Jason Poe, Lenoir-Rhyne

OL –       Keveon Broadwater, Tusculum

OL –       Connor Baroniounas, Wingate

OL –       Phillip McDowell, Carson-Newman

TE –       Drake Starks, Lenoir-Rhyne

PK –       McLean Robertson-Wingate

LS –        Dawson Campbell, Carson-Newman

RS –        Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne

 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL –       Jaquan Artis, Lenoir-Rhyne

DL –       Dan Louba, Lenoir-Rhyne

DL –       Keito Jordon, Newberry

DL –       Jordon Anderson, Wingate

LB –        Robbie Wallace, Wingate

LB –        Ivan Hogans, Tusculum

LB –        Clayton Horn, Lenoir-Rhyne

LB –        Rondrow Peebles, Carson-Newman

DB –       Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne

DB –       Dee Alford, Tusculum

DB –       Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman

DB –       Davion Washington, Wingate

P –         Thomas Cook, Limestone

                  

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB –      Shaw Crocker, Wingate

QB -        Derrick Evans, Carson-Newman

RB –       Jaquay Mitchell, Lenoir-Rhyne

RB –       Ameen Stevens, Lenoir-Rhyne

RB –       Jerko'ya Patton, Limestone

WR –     Deshun Kitchings, Newberry

WR –     B.J. Muckelvene, Wingate

WR –     Tory Ponder, Tusculum

OL –       Jordan Seal, Carson-Newman

OL –       Travis James, Mars Hill

OL –       Tyler Anderson, Newberry

OL –       Ronnie Clifton, Lenoir-Rhyne

OL –       Cameron Thomason, Limestone

TE –       Trevor Makarov, Carson-Newman

PK –       Chase Allbaugh, Lenoir-Rhyne

LS –        Travis Morgan, Newberry

RS –       Demetrius Mann, UVA-Wise

 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL –       Amari Houston, Lenoir-Rhyne             

DL –       Cal Hanford, Wingate

DL –       Montel Presely, Carson-Newman       

DL –       Kelvin Atkins, Limestone   

LB –        Austin Hicks, UVA-Wise

LB –        Elijah Gilmore, Wingate     

LB –        Jeremiah Ferguson, Catawba             

LB –        Jackson Cauthen, Tusculum

DB –       Eric Jackson, Lenoir-Rhyne

DB –       Marcus Tarrer, UVA-Wise

DB –       Chris Page, Catawba         

DB –       Malik Goodman, Tusculum                

DB-         Mannie Ogletree, Limestone

P -       Nate Craft, Carson-Newman

P-        Michael Owen-Lenoir-Rhyne

 

Offensive Freshman of the Year

Troy Dendy, Carson-Newman

 

Defensive Freshman of the Year

Dexter Fitzpatrick, Mars Hill

 

Offensive Player of the Year

Craig Rucker, Mars Hill

 

Defensive Player of the Year

Jaquan Artis, Lenoir-Rhyne

 

Jacobs Blocking Trophy

Jason Poe, Lenoir-Rhyne

 

Coach of the Year

Drew Cronic, Lenoir-Rhyne

 

Statistical Champions
Rushing Yards Per Game: Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman (88.9)
Passing Yards Per Game: Jimmy Urzua, Mars Hill (210.1)
Total Offense Per Game: Jimmy Urzua, Mars Hill (210.9)
Receptions Per Game: Craig Rucker, Mars Hill (8.8)
Receiving Yards Per Game: Craig Rucker, Mars Hill (120.5)
All-Purpose Yards Per Game: Craig Rucker, Mars Hill (149.36)
Passing Efficiency Rating: Grayson Willingham, Lenoir-Rhyne (183.7)
Punt Return Avg.: Demetrius Mann, UVa-Wise (20.9)
Kick Return Avg.: Thurlow Wilkins, Tusculum (32.6)
Punting Avg.: Thomas Cook, Limestone (43.1)
Scoring Average (TDs): Craig Rucker, Mars Hill (9.8)
Scoring Average (K): McLean Robertson, Wingate (8.2)
Field Goals Per Game: McLean Robertson, Wingate (1.36)
Field Goal Percentage: Eli Shepherd, Tusculum (.800)
Tackles Per Game: Marcus Tarrer, UVa-Wise (8.8)
Sacks Per Game: Jarquan Artis, Lenoir-Rhyne (1.05)
Tackles for Loss Per Game: Jarquan Artis, Lenoir-Rhyne (1.7)
Interceptions Per Game: Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman (0.70)
Team Scoring Offense: Lenoir-Rhyne (42.3)
Team Scoring Defense: Lenoir-Rhyne (15.7)
Team Passing Offense: Mars Hill (306.1)
Team Passing Defense: Newberry (145.4)
Team Rushing Offense: Carson-Newman (316.9)
Team Rushing Defense: Lenoir-Rhyne (77.1)
Team Total Offense: Lenoir-Rhyne (442)
Team Total Defense: Carson-Newman (287.9)