Mercer Places Seven on All-Southern Conference Teams

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Following its first winning season since joining the Southern Conference and doubling his league win total from a year ago, Mercer had seven individuals receive postseason honors as the All-Southern Conference teams were released by the league office Tuesday.

Mercer has posted at least seven players to the All-Southern Conference teams in each of the three years the Bears have been a member of the league.

"The awards these young men received is a testament to the hard work and dedication they have put in this year," Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb said. "I am so proud of everything they have accomplished and it is a great honor to be recognized by the Southern Conference. With a mixture of both upperclassmen and underclassmen being recognized, it shows the strong foundation this team has set as well as the bright future that awaits Mercer Football."

OL Bret Niederreither, First Team (Media), Second Team (Coaches)
Tackle Bret Niederreither led Mercer as the media bestowed first team honors while the coaches named him to the second team. A team captain, Niederreither started all 11 games at tackle for Mercer this season and finished his career with 31 consecutive starts.

WR Marquise Irvin, Second Team (Coaches and Media)
Receiver Marquise Irvin, a second team honoree on both lists, played in all 11 games (starting in 10) and led the Bears with 766 receiving yards on 65 catches – almost double any other Mercer receiver. The sophomore averaged 11.8 yards per reception and his seven touchdown catches ranked second in the Southern Conference this year. He averaged 5.9 catches per game, ranking 24^th in the nation.

DE Isaiah Buehler, Second Team (Coaches)
Defensive end Isaiah Buehler was a second team coaches' selection as he tallied 31 total tackles (12 solo, 19 assisted) on the season, starting in 10 of the 11 games he played in. Buehler was third on the team with seven tackles for a loss of 35 yards – including 3.0 sacks for 18 yards – and was credited with two quarterback hurries and two pass break-ups.

DL Tosin Aguebor, Second Team (Media)
A second team honoree on the media list, Tosin Aguebor was a four-year captain for the Bears that started all 11 games for Mercer this season. He finished the year with 38 tackles (16 solo, 22 assisted) and was second on the team with 8.5 tackles for a loss of 46 yards including a team-leading 6.0 sacks for a loss of 42 yards. Aguebor forced one fumble and was credited with one quarterback hurry on the year.

LB Will Coneway, All-Freshman
Linebacker Will Coneway was one of three Bears named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team after leading Mercer with an impressive 10.0 tackles for a loss on the season. The Sandersville, Georgia native totaled 51 tackles on the season (31 solo, 20 assisted) and registered 4.5 sacks for a loss of 19 yards. A disrupting force on the field in all 10 games he played in, Coneway was credited with five pass break-ups and one forced fumble on the year.

DB Eric Jackson, All-Freshman
Defensive back Eric Jackson was one of the more impressive corners in the Southern Conference in 2016 and deservedly received All-Freshman honors after recording 56 total tackles (38 solo, 18 assisted) on the year. Jackson played in 10 games (missing only the Nov. 12 game at Samford due to the untimely death of his father) and was credited with five pass break-ups, blocked one kick and intercepted a pass in his rookie campaign.

DL Dorian Kithcart, All-Freshman
Defensive tackle Dorian Kithcart also received All-Freshman honors after playing in all 11 games (starting in seven) on one of the most talented run-stopping defenses in the league this year. Kithcart totaled 20 tackles (nine solo, 11 assisted), made 2.0 tackles for a loss of nine yards, was credited with two quarterback hurries and blocked a kick (three of Mercer's four blocked kicks in 2016 came at the hands of freshmen).

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2016 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team

Offensive Player of the Year – Devlin Hodges, R-So., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year – Keionta Davis, Sr., DL, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year – Tyrie Adams, QB, Western Carolina
Jacobs Blocking Award – Isaiah Pinson, Jr., OL, The Citadel
Coach of the Year – Brent Thompson, The Citadel

First Team Offense
QB           Devlin Hodges, R-So., Samford
RB           Derrick Craine, Sr., Chattanooga
RB           Lorenzo Long, Sr., Wofford
OL           Nick Jeffreys, Sr., The Citadel
OL           Isaiah Pinson, Jr., The Citadel
OL           Corey Levin, Sr., Chattanooga
OL           Jacob Revis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL           Anton Wahrby, Sr., Wofford
TE            Ryan Swingle, R-Jr., VMI
WR          Karel Hamilton, Sr., Samford
WR          Andrej Suttles, Sr., Furman

First Team Defense
DL           Joe Crochet, Sr., The Citadel
DL           Keionta Davis, Sr., Chattanooga
DL           Miles Brown, So., Wofford
DL           Tyler Vaughn, Jr., Wofford
LB            Shaheed Salmon, Jr., Samford
LB            Dale Warren, Jr., Chattanooga
LB            Nakevion Leslie, Sr., Chattanooga
DB           Dee Delaney, Jr., The Citadel
DB           Kailik Williams, Jr., The Citadel
DB           Omari Williams, Jr., Samford
DB           Lucas Webb, Jr., Chattanooga

First Team Specialists
PK           David Marvin, Jr., Wofford
P              Ian Berryman, R-So., Western Carolina
RS            DeAndre Schoultz, Sr., The Citadel

Second Team Offense
QB           Alejandro Bennifield, Jr., Chattanooga
RB           Tyler Renew, Sr., The Citadel
RB           Detrez Newsome, Jr., Western Carolina
OL           Kyle Weaver, Sr., The Citadel
OL           Bret Niederreither, Sr., Mercer
OL           Armando Bonheur, Sr., Samford
OL           Josh Cardiello, Jr., Chattanooga
OL           Andrew Lewis, Sr., VMI
(tie)OL    Roo Daniels, Jr., Wofford
TE            Duncan Fletcher, Sr., Furman
WR          Kelvin McKnight, So., Samford
WR          Marquise Irvin, So., Mercer

Second Team Defense
DL           Isaiah Buehler, So., Mercer
DL           Roosevelt Donaldson, R-Sr., Samford
DL           Ahmad Gooden, R-So., Samford
DL           Vantrel McMillan, Sr., Chattanooga
LB            Tevin Floyd, Sr., The Citadel
LB            Ryan Francis, Jr., VMI
LB            Tyson Dickson, Sr., Western Carolina
DB           Trey Robinson, Sr., Furman
DB           Jamerson Blount, Sr., Samford
DB           Montrell Pardue, Jr., Chattanooga
DB           Trey Morgan, Sr., Western Carolina
(tie)DB    Jaleel Green, Sr., Wofford

Second Team Specialists
PK           Cody Clark, Sr., The Citadel
P              David Marvin, Jr., Wofford
RS            Mason Dermott, So., VMI
(tie)         Detrez Newsome, Jr., Western Carolina

All-Freshman Offense
Drew McEntyre, OL, The Citadel
Ben Blackmon, OL, ETSU
Tim Coleman, OL, Furman
Thomas Gordon, WR, Furman
TaDarryl Marshall, WR, Samford
Nick Nixon, OL, Samford
Malcolm White, OL, Chattanooga
Javean Lara, WR, VMI
Daz Palmer, RB, VMI
Tyrie Adams, QB, Western Carolina
Walker Lanning, OL, Western Carolina
(tie) Aubrey Payne, TE, Western Carolina

All-Freshman Defense
Khafari Buffalo, DB, The Citadel
Jason Maduafokwa, LB, ETSU
Nasir Player, DL, ETSU
Will Coneway, LB, Mercer
Eric Jackson, DB, Mercer
Dorian Kithcart, DL, Mercer
Jalen Nash, DL, Samford
George Gbesee, DB, Wofford
Mikel Horton, DL, Wofford
Datavious Wilson, LB, Wofford
Jireh Wilson, LB, Wofford

All-Freshman Specialists
Jacob Godek, PK, The Citadel
Colin Brewer, P, Chattanooga
Connell Young, RS, Western Carolina

2016 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team

Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Devlin Hodges, R-So., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year – Kailik Williams, Jr., DB, The Citadel
Freshman of the Year – Tyrie Adams, QB, Western Carolina
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Brent Thompson, The Citadel

First Team Offense
QB           Devlin Hodges, R-So., Samford
RB           Lorenzo Long, Sr., Wofford
RB           Tyler Renew, Sr., The Citadel
OL           Nick Jeffreys, Sr., The Citadel
OL           Isaiah Pinson, Jr., The Citadel
OL           Bret Niederreither, Sr., Mercer
OL           Corey Levin, Sr., Chattanooga
OL           Anton Wahrby, Sr., Wofford
TE            Ryan Swingle, R-Jr., VMI
WR          Karel Hamilton, Sr., Samford
WR          Terryon Robinson, R-Jr., Western Carolina

First Team Defense
DL           Joe Crochet, Sr., The Citadel
DL           Ahmad Gooden, R-So., Samford
DL           Keionta Davis, Sr., Chattanooga
DL           Vantrel McMillan, Sr., Chattanooga
DL           Tyler Vaughn, Jr., Wofford
LB            Ryan Francis, Jr., VMI
LB            Allan Cratsenberg, Jr., VMI
LB            Nakevion Leslie, Sr., Chattanooga
LB            Tevin Floyd, Sr., The Citadel
DB           Dee Delaney, Jr., The Citadel
DB           Kailik Williams, Jr., The Citadel
DB           Omari Williams, Jr., Samford
DB           Jaleel Green, Sr., Wofford

First Team Specialists
PK           David Marvin, Jr., Wofford
P              David Marvin, Jr., Wofford
RS            DeAndre Schoultz, Sr., The Citadel

Second Team Offense
QB           Alejandro Bennifield, Jr., Chattanooga
RB           Detrez Newsome, Jr., Western Carolina
RB           Derrick Craine, Sr., Chattanooga
OL           Kyle Weaver, Sr., The Citadel
OL           Matthew Schmidt, Jr., Furman
OL           Jacob Revis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL           Roo Daniels, Sr., Wofford
OL           Dequan Miller, Sr., Wofford
TE            Duncan Fletcher, Sr., Furman
WR          Aaron Sanders, Sr., VMI
WR          Marquise Irvin, So., Mercer

Second Team Defense
DL           Ken Allen, So., The Citadel
DL           Tosin Aguebor, Sr., Mercer
DL           Roosevelt Donaldson, R-Sr., Samford
DL           Miles Brown, So., Wofford
LB            Dylan Weigel, R-So., ETSU
LB            Shaheed Salmon, Jr., Samford
LB            Dale Warren, Jr., Chattanooga
DB           Trey Robinson, Sr., Furman
DB           Jamerson Blount, Sr., Samford
DB           Montrell Pardue, So., Chattanooga
DB           Greg Sanders, Jr., VMI
DB           Fred Payne, Sr., Western Carolina

Second Team Specialists
PK           Cody Clark, Sr., The Citadel
P              Ian Berryman, R-So., Western Carolina
RS            Mason Dermott, R-Fr., VMI

Mercer Places Seven on All-Southern Conference Teams

Players Mentioned

Tosin Aguebor

Isaiah Buehler

Will Coneway

Marquise Irvin

Eric Jackson

Dorian Kithcart

Bret Niederreither

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