Seven Bears Recognized with All-SoCon Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer saw seven individuals earn Southern Conference football postseason honors as the league office released its annual awards and coaches/media all-conference teams on Tuesday afternoon.

Five offensive players and two defensive players collected postseason SoCon honors; of the seven Bears recognized, five have previously been selected to All-SoCon teams in past seasons

"I'm always proud to see our young men recognized by the Southern Conference's coaches and media members, and this year is no exception," said head coach Bobby Lamb. "We have a clear mix of older and younger players who were honored this fall, including a trio of our seniors who made a lasting impact on our program and a pair of freshmen who have bright futures ahead at Mercer."

OL Austin Sanders | First Team (Media) | Second Team (Coaches)
Redshirt junior left tackle Austin Sanders was named to the Media All-SoCon First Team and the Coaches All-SoCon Second Team after an impressive year in the trenches for the Bears. Sanders started all 11 games at left tackle, anchoring an offensive line that dealt with injuries throughout the season. Sanders played a pivotal role in a resurgent offensive unit that averaged over 30 points per game while averaging 231.0 yards passing and 146.7 yards rushing. This is Sanders' second All-SoCon honor; he was named to the 2017 Coaches All-SoCon Second Team.

RB Tee Mitchell | Second Team (Coaches and Media)
Despite toting just six carries over the final four games of the season due to injury, senior running back Tee Mitchell was named to the All-SoCon Second Team by the league's media and coaches for the third time in his career (2015, 2017). Mitchell rushed for 685 yards on 126 attempts, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He tallied seven total touchdowns, including six rushing, and became Mercer's career rushing leader with 2,660 yards on the ground. Mitchell surpassed 100 rushing yards in four games this season.

WR Marquise Irvin | Second Team (Coaches and Media)
Senior wide receiver Marquise Irvin claimed All-SoCon Second Team honors from the league's media and coaches for the third time in his record-setting career (2016, 2017). Irvin – who owns nearly every receiving record in school history, including career receptions, yards and touchdowns – caught 54 passes for a Mercer single-season record 814 yards this fall. The Huntsville, Ala., native caught five touchdowns and hauled in 70-plus receiving yards in seven of Mercer's 11 games.

LB LeMarkus Bailey | Second Team (Coaches)
Senior outside linebacker LeMarkus Bailey ended his career with an All-SoCon Second Team selection by the league's coaches. It is the second straight year that Bailey has been recognized with all-conference honors. The two-time captain totaled 59 tackles (39 solo, 20 assisted) and led the Bears with eight tackles for loss. He added one sack, one interception, a team-leading nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Bailey leaves Mercer with the third-most career tackles in program history (220).

DB Malique Fleming | Second Team (Media)
After garnering SoCon All-Freshman Defense honors last season, Fleming earned a Second Team selection by the league's media this fall. The hard-hitting free safety started nine of the 10 game he played in this season and ranked second on the team with 77 total tackles (47 solo, 30 assisted). Fleming added two forced fumbles and three pass breakups.

WR David Durden | All-Freshman Offense
Freshman wide receiver David Durden made an immediate impact on the Bears in his first season, catching 18 passes for 407 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The dynamic receiver recorded over 400 all-purpose yards and five total touchdowns (three receiving, one passing, one kick return) in the month of October as he emerged as one of the league's most explosive threats.

QB Robert Riddle | All-Freshman Offense
A collarbone injury suffered in the fourth week of the season could not keep redshirt freshman quarterback Robert Riddle from earning SoCon All-Freshman Offensive honors this fall. The signal caller threw for 300-plus yards in each of his two starts against Samford and The Citadel after winning the starting job over the first two weeks of the season. Riddle was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week for his three-touchdown performance at Samford as he helped the Bears defeat the then-No. 9 nationally-ranked Bulldogs on the road.

Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.

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

-###-

Players Mentioned

LeMarkus Bailey

David Durden

Malique Fleming

Marquise Irvin

Tee Mitchell

Robert Riddle

Austin Sanders

Footer