Ten Bears Named to All-SoCon Teams

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer Football had 10 student-athletes earn Southern Conference football postseason honors as the league office released its annual awards and coaches/media all-conference teams Tuesday afternoon.

Highlighted by first team return specialist David Durden and first team defensive back Eric Jackson, Mercer saw four defensive, four offensive and three special teams players receive honors this season – Durden was on both offensive and special teams.

RS David Durden | First Team (Coaches and Media)
Kickoff specialists league-round knew not to kick the ball to David Durden or they would likely have to make a touchdown-saving tackle on the same play. In fact, the sophomore took the opening kickoff of the season 82 yards before being tackled to set up Mercer's first score in its win at Western Carolina. Overall, Durden returned 29 kicks this season for 750 yards – an average of 25.86 yards per return – and was named a first teamer at the position by both coaches and media.

DB Eric Jackson | First Team (Media) | Second Team (Coaches)
The unanimous leader on and off the field for Mercer, Eric Jackson earned first team defensive back honors from the media and second team from the league's coaches. Jackson was second on the team with 90 tackles on the season, recovering two fumbles and breaking up six passes in the process. The senior recorded double-digit tackles in five games and tallied a tackle for loss in the season finale at North Carolina.

OL Austin Sanders | Second Team (Coaches and Media)
For the third year in a row, Austin Sanders was tabbed as one of the best offensive lineman in the Southern Conference – 2017 (second team – coaches), 2018 (first team – media, second team – coaches), 2019 (second team – coaches and media). Sanders played in eight games this season before being sidelined with an injury.

TE Chris Ellington | Second Team (Coaches and Media)
Senior tight end Chris Ellington was one of the more reliable options for Mercer all year, especially in the red zone. The Jacksonville, Fla., native caught 30 passes – most by any tight end in the conference – for 188 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

WR David Durden | Second Team (Coaches)
Also a first team return specialist, David Durden earned second team wide receiver honors after putting together a strong sophomore season at the position. Despite missing three games with a neck injury, he went on to catch 45 passes for 647 yards and four touchdowns in 2019.

DL Dorian Kithcart | Second Team (Coaches)
Possibly the most influential student-athlete off the field in the entire conference, Dorian Kithcart was also a force on the field on his way to earning second team defensive lineman honors as voted on by the league's coaches. The senior lived in the opponents' backfields, recording 7.5 tackles for loss and a sack on the year.

LB Sidney Otiwu | Second Team (Coaches)
Junior Sidney Otiwu led Mercer's defense with 93 tackles and two interceptions in 2019 to propel himself to coaches' second team honors at the linebacker position. Otiwu turned in one of the more impressive defensive performances all season against Samford – recording a school-record 21 tackles in the contest and earning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week.

WR Yahsyn McKee | All-Freshman Offense
When injuries began to plague the Mercer offense, freshman Yahsyn McKee stepped up and became one of the biggest playmakers on the team. He caught 37 passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games, while also becoming the first freshman in program history with multiple 100-plus-yard receiving games.

DB Richie Coffey | All-Freshman Defense
Cornerback Richie Coffey was one of the top defensive freshman in the Southern Conference in 2019. He broke-up five passes, tallied 0.5 tackles for loss, recorded 25 tackles and was one of four Bears to intercept a pass on the season.

PK Caleb Dowden | All-Freshman Special Teams
It took freshman kicker Caleb Dowden eight games before he missed his first career field goal (9-for-9) and he went on to make 13 on the season en route to All-Freshman Special Teams honors. Dowden also tied a school record with three makes against Samford – including the game-winner in triple overtime.

LS Zach Lassiter | All-Freshman Special Teams
Zach Lassiter started all 12 games at long-snapper for the Bears and was tabbed as one of the top freshman special teams players in the SoCon. Lassiter delivered perfect spirals all season long and forced a fumble on a punt return against Furman.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE COACHES
2019 All-Southern Conference Football Teams

Offensive Player of the Year
Joe Newman, Sr., QB, Wofford

Defensive Player of the Year
Willie Eubanks III, Jr., LB, The Citadel

Freshman of the Year
Ailym Ford, RB, Chattanooga

Jacob Blocking Award
Blake Jeresaty, Jr., OL, Wofford

Coach of the Year
Scott Wachenheim, VMI

First team offense
QB          Joe Newman, Wofford
RB          Ailym Ford, Chattanooga
RB          Alex Ramsey, VMI
OL          Ben Blackmon, ETSU
OL          Bo Layton, Furman
OL          Nick Nixon, Samford
OL          Justus Basinger, Wofford
OL          Blake Jeresaty, Wofford
TE           Nate Adkins, ETSU
WR         Raleigh Webb, The Citadel
WR         Bryce Nunnelly, Chattanooga
WR         Jakob Herres, VMI

First team defense
DL          Joseph Randolph II, The Citadel
DL          Nasir Player, ETSU
DL          Adrian Hope, Furman
DL          Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga
LB           Willie Eubanks III, The Citadel
LB           John Staton, Samford
LB           Jireh Wilson, Wofford
DB          Artevius Smith, ETSU
DB          Bryan Okeh, Furman
DB          Brandon Dowdell, Chattanooga
DB          A.J. Smith, VMI

First team special teams
PK           Grayson Atkins, Furman
P             Matt Campbell, The Citadel
RS          David Durden, Mercer

Second team offense
QB          Reece Udinski, VMI
RB          Quay Holmes, ETSU
RB          Devin Wynn, Furman
OL          Drew McEntyre, The Citadel
OL          Tre'mond Shorts, ETSU
OL          Jordan Harris, Furman
OL          Austin Sanders, Mercer
OL          Cole Strange, Chattanooga
OL          Michael Ralph, Wofford
TE           Chris Ellington, Mercer
WR         Thomas Gordon, Furman
WR         David Durden, Mercer

Second team defense
DL          Dorian Kithcart, Mercer
DL          Khayyan Edwards, Chattanooga
DL          Telvin Jones, Chattanooga
DL          Michael Mason, Wofford
LB           Jordan Willis, Furman
LB           Sidney Otiwu, Mercer
LB           Marshall Cooper, Chattanooga
DB          Chris Beverly, The Citadel
DB          Eric Jackson, Mercer
DB          John Brannon III, Western Carolina
DB          George Gbesee, Wofford

Second team special teams
PK           Mitchell Fineran, Samford
P             Grayson Atkins, Furman
RS           Montrell Washington, Samford

All-freshman offense
Will Huzzie, ETSU
Devin Abrams, Furman
Wayne Anderson, Furman
Darren Grainger, Furman
Evan Jumper, Furman
Yahsyn McKee, Mercer
Jay Stanton, Samford
A.J. Toney, Samford
Ailym Ford, Chattanooga
Leroy Thomas, VMI
Jacquez Allen, Wofford

All-freshman defense
Hasan Black, The Citadel
Donovan Manuel, ETSU
Josh Agbenou, Furman
Travis Blackshear, Furman
Braden Gilby, Furman
Richie Coffey, Mercer
TriMarcus Cheeks, Samford
Kameron Brown, Chattanooga
Aljareek Malry, VMI
Keyvaun Cobb, Wofford
Michael Mason, Wofford

All-freshman special teams
Tyler Keltner, ETSU
Caleb Dowden, Mercer
Zach Lassiter, Mercer
Julian Pletz, Western Carolina

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE SPORTS MEDIA ASSOCIATION (SCSMA)
2019 All-Southern Conference Football Teams

Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year
Joe Newman, Sr., QB, Wofford

Defensive Player of the Year
Willie Eubanks III, Jr., LB, The Citadel

Freshman of the Year
Ailym Ford, RB, Chattanooga

Wallace Wade Coach of the Year
Josh Conklin, Wofford

First team offense
QB          Joe Newman, Wofford
RB          Devin Wynn, Furman
RB          Alex Ramsey, VMI
OL          Drew McEntyre, The Citadel
OL          Bo Layton, Furman
OL          Nick Nixon, Samford
OL          Justus Basinger, Wofford
OL          Michael Ralph, Wofford
TE           Chris James, Chattanooga
WR         Bryce Nunnelly, Chattanooga
WR         Jakob Herres, VMI

First team defense
DL          Joseph Randolph II, The Citadel
DL          Nasir Player, ETSU
DL          Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga
DL          Michael Mason, Wofford
LB           Willie Eubanks III, The Citadel
LB           John Staton, Samford
LB           Marshall Cooper, Chattanooga
LB           Jireh Wilson, Wofford
DB          Artevius Smith, ETSU
DB          Eric Jackson, Mercer
DB          Brandon Dowdell, Chattanooga
DB          A.J. Smith, VMI
DB          JerMichael White, Western Carolina

First team special teams
PK           Grayson Atkins, Furman
P             Matt Campbell, The Citadel
RS          David Durden, Mercer

Second team offense
QB          Reece Udinski, VMI
RB          Ailym Ford, Chattanooga
RB          Quay Holmes, ETSU
OL          Jordan Harris, Furman
OL          Austin Sanders, Mercer
OL          Cole Strange, Chattanooga
OL          Josh Andre, VMI
OL          Blake Jeresaty, Wofford
TE           Chris Ellington, Mercer
WR         Raleigh Webb, The Citadel
WR         Thomas Gordon, Furman

Second team defense
DL          Adrian Hope, Furman
DL          Armond Lloyd, Samford
DL          Khayyan Edwards, Chattanooga
DL          Jarrod Richmond, VMI
LB           Ty Boeck, Chattanooga
LB           Ty Harris, Western Carolina
LB           Jayden Pauling, Western Carolina
DB          Chris Beverly, The Citadel
DB          Bryan Okeh, Furman
DB          John Brannon III, Western Carolina
DB          George Gbesee, Wofford

Second team special teams
PK           Mitchell Fineran, Samford
P             Grayson Atkins, Furman
RS           Montrell Washington, Samford

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Players Mentioned

Richie Coffey

Caleb Dowden

David Durden

Chris Ellington

Eric Jackson

Dorian Kithcart

Zach Lassiter

Yahsyn McKee

Sidney Otiwu

Austin Sanders

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