Mercer Lands 11 on All-SoCon Teams

Photo by: Jen Jones

4/22/2021 3:53:00 PM | Football

Quarterback Carter Peevy was named the SoCon Freshman of the Year

By: Stephen Waldman

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer Football saw 11 student-athletes earn 17 Southern Conference football postseason honors as the league office released its annual awards and coaches/media all-conference teams Thursday afternoon.

Three Bears earned first team honors, led by Lance Wise who was named to the first team by both the coaches and media. Solomon Zubairu and Isaac Dowling also earned first team accolades from the media. Additionally, quarterback Carter Peevy was named the Freshman of the Year by the media.

DB Lance Wise | First Team (Coaches and Media)
Opposing teams quickly learned to make sure they knew where No. 3 was on the field at all times as Wise was one of the top defensive players. The Marietta, Ga., native finished with 86 tackles in his sophomore campaign to rank 12th in the conference, including 43 solo stops and 4.0 tackles for a loss of 10 yards. He recorded double-digit tackles in three games this season, including a 20-tackle clinic on Oct. 31 against Abilene Christian that was the second-most stops in the program's single-game history. Wise was also one of the best ball hawks in the SoCon, leading the conference with nine passes defended with eight break ups and an interception.

DL Solomon Zubairu | First Team (Media) | Second Team (Coaches)
Zubairu wreaked havoc on opposing offenses and was one of the best players in the Southern Conference at generating negative plays. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native led the conference with 10.5 tackles for loss, the second-most in the program's single-season history, and ranked third with 5.5 sacks. Zubairu totaled 41 tackles in his second collegiate season. One of Zubairu's top performances of the season came in Mercer's 35-28 upset victory at No. 9 Chattanooga when he posted a season-high seven tackles, including a personal-best 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

LB Isaac Dowling | First Team (Media) | Second Team (Coaches) | All-Freshman Team (Coaches)
From the first moment he stepped onto the gridiron with the Bears, Dowling made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. The 5-foot-10-inch linebacker made 16 tackles in each of his first two collegiate games, totaling three sacks against Jacksonville State and Army. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native led the Bears and ranked sixth in the conference with 91 tackles, including 42 solo stops. His 6.5 sacks were also the second-most in the conference while ranking third in program history. Dowling totaled four games with at least 10 tackles, including a season-high 17 in the season finale at Samford on April 17.

QB Carter Peevy | Freshman of the Year (Media) | All-Freshman Team (Coaches)
Peevy took the reins of the Bears' offense to start the spring and led the team to its best SoCon season in program history. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native guided Mercer to five conference wins in the spring, including four consecutive victories and three straight over ranked opponents in No. 9 Chattanooga, No. 17 Furman and No. 20 ETSU. Peevy quickly proved to be one of the top quarterbacks in the SoCon as he finished his first collegiate season ranked second in the conference in passing yards (1,318) while being third in completion percentage (54.3 pct.), passing efficiency (133.0) and passing touchdowns (8). In Mercer's win over No. 17 Furman, Peevy became the first quarterback in program history to throw for at least 400 yards in a single game with 406 yards through the air and two touchdowns.

RB Deondre Johnson | Second Team (Coaches and Media)
One of the most explosive players in the nation, Johnson's skills were on full display whenever he touched the ball. Johnson carried the ball 62 times for 386 yards (6.2 avg.) and four touchdowns on the season while adding 21 receptions for 201 yards and another score. Additionally, he returned five kickoffs for 195 yards and took the opening kickoff of the season-opener at Jacksonville State 100 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the Drew Cronic era. Johnson ranked fourth in the SoCon and 25th nationally with six total touchdowns, while his four rushing touchdowns were the sixth-most in the conference. The Reidsville, Ga., native capped his redshirt sophomore season with a bang, going for 158 yards and two touchdowns at Samford on April 17 for the seventh-most rushing yards in a single game by a Bear.

DL DJ McDaniel | Second Team (Coaches)
McDaniel was a key member of Mercer's stout defensive line this season. The Indian Trail, N.C., native set a new personal best with 25 tackles on the season, including nine solo stops and four quarterback hurries. He totaled a season-high five tackles in the win over ETSU on April 10.

DB Yahsyn McKee | Second Team (Coaches)
When McKee switched sides to playing defense this season, he maintained his scoring prowess as he scored a pair of defensive touchdowns. The Stockbridge, Ga., native was all over the field for the Bears, totaling 26 tackles along with four pass break ups, two fumble recoveries, an interception and blocked a kick. Both of McKee's scores came when he recovered a fumble, first with a 27-yard return against The Citadel on Feb. 27 before returning a fumble 63 yards against ETSU on April 10.

P Caleb Dowden | Second Team (Coaches)
Dowden was masterful at flipping the field for the Bears this season, in addition to handling field goal and PAT duties. The Statesboro, Ga., native was called upon to punt 36 times, averaging 40.2 yards per punt. He booted four punts farther than 50 yards, including a season-long of 57. Dowden also pinned the opposition inside their own 20-yard line on 12 occasions.

OL John Harris | Second Team (Media)
Harris was a key member of the Bears' offensive line that opened lanes for the third-best rushing offense in the Southern Conference. Mercer's offense amassed 1,844 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground this season, averaging 167.6 rushing yards per game.

WR Ethan Dirrim | All-Freshman Team (Coaches)
Dirrim made an immediate impact in his first collegiate season, scoring a team-high four receiving touchdowns while ranking second on the squad with 417 receiving yards on 22 receptions. The Canton, Ga., native scored on his first collegiate catch, a 30-yard touchdown at Jacksonville State on Oct. 10. He later added scores in back-to-back games against The Citadel on Feb. 27 and at VMI on March 13. Dirrim recorded his first 100-yard game at Mercer with 110 yards on four catches in the team's win over No. 17 Furman on April 2. His four receptions against the Paladins was also a season high.

WR Ty James | All-Freshman Team (Coaches)
One of the most reliable pass catchers in the nation, James hauled in a team-high 30 passes for 518 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate season. The Norcross, Ga., native finished third in the conference and 18th nationally in receiving yards. He scored his first career touchdown on a 33-yard reception against The Citadel on Feb. 27. James' most explosive game came in Mercer's win over No. 17 Furman as he tallied a season-high eight catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. His 179 receiving yards against the Paladins set a new program single-game record, surpassing the previous mark by 35 yards.

2020-21 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year – Liam Welch, Gr., QB, Samford
Offensive Player of the Year – Jakob Herres, Jr., WR, VMI
Defensive Player of the Year – Jared Folks, Gr., ETSU
Defensive Player of the Year – Stone Snyder, So., VMI
Freshman of the Year – Seth Morgan, QB, VMI
Jacobs Blocking Award – Tre'mond Shorts, R-Jr., OL, ETSU
Jacobs Blocking Award – Cole Strange, Sr., OL, Chattanooga
Coach of the Year – Scott Wachenheim, VMI

First team offense
QB       Liam Welch, Gr., Samford
RB       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
RB       Donnavan Spencer, R-Sr., Western Carolina
OL        Tre'mond Shorts, R-Jr., ETSU
OL        Anderson Tomlin, R-So., Furman
OL        McClendon Curtis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL        Marshall Gill, Jr., VMI
OL        Isaiah Helms, So., Western Carolina
TE        Nate Adkins, Jr., ETSU
WR      Ty King, So., Samford
WR      Jakob Herres, Jr., VMI

First team defense
DL        Armond Lloyd, Gr., Samford
DL        Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., Chattanooga
DL        Jordan Ward, Sr., VMI
DL        Micheal Mason, So., Wofford
LB        Jared Folks, Gr., ETSU
LB        Willie Eubanks III, Sr., The Citadel
LB        Donovan Manuel, R-So., ETSU
DB       Tyree Robinson, Sr., ETSU
DB       Lance Wise, So., Mercer
DB       Chris Edmonds, So., Samford
DB       AJ Smith, Sr., VMI

First team special teams
PK        Mitchell Fineran, Jr., Samford
P          Matt Campbell, Jr., The Citadel
RS       Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford

Second team offense
QB       Reece Udinski, Sr., VMI
RB       Devin Wynn, Sr., Furman
RB       Deondre Johnson, R-So., Mercer
OL        Haden Haas, R-Jr., The Citadel
OL        Gavin Orr, Jr., Samford
OL        Mike Williams, Sr., Samford
OL        Cole Strange, Sr., Chattanooga
OL        Nick Hartnett, R-So., VMI
TE        Ryan Miller, Jr., Furman
WR      Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
WR      Reginal Henderson, Sr., Chattanooga

Second team defense
DL        Cameron Coleman, R-So., Furman
DL        DJ McDaniel, Jr., Mercer
DL        Solomon Zubairu, So., Mercer
DL        Nelson Jordan, Jr., Samford
DL        Jay Person, So., Chattanooga
LB        Isaac Dowling, Fr., Mercer
LB        Nathan East, Gr., Samford
LB        Ty Boeck, Jr., Chattanooga
LB        Stone Snyder, So., VMI
DB       Parrish Gordon, Gr., The Citadel
DB       Yahsyn McKee, So., Mercer
DB       Ethan Caselberry, Jr., VMI
DB       Tahir Annoor, So., Wofford

Second team special teams
PK        Tyler Keltner, So., ETSU
P          Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., Furman
P          Caleb Dowden, R-So., Mercer
RS       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU

All-Freshman Offense
Ben Brockington, The Citadel
Nathan Storch, The Citadel
Fred Norman Jr., ETSU
Noah West, ETSU
Jacob Johanning, Furman
Ethan Dirrim, Mercer
Ty James, Mercer
Carter Peevy, Mercer
Cooper Frazier, Samford
Seth Morgan, VMI
Irvin Mulligan, Wofford

All-Freshman Defense
Carson Hatchett, The Citadel
Di'Andre Davis, ETSU
Max Evans, ETSU
Alijah Huzzie, ETSU
Nick Kuzemka, Furman
Isaac Dowling, Mercer
Noah Martin, Samford
John Prince, Chattanooga
Quay Wiggles, Chattanooga
Alex Oliver, VMI
Dorian Davis, Western Carolina
Jaquarius Guinn, Western Carolina

All-Freshman Special Teams
Chance Knox, VMI
Jerry Rice, VMI
Paxton Robertson, Western Carolina

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2020-21 SCSMA All-Southern Conference Football Team

Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Jakob Herres, Jr., WR, VMI
Defensive Player of the Year – Stone Snyder, So., LB, VMI
Freshman of the Year – Carter Peevy, QB, Mercer
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Scott Wachenheim, VMI

First team offense
QB       Liam Welch, Gr., Samford
RB       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
RB       Donnavan Spencer, R-Sr., Western Carolina
OL        Haden Haas, R-Jr., The Citadel
OL        Tre'mond Shorts, R-Jr., ETSU
OL        Mike Williams, Sr., Samford
OL        Marshall Gill, Jr., VMI
OL        Nick Hartnett, R-So., VMI
TE        Ryan Miller, Jr., Furman
WR      Ty King, So., Samford
WR      Jakob Herres, Jr., VMI

First team defense
DL        Dalton Owens, R-Jr., The Citadel
DL        Solomon Zubairu, So., Mercer
DL        Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., Chattanooga
DL        Micheal Mason, So., Wofford
LB        Anthony Britton Jr., So., The Citadel
LB        Isaac Dowling, Fr., Mercer
LB        Stone Snyder, So., VMI
DB       Tyree Robinson, Sr., ETSU
DB       Darius Kearse, Sr., Furman
DB       Lance Wise, So., Mercer
DB       Chris Edmonds, So., Samford

First team special teams
PK        Mitchell Fineran, Jr., Samford
P          Matt Campbell, Jr., The Citadel
RS       Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford

Second team offense
QB       Reece Udinski, Sr., VMI
RB       Devin Wynn, Sr., Furman
RB       Deondre Johnson, R-So., Mercer
OL        Anderson Tomlin, R-So., Furman
OL       John Harris, R-So., Mercer
OL        Gavin Orr, Jr., Samford
OL        Cole Strange, Sr., Chattanooga
OL        Isaiah Helms, So., Western Carolina
TE        Michael Vice, So., Samford
WR      A.J. Toney, So., Samford
WR      Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford

Second team defense
DL        Carson Hatchett, Fr., The Citadel
DL        Nelson Jordan, Jr., Samford
DL        Armond Lloyd, Gr., Samford
DL        Jay Person, So., Chattanooga
DL        Jordan Ward, Sr., VMI
LB        Jared Folks, Gr., ETSU
LB        Connor Riddle, R-Sr., VMI
LB        Ty Harris, Sr., Western Carolina
DB       Alijah Huzzie, R-Fr., ETSU
DB       AJ Smith, Sr., VMI
DB       Ethan Caselberry, Jr., VMI
DB       Ronald Kent Jr., Jr., Western Carolina

Second team special teams
PK        Tyler Keltner, So., ETSU
P          Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., Furman
RS       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU

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