Bears Notch Big Day With SoCon Awards Announcement
11/26/2024 4:00:00 PM | Football
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Dwayne McGee and Brayden Manley were named offensive and defensive player of the year, respectively, Andrew Zock raked in freshman of the year and Mike Jacobs was celebrated as the league's coach of the year with the release of the 2024 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team on Tuesday afternoon.
In addition to a near-sweep of the major awards, the Bears sent a league-best 13 student-athletes to All-SoCon laurels – the most of MU's 11-year conference membership history. That list includes six first-team all-conference standouts, as well as seven more that were lauded with second-team recognition. The Orange & Black also had four players (Zock, Kendall Harris, Tyler Murray, Whitt Newbauer) named to the SoCon All-Freshman teams.
Mercer's first team all-conference standouts include McGee, offensive lineman Israel Mukwiza, Manley, linebacker Isaac Dowling and defensive backs TJ Moore and Myles Redding. The list of second teamers includes offensive linemen Riley Adcock and EJ Johnson, defensive linemen Arias Nash and Zock, linebacker Ken Standley, punter John McConnell and return specialist Brayden Smith.
Adcock, who made his 54th consecutive start in Mercer's win over Furman on Saturday, has not allowed a sack in 816 offensive snaps and a dozen starts at center this season, and has graded out at or above 80 percent eight times. The Dacula product logged 70 or more snaps against six opponents during the regular season, including a season-high 76 against Samford.
Dowling has logged 74 tackles (28 solo) in 12 starts for MU this season, while also registering nine tackles for loss (-43 yards), a pair of sacks (-29). He has already posted eight quarterback hurries in 2024 as well, while also tacking on one forced fumble, one interception and a trio of pass break-ups. The Snellville product turned in a season-best eight tackles in wins over both The Citadel and Princeton, and tallied his lone interception of the campaign in Mercer's season opener with Presbyterian.
Harris has played a key part in Mercer's offensive success, catching 32 passes for 322 yards and one touchdown, while also turning in a 14-yard run at Bethune-Cookman. An 11-game starter at wide receiver, the Concord, N.C., product has logged multiple catches eight times, including six (59 yards) in Mercer's win at then-No. 23 Wofford, and logged his only touchdown catch on a one-handed grab at Alabama earlier this month.
Johnson has played in all 12 games (10 starts) and logged 674 offensive snaps at right tackle in 2024, and has graded out at 83 percent or better twice, including a season-best 84 percent in MU's win over Furman on Saturday. A transfer from Youngstown State, the Toledo, Ohio, native has played 70 or more offensive snaps four times this season, including 74 in Mercer's victory at Bethune-Cookman in early September.
Manley, a native of Vanceboro, N.C., has started 11 games for the Bears at defensive tackle while amassing 32 tackles (13 solo), including a Southern Conference-best 14-1/2 tackles for loss (-54 yards) and eight sacks (-41). He has registered at least one tackle for loss in 10 outings this season, including multiple stops behind the line in five contests. He totaled a season-best eight sacks, including 2-1/2 sacks, in the win over then-No. 24 Western Carolina in October.
McConnell has been key to Mercer's special teams success this season, registering a 44.1 average on 62 punts this season, including 15 kicks of 50 or more yards. The Marshall transfer and Morgantown, W.Va., native has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 24 times (38.7 percent of total punts), while five of his kicks have resulted in touchbacks. He averaged 52.3 yards on three punts in MU's win over nationally-ranked Western Carolina.
A native of Kissimmee, Fla., McGee has accounted for 1,136 all-purpose yards for the Bears this season, including 1,018 rushing yards (195 carries) and eight touchdowns. He has logged four games of 100 or more rushing yards, including a 223-yard, 2-touchdown day in MU's home win over then-No. 24 Western Carolina in which he also turned in a 22-yard reception as well.
Newbauer took over the starting role at quarterback for the Bears at Western Carolina and has thrown for 1,261 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns on 83-of-141 passing with a trio of interceptions. The Raleigh, N.C., native threw three touchdown passes twice, including as the by-product on a 15-for-30, 282-yard passing day in the win at VMI. He also ran for a score in outings against both Princeton and Western Carolina.
A product of Riverdale, Moore has started all 12 games for the Bears this season while logging 54 tackles (37 solo), an FCS-best seven interceptions and 11 pass break-ups. He also sports an assist on a tackle for loss earlier this season against The Citadel, as well as a pair of quarterback hurries. He has registered five or more tackles six times this season, including a season-best nine stops in Mercer's setback at perennial national powerhouse Alabama.
Mukwiza has started all 12 games for the Orange & Black at left guard this season and has amassed 770 offensive snaps, including a season-high 76 in Mercer's outing at Samford. The Bronx native graded out above 80 percent against Wofford, Mercer and Furman, and did not allow a sack in nine of his starts.
Murray has started all 12 games for Mercer at right guard in 2024, and has allowed just two sacks in 627 offensive snaps. A native of Altavista, Va., he has played in 70 or more snaps twice this season, including 73 in MU's win at VMI on November 9. He has also graded out at 80 percent or better five times already.
Nash has collected 47 tackles (16 solo) in 12 starts at defensive end, including 10 tackles for loss (-62 yards) and 7-1/2 sacks (-49). A Charlotte native, he has also registered 13 quarterback hurries, a pair of pass break-ups and one forced fumble as well. Nash has tallied sacks against six different opponents so far this season, and turned in a season-best eight tackles in consecutive games with Princeton and Samford.
A Mableton native, Redding has totaled 55 stops (4th on team) in 12 starts at safety in 2024, while also turning in three tackles for loss (-11 yards). In addition to his knack for stops, Redding has also posted a career-high six interceptions to go along with four pass break-ups, one forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. He has picked off passes against five different opponents this season, including two on Mercer's trip to Samford.
Smith has been electric in multiple facets of the game for the Bears this season, amassing a team-best 1,226 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns, including 733 combined kick return yards. The Macon product leads the nation with a pair of punt return touchdowns in 2024, including a 75-yard return against Presbyterian and a 64-yard score against Princeton. He has also tallied a rushing or receiving touchdown in six outings this season as well.
Standley has accounted for a team-best 82 tackles (39 solo) in 12 starts at linebacker, including eight tackles for loss (-22 yards) and 1-1/2 sacks (-6). He has also registered four quarterback hurries and a pair of pass break-ups. The Waycross native has posted nine or more tackles in four games this season, including a season-best 12 stops in Mercer's shutout win at VMI. He amassed 31 tackles across the last three games of the regular season.
A product of Citra, Fla., Zock has started all 12 games for the Bears this season and has amassed 32 tackles (18 solo), including 13-1/2 tackles for loss (-74 yards) and 6-1/2 sacks (-56 yards). He has also added two forced fumbles, a pair of pass break-ups and a school record 15 quarterback hurries to his repertoire as well. Zock has put a notch in the tackles for loss column in 10 outings already this season, including a season-best three stops behind the line in Mercer's road win over nationally-ranked Wofford.
Jacobs, who was named the program's 21st head coach on January 18, has led the Bears to a magical season that was accentuated on Sunday afternoon when Mercer was awarded the No. 7 national seed, as well as a first-round bye, for the NCAA FCS Playoffs which begin on Saturday at campus sites around the nation. The fourth-winningest active coach in all of Division I football (minimum five seasons as collegiate coach), Jacobs has skippered the Orange & Black to a school record-tying 10 wins this season, as well as the program's first conference championship in 92 years. The Bears, who registered a perfect 6-0 record at Five Star Stadium this season – the first perfect home campaign since 2013 – will ride a school record-tying 9-game home win streak.
In addition to a near-sweep of the major awards, the Bears sent a league-best 13 student-athletes to All-SoCon laurels – the most of MU's 11-year conference membership history. That list includes six first-team all-conference standouts, as well as seven more that were lauded with second-team recognition. The Orange & Black also had four players (Zock, Kendall Harris, Tyler Murray, Whitt Newbauer) named to the SoCon All-Freshman teams.
Mercer's first team all-conference standouts include McGee, offensive lineman Israel Mukwiza, Manley, linebacker Isaac Dowling and defensive backs TJ Moore and Myles Redding. The list of second teamers includes offensive linemen Riley Adcock and EJ Johnson, defensive linemen Arias Nash and Zock, linebacker Ken Standley, punter John McConnell and return specialist Brayden Smith.
Adcock, who made his 54th consecutive start in Mercer's win over Furman on Saturday, has not allowed a sack in 816 offensive snaps and a dozen starts at center this season, and has graded out at or above 80 percent eight times. The Dacula product logged 70 or more snaps against six opponents during the regular season, including a season-high 76 against Samford.
Dowling has logged 74 tackles (28 solo) in 12 starts for MU this season, while also registering nine tackles for loss (-43 yards), a pair of sacks (-29). He has already posted eight quarterback hurries in 2024 as well, while also tacking on one forced fumble, one interception and a trio of pass break-ups. The Snellville product turned in a season-best eight tackles in wins over both The Citadel and Princeton, and tallied his lone interception of the campaign in Mercer's season opener with Presbyterian.
Harris has played a key part in Mercer's offensive success, catching 32 passes for 322 yards and one touchdown, while also turning in a 14-yard run at Bethune-Cookman. An 11-game starter at wide receiver, the Concord, N.C., product has logged multiple catches eight times, including six (59 yards) in Mercer's win at then-No. 23 Wofford, and logged his only touchdown catch on a one-handed grab at Alabama earlier this month.
Johnson has played in all 12 games (10 starts) and logged 674 offensive snaps at right tackle in 2024, and has graded out at 83 percent or better twice, including a season-best 84 percent in MU's win over Furman on Saturday. A transfer from Youngstown State, the Toledo, Ohio, native has played 70 or more offensive snaps four times this season, including 74 in Mercer's victory at Bethune-Cookman in early September.
Manley, a native of Vanceboro, N.C., has started 11 games for the Bears at defensive tackle while amassing 32 tackles (13 solo), including a Southern Conference-best 14-1/2 tackles for loss (-54 yards) and eight sacks (-41). He has registered at least one tackle for loss in 10 outings this season, including multiple stops behind the line in five contests. He totaled a season-best eight sacks, including 2-1/2 sacks, in the win over then-No. 24 Western Carolina in October.
McConnell has been key to Mercer's special teams success this season, registering a 44.1 average on 62 punts this season, including 15 kicks of 50 or more yards. The Marshall transfer and Morgantown, W.Va., native has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 24 times (38.7 percent of total punts), while five of his kicks have resulted in touchbacks. He averaged 52.3 yards on three punts in MU's win over nationally-ranked Western Carolina.
A native of Kissimmee, Fla., McGee has accounted for 1,136 all-purpose yards for the Bears this season, including 1,018 rushing yards (195 carries) and eight touchdowns. He has logged four games of 100 or more rushing yards, including a 223-yard, 2-touchdown day in MU's home win over then-No. 24 Western Carolina in which he also turned in a 22-yard reception as well.
Newbauer took over the starting role at quarterback for the Bears at Western Carolina and has thrown for 1,261 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns on 83-of-141 passing with a trio of interceptions. The Raleigh, N.C., native threw three touchdown passes twice, including as the by-product on a 15-for-30, 282-yard passing day in the win at VMI. He also ran for a score in outings against both Princeton and Western Carolina.
A product of Riverdale, Moore has started all 12 games for the Bears this season while logging 54 tackles (37 solo), an FCS-best seven interceptions and 11 pass break-ups. He also sports an assist on a tackle for loss earlier this season against The Citadel, as well as a pair of quarterback hurries. He has registered five or more tackles six times this season, including a season-best nine stops in Mercer's setback at perennial national powerhouse Alabama.
Mukwiza has started all 12 games for the Orange & Black at left guard this season and has amassed 770 offensive snaps, including a season-high 76 in Mercer's outing at Samford. The Bronx native graded out above 80 percent against Wofford, Mercer and Furman, and did not allow a sack in nine of his starts.
Murray has started all 12 games for Mercer at right guard in 2024, and has allowed just two sacks in 627 offensive snaps. A native of Altavista, Va., he has played in 70 or more snaps twice this season, including 73 in MU's win at VMI on November 9. He has also graded out at 80 percent or better five times already.
Nash has collected 47 tackles (16 solo) in 12 starts at defensive end, including 10 tackles for loss (-62 yards) and 7-1/2 sacks (-49). A Charlotte native, he has also registered 13 quarterback hurries, a pair of pass break-ups and one forced fumble as well. Nash has tallied sacks against six different opponents so far this season, and turned in a season-best eight tackles in consecutive games with Princeton and Samford.
A Mableton native, Redding has totaled 55 stops (4th on team) in 12 starts at safety in 2024, while also turning in three tackles for loss (-11 yards). In addition to his knack for stops, Redding has also posted a career-high six interceptions to go along with four pass break-ups, one forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. He has picked off passes against five different opponents this season, including two on Mercer's trip to Samford.
Smith has been electric in multiple facets of the game for the Bears this season, amassing a team-best 1,226 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns, including 733 combined kick return yards. The Macon product leads the nation with a pair of punt return touchdowns in 2024, including a 75-yard return against Presbyterian and a 64-yard score against Princeton. He has also tallied a rushing or receiving touchdown in six outings this season as well.
Standley has accounted for a team-best 82 tackles (39 solo) in 12 starts at linebacker, including eight tackles for loss (-22 yards) and 1-1/2 sacks (-6). He has also registered four quarterback hurries and a pair of pass break-ups. The Waycross native has posted nine or more tackles in four games this season, including a season-best 12 stops in Mercer's shutout win at VMI. He amassed 31 tackles across the last three games of the regular season.
A product of Citra, Fla., Zock has started all 12 games for the Bears this season and has amassed 32 tackles (18 solo), including 13-1/2 tackles for loss (-74 yards) and 6-1/2 sacks (-56 yards). He has also added two forced fumbles, a pair of pass break-ups and a school record 15 quarterback hurries to his repertoire as well. Zock has put a notch in the tackles for loss column in 10 outings already this season, including a season-best three stops behind the line in Mercer's road win over nationally-ranked Wofford.
Jacobs, who was named the program's 21st head coach on January 18, has led the Bears to a magical season that was accentuated on Sunday afternoon when Mercer was awarded the No. 7 national seed, as well as a first-round bye, for the NCAA FCS Playoffs which begin on Saturday at campus sites around the nation. The fourth-winningest active coach in all of Division I football (minimum five seasons as collegiate coach), Jacobs has skippered the Orange & Black to a school record-tying 10 wins this season, as well as the program's first conference championship in 92 years. The Bears, who registered a perfect 6-0 record at Five Star Stadium this season – the first perfect home campaign since 2013 – will ride a school record-tying 9-game home win streak.
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