Four East Texas A&M University football players were named to the All-Southland Conference Football Team.
Heading the list for the Lions was linebacker Brandon Tucker, Jr., who is a 5-10, 225-pound sophomore from DeSoto.
Tucker earned the Southland’s Defensive Player of the Year award after setting a school record with 141 tackles this season. He led the conference in tackles for a loss with 15. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles.
Tucker, also named to the first-team defense, is one of 35 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in FCS.
Lion defensive back Max Epps, who is a 5-11, 182-pound senior from Spring Dekaney, also earned first-team honors for the second straight season.
Epps, who has earned all-America honors in the past, recorded 76 tackles, intercepted two passes, broke up seven passes, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble.
ETAMU wide receiver Christian Jourdain, a 6-0, 175-pound senior from New Orleans, made the second-team offense. He led the Lion receivers with 51 catches for 683 yards and six touchdowns.
ETAMU defense back Jaden Rios, a 6-0, 172-pound junior from Frisco Lone Star, made the second defense. Rios recorded 30 tackles, intercepted three passes and broke up six passes for the 3-8 Lions, who won two of their last three games.
Incarnate Word quarterback Zach Calzada, who has passed for 3,351 yards and 33 TDs, earned the conference’s Player of the Year award after leading the 10-2 Cardinals to the conference championship and a playoff berth.
All-Southland Conference
Football Team
Player of the Year — Zach Calzada, Incarnate Word
Offensive Player of the Year — Jalen Walthall, Incarnate Word
Defensive Player of the Year — Brandon Tucker, East Texas A&M
Offensive Lineman of the Year‚ Evan Roussel, Nicholls
Newcomer of the Year — Sam Vidlak, Stephen F. Austin
Freshman of the Year — Miequle Brock, Nicholls
Coach of the Year — Clint Killough, Incarnate Word
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB Zach Calzada Incarnate Word Gr.
RB Antonio Martin Jr. Southeastern So.
RB DeKalon Taylor Incarnate Word Jr.
TE Logan Compton Incarnate Word Jr.
WR Jalen Walthall Incarnate Word Jr.
WR Kylon Harris Stephen F. AustinJr.
WR Darius Lewis Southeastern Sr.
OL Evan Roussel Nicholls Sr.
OL Brockhim Wicks Southeastern Sr.
OL Traveon Newsome Incarnate Word Jr.
OL Mason Williams Incarnate Word Gr.
OL Cole Leclair McNeese Sr.
PK Chris Campos Stephen F. Austin Sr.
KR Brandon Hayes Southeastern Jr.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DL Delcan Williams Incarnate Word Jr.
DL Warren Peeples Southeastern Sr.
DL Rasheed Lovelace Nicholls So.
DL Zack Bernard Nicholls Sr.
LB Brandon Tucker Jr. East Texas A&M So.
LB Eli Ennis Nicholls Jr.
LB Jake Dalmado Nicholls Jr.
DB Darius Sanders Incarnate Word Sr.
DB Mason Chambers Incarnate Word Sr.
DB Keydrain Calligan Southeastern Gr.
DB Jeremiah Walker Stephen F. Austin Sr.
P Finn Lappin McNeese Sr.
LS Jovoni Borbon McNeese Gr.
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB Sam Vidlak Stephen F. AustinJr.
RB Khalan Griffin Lamar Sr.
RB Joshon Barbie McNeese Jr.
TE Devyn Gibbs Lamar Jr.
WR Roy Alexander Incarnate Word Gr.
WR A.J. Wilson Houston Christian So.
WR Kyundon Fuselier Lamar Jr.
WR Christian Jourdain East Texas A&M Sr.
OL Nolan Hay Incarnate Word Jr.
OL Rasheed Jackson Incarnate Word So.
OL Dion Daniels Houston Christian Sr.
OL Elias Ripley Lamar Sr.
OL Jevale Roberson Lamar Sr.
OL Kortez Winslow Lamar Fr.
OL Nate Adams Stephen F. Austin Jr.
PK Dillon Fedor Houston Christian Sr.
PK Riley Callaghan Southeastern Jr.
KR Champ Dozier Houston Christian Fr.
PR DeKalon Taylor Incarnate Word Jr.
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL Aaron Austin Stephen F. Austin Jr.
DL Edward Bobino III Stephen F. Austin Sr.
DL Kaleb Proctor Southeastern Jr.
DL Devin Grant Incarnate Word Jr.
DL Caleb Williams Lamar Sr.
DL Shemar Pearl Southeastern Sr.
LB K.K. Reno Southeastern Jr.
LB Mister Williams Incarnate Word Jr.
LB Micah Davey McNeese Jr.
DB Jaden Rios East Texas A&M Jr.
DB Charles Demmings Stephen F. Austin Jr.
DB Kristian Pugh Lamar Jr.
DB Khamron Ford Southestern Sr.
DB Coryell Pierce Southeastern Sr.
P Alec Mahler Southeastern So.
LS Will Davidson Southeastern Fr.
