The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team cleaned house on the Southern Conference postseason awards announced by the league office today. Russ Huesman, Davis Tull and Jacob Huesman swept coach, defensive, and offensive player of the year honors given out by the coaches and media, while Corey Levin took home the Jacobs Blocking Award.
All totaled, an astonishing 21 Mocs walked away with some type of recognition between the All-SoCon and all-freshman teams. A school-record 17 Mocs made the All-SoCon first or second teams while a league-high six earned SoCon All-Freshman recognition.
The elder Huesman is the first Moc football coach to win three SoCon Coach of the Year honors. He swept the award from both the coaches and the media. He led Chattanooga to a 9-3 overall record and a 7-0 SoCon mark this season for its sixth league crown. Coupled with last season's shared SoCon title, Huesman has now led the Mocs to back-to-back titles for the first time since 1978-79.
In addition to earning a spot in the FCS Playoffs for the first time in 30 years, the Mocs also earned the No. 8 national seed and a first-round bye. Chattanooga has been nationally ranked all season, including this week's school-record No. 8 listing in both the FCS Coaches and Sports Network top 25.
Tull and Jacob Huesman become the sixth pair of teammates to sweep the media awards and the first duo to do so for UTC. They also took both honors from the coaches. Tull is currently on the Buchanan Watch List while Huesman is a Payton Award candidate.
Huesman averaged 243 yards of total offense per game. He led the Southern Conference and ranks sixth nationally in pass efficiency (155.9). The Chattanooga, Tenn., native completed 68 percent of his passes for 2,155 yards this season, including a season-high 359 yards against Mercer on Oct. 25. Huesman tossed 21 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. The junior is just three touchdown passes away from setting a new school record. He averaged 63.6 yards per game on the ground and scored 10 touchdowns.
Tull, a defensive lineman, leads the league in sacks for the third straight season, posting 10.5 this year to become the SoCon's all-time leader with 37.0. With his third straight defensive honor, he becomes just the second player in league history to be named defensive player of the year three times and the first since Appalachian State's Dexter Coakley from 1994-96. So far this season, Tull has amassed 55 tackles (35 solo), with 17.0 going for lost yardage. The senior from Knoxville, Tenn., also has a fumble recovery and was the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29.
Levin is just the second Moc to earn the Jacobs Blocking Award and the first in 31 years, joining Mike Nease, who won it in 1983. Also a first-team all-conference selection, Levin, a sophomore offensive lineman from Dacula, Ga., was integral in helping the Mocs boast the top scoring offense in the SoCon at 35.1 points per game and the third-best rushing offense in the league at 204.8 yards per game. The Mocs also lead the conference in pass efficiency at 154.2.
First team honorees for Chattanooga on offense include Huesman, Levin, senior tight end Faysal Shafaat and senior running back Keon Williams. Freshman center Jacob Revis was a consensus second-team pick, while the league's coaches gave senior receivers Tommy Hudson and sophomore receiver C.J. Board second team recognition.
Defensively, Tull was one of six Mocs to earn first team recognition. He and senior defensive lineman Derrick Lott were picked by both the coaches and the media. Senior linebacker Muhasibi Wakeel and freshman defensive back Lucas Webb made the media's first team while sophomore defensive backs Cedric Nettles and Dee Virgin made the coaches first team. Sophomore defensive lineman Keionta Davis and sophomore linebacker Nakevion Leslie were consensus second team selections on defense.
Senior punter Nick Pollard and sophomore kicker Henrique Ribeiro were both first team picks by the media. Ribeiro swept the top spot on both squads and Pollard made the coaches second team.
Capping it all off were the six newcomers on the SoCon All-Freshman team. Led by Webb and Revis, running back Richardre Bagley, offensive lineman Hunter Townson and defensive backs Tavon Lawson and Trevor Wright were also recognized by the league.
2014 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year – Jacob Huesman, Jr., QB, Chattanooga
Defensive Player of the Year – Davis Tull, Sr., DL, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year – Al Cobb, QB, VMI
Jacobs Blocking Award – Corey Levin, So., OL, Chattanooga
Coach of the Year – Russ Huesman, Chattanooga
First Team Offense
QB Jacob Huesman, Jr., Chattanooga
RB Denzel Williams, So., Samford
RB Keon Williams, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Sam Frye, Jr., The Citadel
OL Joe Turner, Jr., Furman
OL Gunnar Bromelow, Jr., Samford
OL Corey Levin, So., Chattanooga
OL Anton Wahrby, So., Wofford
TE Faysal Shafaat, Sr., Chattanooga
WR Karel Hamilton, So., Samford
WR Spearman Robinson, So., Western Carolina
First Team Defense
DL Gary Wilkins, Sr., Furman
DL Derrick Lott, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Davis Tull, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Tarek Odom, Sr., Wofford
LB Cory Magwood, Jr., Furman
LB Justin Cooper, Jr., Samford
LB Christon Gill, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Jaquiski Tartt, Sr., Samford
DB Cedric Nettles, So., Chattanooga
DB Dee Virgin, So., Chattanooga
DB Ace Clark, Sr., Western Carolina
First Team Specialists
PK Henrique Ribeiro, So., Chattanooga
P Greg Peranich, Sr., Samford
RS Chandler Curtis, Fr., Mercer
Second Team Offense
QB Troy Mitchell, Jr., Western Carolina
RB Alex Lakes, Fr., Mercer
RB Darius Ramsey, Jr., Western Carolina
OL Wilson Heres, Jr., Mercer
OL Jordan Boatright, Sr., Samford
OL Kyle Champion, Sr., Samford
OL Jacob Revis, Fr., Chattanooga
OL Andy Marcotte, Sr., VMI
OL Josh Wineberg, Jr., Western Carolina
TE Duncan Fletcher, So., Furman
WR Jordan Snellings, Jr., Furman
WR C.J. Board, So., Chattanooga
WR Tommy Hudson, Sr., Chattanooga
Second Team Defense
DL Mitchell Jeter, Jr., The Citadel
DL Michael Pierce, Jr., Samford
DL Keionta Davis, So., Chattanooga
DL E.J. Speller, Jr., Wofford
LB Nakevion Leslie, So., Chattanooga
LB Muhasibi Wakeel, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Sertonuse Harris, Jr., Western Carolina
DB Reggie Thomas, Jr., Furman
DB Jamerson Blount, So., Samford
DB James Bradberry, Jr., Samford
DB Lucas Webb, Fr., Chattanooga
DB Trey Morgan, So., Western Carolina
Second Team Specialists
PK Richard Sigmon, Sr., Western Carolina
P Nick Pollard, Sr., Chattanooga
RS Detrez Newsome, Fr., Western Carolina
All-Freshman Offense
Cam Jackson, RB, The Citadel
Isiaha Smith, RB, The Citadel
P.J. Blazejowski, QB, Furman
Alex Lakes, RB, Mercer
Malik Johns, WR, Samford
Richardre Bagley, RB, Chattanooga
Jacob Revis, OL, Chattanooga
Hunter Townson, OL, Chattanooga
Al Cobb, QB, VMI
Detrez Newsome, RB, Western Carolina
Davis Lenoir, OL, Wofford
All-Freshman Defense
DeVonta Delaney, DB, The Citadel
Austin Barrett, DL, Mercer
Kyle Williams, LB, Mercer
Shaheed Salmon, LB, Samford
Tavon Lawson, DB, Chattanooga
Lucas Webb, DB, Chattanooga
Trevor Wright, DB, Chattanooga
Greg Sanders, DB, VMI
Derrick Davis, DL, Western Carolina
Daniel Riddle, LB, Western Carolina
Terrance Morris, LB, Wofford
All-Freshman Specialists
Jon Croft Hollingsworth, P/PK, Furman
Chandler Curtis, RS, Mercer
Detrez Newsome, RS, Western Carolina
David Marvin, PK, Wofford
2014 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team
Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Jacob Huesman, Jr., QB, Chattanooga
Defensive Player of the Year – Davis Tull, Sr., DE, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year – Al Cobb, QB, VMI
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Russ Huesman, Chattanooga
First Team Offense
QB Jacob Huesman, Jr., Chattanooga
RB Alex Lakes, Fr., Mercer
RB Keon Williams, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Sam Frye, Jr, The Citadel
OL Jordan Boatright, Sr., Samford
OL Corey Levin, So., Chattanooga
OL Jake Thornton, Jr., Western Carolina
OL T.J. Chamberlain, Jr., Wofford
TE Faysal Shafaat, Sr., Chattanooga
WR Karel Hamilton, So., Samford
WR Spearman Robinson, So., Western Carolina
First Team Defense
DL Davis Tull, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Gary Wilkins, Sr., Furman
DL Derrick Lott, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Tarek Odom, Sr., Wofford
LB Cory Magwood, Jr., Furman
LB Muhasibi Wakeel, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Christon Gill, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Jaquiski Tartt, Sr., Samford
DB Lucas Webb, Fr., Chattanooga
DB Ace Clark, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Trey Morgan, So., Western Carolina
First Team Specialists
PK Henrique Ribeiro, So., Chattanooga
P Nick Pollard, Sr., Chattanooga
RS Chandler Curtis, Fr., Mercer
Second Team Offense
QB Troy Mitchell, Jr., Western Carolina
RB Denzel Williams, So., Samford
RB Lorenzo Long, So., Wofford
OL Joe Turner, Jr., Furman
OL Kyle Champion, Sr., Samford
OL Jacob Revis, Fr., Chattanooga
OL Andy Marcotte, Sr., VMI
OL Josh Wineberg, Jr., Western Carolina
TE Duncan Fletcher, So., Furman
WR Jordan Snellings, Jr., Furman
WR Terryon Robinson, So., Western Carolina
Second Team Defense
DL Mitchell Jeter, Jr., The Citadel
DL Michael Pierce, Jr., Samford
DL Keionta Davis, So., Chattanooga
DL Caleb Hawkins, Jr., Western Carolina
LB Tyler Ward, So., Mercer
LB Justin Cooper, Jr., Samford
LB Nakevion Leslie, So., Chattanooga
DB Reggie Thomas, Jr., Furman
DB Alex Avant, Jr., Mercer
DB Jamerson Blount, So., Samford
DB Cedric Nettles, So., Chattanooga
DB Dee Virgin, So., Chattanooga
Second Team Specialists
PK Warren Handrahan, So., Samford
P Greg Peranich, Sr., Samford
RS Detrez Newsome, Fr., Western Carolina
