First Look
The Southern Conference announced the 2025 all-conference and all-freshman teams Tuesday morning. Six Chattanooga Mocs were mentioned with four on the all-league squad and two freshmen getting recognition.
 
Mocs Honorees
S Kam Baah-Slay | All-SoCon 2nd
RB Ryan Ingram | All-SoCon 2nd Team
OT Ryan Merklinger | All-SoCon 2nd
LB Zion Rutledge | All-SoCon 2nd
CB KJ Sejour | All-Freshman
S Kamari Todd | All-Freshman
 
Coaches Corner
"Ryan and Ryan had played a lot of football and were important for us this year. It's good to see them recognized for those contributions. Zion and Kam were both in the third year here and developed into starters leading our defense in tackles. KJ and Kamari took advantage of opportunities to start early on in our defense. That's really what all six did to get this status. They took advantage of their opportunity to work hard every day, earn playing time and grew into their roles." – Coach Rusty Wright
 
Breakdown

• Baah-Slay averaged 5.0 solo tackles per game. That ranked second in the SoCon and 17th nationally.
• Merklinger anchored an offensive line that grew into a strong unit as the season progressed. He led a group that finished second in the league in tackles for loss and third in sacks allowed.
• Ingram ran for 578 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns. He was top 10 in the league in all rushing categories.
• Rutledge led the Mocs in tackles with 100. He was third in the conference averaging 8.3 stops per game.
• Sejour had an interception and team-high 11 pass breakups. His 1.00 passes defensed per game ranked in the top 25 nationally. The 12 total ranks in the top 10 seasons all-time at Chattanooga. He's the first freshman to do it and first Moc since 2019 with 12 or more (Jordan Jones).
• Todd took over the starting role at the important slot safety role early in the season. He was fourth on the team with 50 tackles and collected an interception. He and Sejour were the only freshman duo starting in together in an FCS secondary.

2025 All-Southern Conference Awards
Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Taron Dickens, QB, R-So., Western Carolina
Defensive Player of the Year – Andrew Zock, So., DL, Mercer
Freshman of the Year – Braden Atkinson, QB, Mercer
Jacobs Blocking Award – Mike Bartilucci, OL, The Citadel
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Mike Jacobs, Mercer
 
2025 All-SoCon Teams
First team offense
QB: Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
RB: Devontae Houston, ETSU 
RB: CJ Miller, Mercer
OL: Mike Bartilucci, The Citadel
OL: Ashton Flinn, ETSU
OL: Seth Williams, ETSU
OL: Luke Petit, Furman
OL: Xavier Jennings, Mercer
TE: Josh Burrell, Furman
WR: Adjatay Dabbs, Mercer
WR: James Tyre, Western Carolina
 
First team defense
DL: Joshua Stoneking, Furman
DL: Andrew Zock, Mercer
DL: Donovan Grayson, Samford
DL: Brandon Maina, Wofford
LB: Ty Anderson, ETSU
LB: Drew Clare., Mercer
LB: Jaden Mosley, Samford
DB: William Wells, ETSU
DB: Kaleb Hutchinson, Mercer
DB: Ken Moore, Jr., Western Carolina
DB: Maximus Pulley, Wofford
 
First team special teams
PK: Reice Griffith, Mercer
P: Ben Shrewsbury, VMI
LS: Nathan Payne, VMI
RS: Dominic Dutton, Western Carolina
 
Second team offense
QB: Braden Atkinson, Mercer
RB: Ryan Ingram, Chattanooga
RB: Ihson Jackson-Anderson, Wofford
OL: Ryan Merklinger, Chattanooga
OL: Jamari Freeman, Mercer
OL: Tyler Murray, Mercer
OL: Amarii Atchison, Mercer
OL: Zack Watson, Western Carolina
OL: Quincy Hughes, Wofford
TE: Josiah Thomas, Western Carolina
WR: Evan James, Furman
WR: Owen Sweeney, VMI
WR: Malik Knight, Western Carolina
 
Second team defense
DL: Chris Benton, The Citadel
DL: Chris Davis, ETSU
DL: Jordan Swain, Mercer
DL: Conroy Cunningham, Samford
LB: Zion Rutledge, Chattanooga
LB: Mikey Rosa, The Citadel
LB: Stephen Dean III, VMI
DB: Kam Baah-Slay, Chattanooga
DB: Cale Williams, The Citadel
DB: Mike Jenkins, ETSU
DB: Eli Campbell, Wofford
DB: Darius Malcolm, Jr., Wofford
 
Second team special teams
PK: Ian Williams, Furman
P: James Platte, The Citadel
LS: Alex Applefield, Samford
RS: Brayden Smith, Mercer
 
All-Freshman Defense
Kamari Todd, Chattanooga
KJ Sejour, Chattanooga
Sayre Smothers, The Citadel
Demetrius Baldwin, Furman
Kobe McInnis, Mercer
KJ Thomas, Mercer
Trey Lenhardt, Samford
Donovan Burnett, VMI
Derek Hite, VMI
Darius Malcolm Jr., Wofford
Wyatt Ward, Wofford
 
All-Freshman Offense
Brady Pickett, The Citadel
Cobey Thompkins, The Citadel
Jeremiah Harrison, ETSU
Cole Norred, ETSU
Braden Atkinson, Mercer
Evan James, Furman
Ty Doughty, Mercer
Gavin Marks, Mercer
Owen Sweeney, VMI
Josiah Thomas, Western Carolina
Markel Townsend, Western Carolina
 
All-Freshman Special Teams
Caleb Easterling, Furman
Jake Garner, Samford
Marcus Trout, Western Carolina
Cavan Craig, Wofford
 
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