2011 ALL-GAC FOOTBALL RELEASE (PDF)

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – A total of 75 student-athletes representing all nine charter institutions of the Great American Conference have been honored as selections to the inaugural all-conference football teams, which also includes the recipients of the league’s yearly awards. 

The league’s awards are broken down into four categories – first team, second team, honorable mention and yearly awards. There were a total of 77 positions awarded combined on the first team, second team and honorable mention list. Arkansas Tech and East Central each had one student-athlete selected for more than one position. The first and second teams have a total of 28 spots each, and the honorable mention list includes a total of 21 student-athletes.

East Central University led the GAC in its inaugural season with a total of 16 student-athletes awarded to 17 positions. The Tigers finished third in the GAC standings, after recording their most successful season since 1993 with an overall record of 8-3. ECU received seven first team honorees, five second team honorees and five honorable mentions.

ECU’s first team honorees include senior wide receiver Zach Patteson (Lucas, Texas), junior offensive lineman Carlos Savala (Fontana, Calif.), senior offensive lineman Desmund Farris (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), junior defensive end Armonty Bryant (Wichita Falls, Texas), junior outside linebacker Jason Catchings (New Hebron, Miss.), senior cornerback Dontae Smith (Deland, Fla.), and junior safety Norris Wrenn (Lawton, Okla.) Dontae Smith was also honored as a return specialist on the second team after leading the league with an average of 35.1 yards per kickoff return.

ECU’s Jason Catchings was named the league’s first-ever defensive player of the year after finishing the 2011 campaign ranked in the top five of three different GAC statistical categories. He ranked second in sacks (6.5), fourth in tackles for a loss (13.5) and tied for first in fumbles forced (4).

The inaugural GAC champions, Ouachita Baptist, earned 13 total selections – four on the first team, six on the second team and three on the honorable mention list.

OBU’s first team honorees include junior quarterback Casey Cooper (Conway, Ark.), senior offensive lineman Roy Richard (Lewisville, Ark.), senior defensive tackle Taurus Williams (West Memphis, Ark.), and senior inside linebacker Terrence Garrett (Wynne, Ark.).

After finishing the year ranked second in the GAC and 15th in all of NCAA Division II with an average of 277.9 yards of total offense per game, OBU quarterback Casey Cooper was named the league’s offensive player of the year. During the 2011 season, he racked up 2,779 yards of total offense and was responsible for 19 touchdowns (10 passing), helping his team capture its first conference championship since 1982.

For leading his team to the inaugural GAC title, Ouachita head coach Todd Knight has been named the GAC Coach of the Year. Knight is in his 13th season as OBU’s head coach. The Tigers finished the year 7-3 overall and 6-1 in GAC games.

Harding University followed OBU with a total of 10 all-conference honorees – four first team, three second team and three honorable mentions. HU’s first team honorees include senior running back Kale Gelles (Colleyville, Texas), senior wide receiver/running back Jeremy Holt (Nashville, Tenn.), senior offensive lineman Garrett Taylor (Huntsville, Texas) and senior kicker Eddy Carmona (Charleston, Ark.).

Henderson State is the next highest team with nine all-conference selections, earning three first team picks, three second picks and three honorable mentions. HSU’s first team honorees include senior defensive tackle Antonio Leak (Little Rock, Ark.), sophomore inside linebacker Keaton Stigger (Collierville, Tenn.) and senior outside linebacker Bennie Anderson (Franklin, Tenn.)

Arkansas-Monticello also earned nine all-conference selections – three first team, four second team and two honorable mentions. UAM’s first team honorees include senior receiver D.J. Stephens (Sylmar, Calif.), senior center Seth Oxner (Monticello, Ark.), and senior punter Derek Jambon (Marrero, La.).

Southwestern Oklahoma State received eight honorees – two first team, four second team and two honorable mentions. SWOSU’s first team honorees are senior cornerback Marvin Tribble (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and senior safety Clarence Laster (Hemet, Calif.).

SWOSU defensive tackle Devin Benton (Arlington, Texas) highlighted the second team, earning the league’s inaugural freshman of the year award. Benton finished third on his team and 26th in the league with an average of 5.4 tackles per game. He also ranked sixth in the league with a total of five sacks.

Southern Arkansas earned five all-conference honorees – one first team, one second team and three honorable mentions. Junior running back Mark Johnson (Longview, Texas) represents SAU on the first team. Johnson led the league in rushing with an average of 100.9 yards per game during the 2011 season.

Arkansas Tech and Southeastern Oklahoma State each received three honorees. ATU senior A.J. Whitmore (Nashville, Ark.) was named a first team honoree as both a wide receiver and as a return specialist. Whitmore led the league in all-purpose yards with an average of 120.7 yards per game during the 2011 season. He averaged 26 yards per kickoff return and recorded a league-high three kickoff returns for a touchdown during the year. ATU’s other first team honoree is junior defensive end Roland Dampeer (Mendenhall, Miss.)

Southeastern Oklahoma State junior tight end Ryan Shelley (Irving, Texas) finalizes the first team. Shelley ranked fifth in the league in receptions per game (4.4) and sixth in the league in receiving yards per game (53.2).

2011 ALL-GAC FOOTBALL 1ST TEAM
QB – Casey Cooper, Junior, Ouachita Baptist (Conway, Ark.)
RB – Mark Johnson, Junior, Southern Arkansas (Longview, Texas)
RB – Kale Gelles, Senior, Harding (Colleyville, Texas)
WR – D.J. Stephens, Senior, Arkansas-Monticello (Sylmar, Calif.)
WR – A.J. Whitmore, Senior, Arkansas Tech (Nashville, Ark.)
WR – Zach Patteson, Senior, East Central (Lucas, Texas)
TE – Ryan Shelley, Junior, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Irving, Texas)
UT – Jeremy Holt, Senior, Harding (Nashville, Tenn.)
C – Seth Oxner, Senior, Arkansas-Monticello (Monticello, Ark.)
OL – Carlos Savala, Junior, East Central (Fontana, Calif.)
OL – Garrett Taylor, Senior, Harding (Huntsville, Texas)
OL – Roy Richard, Senior, Ouachita Baptist (Lewisville, Ark.)
OL – Desmund Farris, Senior, East Central (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
DE – Armonty Bryant, Junior, East Central (Wichita Falls, Texas)
DE – Roland Dampeer, Junior, Arkansas Tech (Mendenhall, Miss.)
DT – Taurus Williams, Senior, Ouachita Baptist (West Memphis, Ark.)
DT – Antonio Leak, Senior, Henderson State (Little Rock, Ark.)
ILB – Terrence Garrett, Senior, Ouachita Baptist (Wynne, Ark.)
ILB – Keaton Stigger, Sophomore, Henderson State (Collierville, Tenn.)
OLB – Jason Catchings, Junior, East Central (New Hebron, Miss.)
OLB – Bennie Anderson, Senior, Henderson State (Franklin, Tenn.)
CB – Dontae Smith, Senior, East Central (Deland, Fla.)
CB – Marvin Tribble, Senior, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)
S – Clarence Laster, Senior, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Hemet, Calif.)
S – Norris Wrenn, Junior, East Central (Lawton, Okla.)
P – Derek Jambon, Senior, Arkansas-Monticello (Marrero, La.)
K – Eddy Carmona, Senior, Harding (Charleston, Ark.)
RS – A.J. Whitmore, Senior, Arkansas Tech (Nashville, Ark.)

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Casey Cooper, Junior, QB, Ouachita Baptist
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jason Catchings, Junior, OLB, East Central
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Devin Benton, DT, Southwestern Oklahoma State
COACH OF THE YEAR: Todd Knight, Ouachita Baptist

2011 ALL-GAC FOOTBALL 2ND TEAM
QB – Tyler Vanderzee, Senior, East Central (Chino, Calif.)
RB – Jarvis Smith, Junior, Henderson State (Drew, Miss.)
RB – Nakita Myles, Senior, Arkansas-Monticello (Northview, Fla.)
WR – George Robbins, Junior, East Central (Bakersfield, Calif.)
WR – Esau Bauknight, Senior, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Columbus, Ga.)
WR – Brett Reece, Senior, Ouachita Baptist (Houston, Texas)
TE – Phillip Supernaw, Senior, Ouachita Baptist (Katy, Texas)
UT – Bruce Hatton, Senior, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Mesquite, Texas)
C – Hunter Soper, Junior, Ouachita Baptist (Dallas, Texas)
OL – Kyle Smith, Senior, Ouachita Baptist (Hot Springs, Ark.)
OL – Allen Hale, Senior, Southern Arkansas (Ovilla, Texas)
OL – Corey Godbolt, Senior, Ouachita Baptist (Stamps, Ark.)
OL – Tory Day, Junior, Harding (Memphis, Tenn.)
DE – Josh Aldridge, Junior, Harding (Jackson, Tenn.)
DE – Robbie Aldridge, Junior, Henderson State (Trussville, Ala.)
DT – Calvin Ursin, Sophomore, Arkansas-Monticello (St. Rose, La.)
DT – Devin Benton, Freshman, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Arlington, Texas)
ILB – Kerel James, Senior, East Central (Los Angeles, Calif.)
ILB – Aaron Gillaspie, Junior, Harding (Nashville, Tenn.)
OLB – Johnny Seals, Senior, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Tishomingo, Okla.)
OLB – Abraham Felton, Junior, Arkansas-Monticello (Memphis, Tenn.)
CB – Eric Crocker, Senior, Arkansas-Monticello (Stockton, Calif.)
CB – A.J. Williams, Senior, Ouachita Baptist (Little Rock, Ark.)
S – Jeremy Rodenburg, Senior, Henderson State (San Clemente, Calif.)
S – Izzy Eziakor, Sophomore, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Wylie, Texas)
P – Brian Gonzalez, Junior, East Central (Los Angeles, Calif.)
K – Colton Rainey, Junior, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Lawton, Okla.)
RS – Dontae Smith, Senior, East Central (Deland, Fla.)

2011 ALL-GAC FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTIONS
QB – Dustin Stenta, Sophomore, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Fort Worth, Texas)
RB – Chris Rycraw, Sophomore, Ouachita Baptist (Bryant, Ark.)
WR – Kenneth Robey, Senior, Arkansas-Monticello (Charleston, Miss.)
WR – Tyler O’Quin, Senior, Harding (Wylie, Texas)
TE – Colter Huff, Junior, East Central (Miller, Mo.)
C – David Rebata, Senior, Henderson State (Petaluma, Calif.)
OL – Kevin Rodriguez, Senior, Henderson State (Visalia, Calif.)
OL – Ronald Penn, Junior, Arkansas-Monticello (Los Angeles, Calif.)
DE – Lonnell Rice, Senior, East Central (Moreno Valley, Calif.)
DE – Lis Leota, Senior, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Salt Lake City, Utah)
DT – Erik Howell, Junior, East Central (Muskogee, Okla.)
ILB – A.J. Steele, Junior, Southern Arkansas (Jonesboro, La.)
ILB – Amos Cherry, Junior, East Central (Coweta, Okla.)
OLB – Tyler McGrew, Junior, East Central (Broken Arrow, Okla.)
OLB – Augustine Ume-Ezeoke, Junior, Ouachita Baptist (Garland, Texas)
CB – Wes Brady, Sophomore, Henderson State (Homestead, Fla.)
CB – Roderick Cohn, Junior, Harding (Long Beach, Calif.)
S – Jasper Bodiford, Junior, Harding (Riviera Beach, Fla.)
S – Jacolby Stewart, Senior, Southern Arkansas (Mount Pleasant, Texas)
P – Clark Gaddis, Sophomore, Ouachita Baptist (Mesquite, Texas)
RS – Travarus Brown, Senior, Southern Arkansas (Longview, Texas)

THE BREAKDOWN
Total Positions Awarded: 77 (ATU and ECU each had a player make more than one position category)
East Central: 17 (7 first team, 5 second team, 5 honorable mentions)
Ouachita Baptist: 13 (4 first team, 6 second team, 3 honorable mentions)
Harding: 10 (4 first team, 3 second team, 3 honorable mentions)
Henderson State: 9 (3 first team, 3 second team, 3 honorable mentions)
Arkansas-Monticello: 9 (3 first team, 4 second team, 2 honorable mentions)
Southwestern Oklahoma State: 8 (2 first team, 4 second team, 2 honorable mentions)
Southern Arkansas: 5 (1 first team, 1 second team, 3 honorable mentions)
Arkansas Tech: 3 (3 first team)
Southeastern Oklahoma State: 3 (1 first team, 2 second team)