The South Atlantic Conference football major awards and all-conference selections were released today.

In addition to the All-Conference first and second teams for both the Mountain and Piedmont Divisions, the conference’s major awards were announced. 

Leading the way in the Mountain Division was Offensive Player of the Year Ty Snelson from Mars Hill. The Mountain Division Offensive Freshman of the Year was Justin Hill from Emory & Henry.  On the defensive side of the ball, Mars Hill’s Landon Honeycutt was named Mountain Division Defensive Player of the Year, and Carson-Newman’s Frank Lee was named Mountain Division Defensive Freshman of the Year.

In the Piedmont Division, Newberry’s Mario Anderson was named Piedmont Division Offensive Player of the Year and Lenoir-Rhyne’s Malik Simmons was named Piedmont Division Offensive Freshman of the Year. On defense, DJ Horne of Wingate was named the Piedmont Division Defensive Player of the Year, and fellow Bulldog Jordan Thomas was named Piedmont Division Defensive Freshman of the Year.

Wingate’s Evan Surgeon was named the Jacobs Blocking Trophy award winner and Newberry head coach Todd Knight took home Coach of the Year honors for the second consecutive year.

Snelson, a senior tight end from Hot Springs, N.C., was instrumental in Mars Hill’s run at the 2022 SAC Football Championship and in the Lions' 7-3 overall record this season. He finished the year with 587 yards of offense, including 160 yards on the ground and 427 receiving yards. He scored six touchdowns and averaged 58.7 yards of offense for the Lions.  

Hill, a freshman running back from Dallas, N.C., rushed for 412 yards on 97 carries with two touchdowns during the 2022 season. He also hauled in a receiving touchdown and had 414 yards of total offense for the Wasps.

Honeycutt, a senior linebacker from Mount Pleasant, N.C., ranks first in the league in tackles per game (9), first in tackle assists (50), and fifth in total tackles (90). He had five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.

Lee, a freshman defensive lineman from Orangeburg, S.C., finished the year with 39 total tackles, including 27 solo tackles, five sacks, and 13.5 tackles for loss. He also had a forced fumble and eight pass breakups.

Anderson, a sophomore running back from Summerville, S.C., rushed for 1,575 yards and led the league in yards per game (157.5) and touchdowns (19). He also caught six passes for 25 yards and had 1,600 all-purpose yards. He was named MVP of the 2022 SAC Championship game and was a two-time SAC Offensive Player of the Week.

Simmons, a freshman tight end from Bedford Heights, Ohio, averaged more than 17 yards per game, hauling in 10 catches for 177 yards with five touchdowns for the Bears.

Horne, a senior from Lawrenceville, Ala., anchored a Bulldog defense that led the league allowing just 212.5 yards of total offense and just 68.1 rushing yards this season. He had 40 total tackles, including 18 solo tackles, 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.

Thomas, a freshman defensive back from Decatur, Ga., had 30 total tackles, including 19 solo tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, and 10 pass breakups.

Surgeon, a senior offensive lineman from Greensboro, N.C., led the Bulldogs to a 9-2 overall record and was one of the top rushing and passing teams in the SAC in 2022. The Bulldogs threw for 2,019 yards and rushed for 1,734 yards, averaging 341.2 yards of offense per game.

In his 14th season at the helm of the Newberry football team, Knight led the Wolves to the 2022 SAC Football Championship, the second Newberry football championship in as many years, with a 7-2 record in the conference. The Wolves rank fourth in the league in total offense (4,123 yards), fifth in yards per game (374.8), and third in points per game (31.2). They finished the regular season ranked No. 18 nationally. 

Tusculum led the way with 16 All-SAC selections, while Mars Hill had 15 All-SAC selections, followed by Newberry’s 14 All-SAC selections. Carson-Newman and Limestone each had 12 All-SAC selections and Wingate had 11 All-SAC selections. Lenoir-Rhyne and Emory & Henry had eight all-conference picks each, while Barton and Catawba had five selections each. Rounding out the All-SAC picks were UVA Wise with four and Erskine with two.

2022 ALL-SAC FOOTBALL

FIRST TEAM MOUNTAIN OFFENSE

QB –     Tre Simmons, Tusculum
RB –     Mekhai Johnson, Tusculum
RB –     Jervon Newton, Mars Hill
RB –     Grayson Overstreet, Emory & Henry
WR –    Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman
WR –    Malik Laurent, Mars Hill
WR –    Tmahdae Penn, Emory & Henry
OL –     Leondre Andreas, Mars Hill
OL –     Tommy Mahoney, Tusculum
OL –     Justin Bullock, Mars Hill
OL –     Ricky Dodson, Emory & Henry
OL –     Christian Jones, Carson-Newman
TE –      Ty Snelson, Mars Hill
PK –     Christian Erwin, Carson-Newman
LS –      Andrew Bradshaw, Carson-Newman
RS –      Robert Carter, UVA Wise 

FIRST TEAM MOUNTAIN DEFENSE

DL –     Dajavon White, Tusculum
DL –     Donovan Pinnix, Emory & Henry
DL –     Joel Burgess, UVA Wise
DL –     Frank Lee, Carson-Newman
LB –      Landon Honeycutt, Mars Hill
LB –      Ivan Phillips, Emory & Henry
LB –      Wesley Scott, Tusculum
LB –      Alonzo Houston, Carson-Newman
DB –     Monroe Sanderson, Mars Hill
DB –     Major Williams, Carson-Newman
DB –     Robert Carter, UVA Wise
DB –     Tristan Rankin, Mars Hill
P –        Andrew Cantrell, Tusculum                  

SECOND TEAM MOUNTAIN OFFENSE

QB –     Jimmy Urzua, Mars Hill
RB –     TJ King, Carson-Newman
RB –     Tyree Nelson, Carson-Newman
RB –     Kevon Catoe, Erskine
RB -      Justin Hill, Emory & Henry
WR –    Tyler Burke, Tusculum
WR –    Trevarus Walker, Erskine
WR –    Markel Harrison, UVA Wise
OL –     Seth Branham, Mars Hill
OL –     Preston Robertson, Emory & Henry
OL –     Ben Shellenback, Tusculum
OL –     Mike Peppin, Carson-Newman
OL –     Joe Lock, Tusculum
TE –      Bryce Moore, Tusculum
PK –     Andre Labat, Mars Hill
LS –      Josh Curray, Tusculum
RS –      Mekhai Johnson, Tusculum

SECOND TEAM MOUNTAIN DEFENSE

DL –     Boris Lewis, Mars Hill
DL –     Damipi Lamboni, Mars Hill
DL –     Trayzel Jureidini-Wyche, Carson-Newman
DL –     Joslyn Mira, Tusculum
LB –      Jabril Norman, Mars Hill
LB –      Jamari Smith, Erskine
LB –      Ryan Dolce, Tusculum
LB –      Caleb Goins, Carson-Newman
DB –     Jermaine Witherspoon, Tusculum
DB –     Nick Jackson, Mars Hill
DB –     Addison Knicely, Emory & Henry
DB –     Andrae Robinson, Tusculum
P -       Michael Harrah, Carson-Newman

Mountain Offensive Freshman of the Year

Justin Hill, Emory & Henry 

Mountain Offensive Player of the Year

Ty Snelson, Mars Hill

Mountain Defensive Freshman of the Year

Frank Lee, Carson-Newman

Mountain Defensive Player of the Year

Landon Honeycutt, Mars Hill 

FIRST TEAM PIEDMONT OFFENSE

QB –     Dre Harris, Newberry
RB –     Mario Anderson, Newberry
RB –     Jordan Terrell, Barton
RB –     Tre Stewart, Limestone
WR –    Deshun Kitchings, Newberry
WR –    Kelin Parsons, Lenoir-Rhyne
WR –    Drew Dixon, Limestone
OL –     Evan Surgeon, Wingate
OL –     Cameron Thomason, Limestone
OL –     Luke Bond, Limestone
OL –     Xavier Jennings, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL –     Jordan Campbell, Newberry
TE –      Tommy Washington, Newberry
PK –     Ethan Evans, Wingate
LS –      Blake Arnoult, Newberry
RS –      Kujuan Pryor, Catawba

FIRST TEAM PIEDMONT DEFENSE

DL –     Devante Gambrell, Newberry
DL –     Marquise Fleming, Wingate
DL –     DJ Horne, Wingate
DL –     Andre Jefferson, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB –      Jaquan Edwards, Wingate    
LB –      Shane Perry, Barton
LB –      Jon Ross Maye, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB –      Chandler Matthews, Limestone
DB –     Tre Morrison, Wingate
DB –     C'Darius Kelley, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB –     Ahmond Glass, Limestone
DB –     Marcus Morgan, Newberry
P –        Ethan Evans, Wingate 

SECOND TEAM PIEDMONT  OFFENSE

QB –     Dustin Noller, Limestone
RB –     Dwayne McGee, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB –     Alexander Wilson, Wingate
RB –     Anthony McAfee, Limestone
WR –    Kujuan Pryor, Catawba
WR –    Jelani Baker, Limestone
WR –    Kameron Johnson, Barton
OL –     Blake Jefferson, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL –     Noah Mangum, Newberry
OL –     Kody Varn, Newberry
OL –     Hunter Jolly, Wingate
OL –     Alex Buschow, Barton
TE –      Herman McCray, Limestone
PK –     Clayton Crile, Catawba
LS –      Keaton Chambers, Limestone
RS –      Deshun Kitchings, Newberry 

SECOND TEAM PIEDMONT DEFENSE

DL –     Sirod Cook, Wingate
DL –     Joseph Gregory, Limestone
DL –     Malik Devine-Brown, Newberry
DL –     Juwan Moye, Newberry
LB –      Luke Taylor, Newberry            
LB –      AJ Valentine, Newberry
LB –      Davon Gilmore, Wingate
LB –      Devin Hibbitt, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB –     Quayon Gilbert, Barton
DB –     Dequan Mosley, Wingate
DB –     Zy Brown, Catawba
DB –     Jeremiah Lomax, Limestone
P -    Clayton Crile, Catawba  

Piedmont Offensive Freshman of the Year
Malik Simmons, Lenoir-Rhyne 

Piedmont Offensive Player of the Year
Mario Anderson, Newberry

Piedmont Defensive Freshman of the Year
Jordon Thomas, Wingate

Piedmont Defensive Player of the Year
DJ Horne, Wingate 

Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Evan Surgeon, Wingate

Coach of the Year
Todd Knight, Newberry

Statistical Champions
Rushing Yards Per Game: Mario Anderson, Newberry (152.9)
Passing Yards Per Game: Tre Simmons, Tusculum (216.7)
Total Offense Per Game: Tre Simmons, Tusculum (242.6)
Receptions Per Game: Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman (5.0)
Receiving Yards Per Game: Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman (80.5)
All-Purpose Yards Per Game: Tre Stewart, Limestone (164.7)
Passing Efficiency Rating: Dustin Noeller, Limestone (151.2)
Punt Return Avg.: Ra’Quan Simmons, Wingate (17.9)
Kick Return Avg.: Kujuan Pryor, Catawba (33.6)
Punting Avg.: Ethan Evans, Wingate (46.4)
Scoring Average (TDs): Mario Anderson, Newberry (11.3)
Scoring Average (K): Johnathan Medlin, Lenoir-Rhyne (6.6)
Field Goals Per Game: Kellan Dalton, UVA Wise (0.91)
Field Goal Percentage: Andre Labat, Mars Hill (.778)
Tackles Per Game: Shane Perry, Barton (9.0)
Sacks Per Game: Andre Jefferson, Lenoir-Rhyne (1.18)
Tackles for Loss Per Game: Marquise Fleming, Wingate (2.1)
Interceptions Per Game: Robert Carter, UVA Wise (0.5)
Team Scoring Offense: Limestone (36.2)
Team Scoring Defense: Wingate (10.7)
Team Passing Offense: Limestone (271.2)
Team Passing Defense: Wingate (144.5)
Team Rushing Offense: Barton (213.5)
Team Rushing Defense: Wingate (60.1)
Team Total Offense: Limestone (470.7)
Team Total Defense: Wingate (210.1)