GSC Announces 2017 Football All-Conference Awards
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference has announced the 2017 football all-conference awards, as voted on by the league’s coaches. West Georgia’s
Devontae Jackson has been named the GSC Offensive Player of the Year, and West Alabama’s
Terry Samuel has been named the GSC Defensive Player of the Year. West Florida’s
Mike Beaudry has been named GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year, and North Alabama’s
Christon Taylor has been named GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year. Brett Gilliland, head coach of the 2017 GSC Champions from West Alabama, has been named GSC Coach of the Year.
Jackson led the league in all-purpose yards and guided the Wolves back to the playoffs. He rushed for 986 yards, had 191 yards receiving, and 373 kick return yards. His 5.7 yards per rush average was also the best in the league. In just his junior year, Jackson has been an all-conference selection each season and received his second first team honor this season. Jackson is the first player from UWG to win this honor since 1998.
Samuel finished in the top five of the league in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks, leading the GSC Champions in all three of those categories. The top seed in Super Region Two went 7-1 in the conference and won the GSC Title outright for the first since 2012. Samuel becomes the third Tiger to be named GSC Defensive Player of the Year in the last seven seasons.
Beaudry had a debut campaign for the ages, as West Florida became the first second year program in Division II history to make the NCAA Championship. Beaudry finished second in the league in passing yards per game and third in the league in touchdown passes. The quarterback was named GSC Freshman of the Week four times this season. Beaudry is the second straight Argo to earn a GSC Freshman of the Year award, as
Trent Archie earned the honor on the defensive side of the ball last season.
Taylor was the only freshman to be named all-conference this year in a non-special teams role. Taylor garnered first team honors after finishing the year with 67 tackles, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. The Hoover, Alabama native played in every game for the second ranked defense in the league. The last GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year from North Alabama was Philbert Martial, a three-time All-GSC selection, back in 2013.
Coach Gilliland takes home GSC Coach of the Year honors in his fourth season at the helm in Livingston. The Tigers are the top seed in Super Region Two and won the GSC Championship outright for the first time since 2012. West Alabama boasted the league’s top offense, averaging 39.4 points per game and 451.2 total yards per game. A total of 16 Tigers received all-conference honors this season, the best mark in the league.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - OFFENSE
| Player |
Pos. |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
| Harry Satterwhite |
QB |
West Alabama |
Jr. |
Mobile, Ala. |
| Antwuan Haynes* |
RB |
Florida Tech |
Jr. |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| Devontae Jackson*^ |
RB |
West Georgia |
Jr. |
Marietta, Ga. |
| Donta Armstrong* |
WR |
West Alabama |
Sr. |
Bruce, Miss. |
| Dre Hall** |
WR |
North Alabama |
Sr. |
Columbia, Tenn. |
| Lewis Hayes |
WR |
Shorter |
Sr. |
Voorhees, N.J. |
| Shaq Roland |
WR |
West Georgia |
Sr. |
Lexington, S.C. |
| Qua Boyd |
TE |
West Alabama |
Jr. |
Lafayette, Ala. |
| Brandon Anderson |
OT |
West Alabama |
So. |
Bessemer, Ala. |
| Desmond Harrison |
OT |
West Georgia |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Kevin Battle |
OG |
Valdosta State |
Sr. |
Orlando, Fla. |
| Innis Claud V |
OG |
Delta State |
So. |
Albany, Ga. |
| Harley Vaughan^* |
C |
West Georgia |
Sr. |
Dawsonville, Ga. |
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - DEFENSE
| Player |
Pos. |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
| Maurice Burton Jr. |
DL |
North Alabama |
Jr. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Adonis Davis* |
DL |
Florida Tech |
Jr. |
Columbus, Ohio |
| Freddie Reed^^ |
DL |
North Alabama |
Sr. |
West Point, Miss. |
| John Williamson |
DL |
West Florida |
Jr. |
Stockton, Ala. |
| Ovenson Cledanord |
LB |
Delta State |
Jr. |
Greenacres, Fla. |
| Terry Samuel |
LB |
West Alabama |
Jr. |
Brewton, Ala. |
| Malik Slater |
LB |
Valdosta State |
Sr. |
Tallahassee, Fla. |
| Christon Taylor |
LB |
North Alabama |
Fr. |
Hoover, Ala. |
| Maurice Carnell |
DB |
North Alabama |
Sr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Jamoral Graham |
DB |
Delta State |
Sr. |
Decatur, Miss. |
| Chris Johnson |
DB |
North Alabama |
Jr. |
Birmingham, Ala. |
| Tevin Madison |
DB |
West Alabama |
Sr. |
Fayette, Ala. |
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - SPECIAL TEAMS
| Player |
Pos. |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
| Austin Williams |
PK |
West Florida |
So. |
Phelan, Calif. |
| Zach Gaines |
P |
West Alabama |
So. |
Calera, Ala. |
| Darius Young |
RS |
Mississippi College |
Fr. |
Shelbyville, Tenn. |
| Jared Adair |
BT |
West Alabama |
Jr. |
Saraland, Ala. |
| Darius Young |
UTL |
Mississippi College |
Fr. |
Shelbyville, Tenn. |
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - OFFENSE
| Player |
Pos. |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
| Willie Candler |
QB |
West Georgia |
So. |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Chris Robinson* |
RB |
Delta State |
Sr. |
Bude, Miss. |
| Lakendric Thomas^ |
RB |
West Alabama |
Sr. |
West Point, Miss. |
| Dallas Baldner |
WR |
Valdosta State |
Sr. |
Homosassa, Fla. |
| Corey Davis^ |
WR |
West Alabama |
Sr. |
Meridian, Miss. |
| Antoine Griffin |
WR |
West Florida |
Jr. |
Tampa, Fla. |
| Romell Guerrier |
WR |
Florida Tech |
Sr. |
Miami, Fla. |
| Kevin Purlett |
TE |
Florida Tech |
So. |
Miramar, Fla. |
| Samuel Antoine |
OT |
West Florida |
So. |
Weston, Fla. |
| Dontavius Blair |
OT |
West Alabama |
Sr. |
Anniston, Ala. |
| George Roberts^ |
OG |
Delta State |
Sr. |
Lithonia, Ga. |
| Quentin Stanford |
OG |
West Georgia |
Jr. |
Warner Robins, Ga. |
| Call Dyer^ |
C |
West Alabama |
So. |
Gordo, Ala. |
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - DEFENSE
| Player |
Pos. |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
| Darius Ellis* |
DL |
West Alabama |
Jr. |
Northport, Ala. |
| Brandon Gaddy |
DL |
Delta State |
Sr. |
Jackson, Miss. |
| Joseph Mozone |
DL |
Valdosta State |
So. |
North Augusta, S.C. |
| Chad Price |
DL |
West Georgia |
Jr. |
Snellville, Ga. |
| Michael Williams |
DL |
West Alabama |
Sr. |
Clayton, Ala. |
| Joshua Amanfo |
LB |
North Alabama |
Jr. |
Rex, Ga. |
| J.T. Hassell |
LB |
Florida Tech |
Jr. |
Titusville, Fla. |
| Landry Tullo^ |
LB |
Delta State |
Sr. |
Hoover, Ala. |
| Sharmaine Washington^* |
LB |
Valdosta State |
Sr. |
Moultrie, Ga. |
| Trent Archie |
DB |
West Florida |
So. |
Mobile, Ala. |
| Jamal Blackwell |
DB |
West Alabama |
Sr. |
Mt. Olive, Miss. |
| Taderion Myhand |
DB |
West Alabama |
Sr. |
Troy, Ala. |
| Montrell Pardue |
DB |
West Georgia |
Jr. |
Clarkesville, Tenn. |
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - SPECIAL TEAMS
| Player |
Pos. |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
| Vince Sciorrotta |
PK |
Delta State |
Sr. |
Gainesville, Ga. |
| Sam Barge |
P |
Delta State |
Fr. |
Carrollton, Ga. |
| LaDarion Peterson |
RS |
Delta State |
Sr. |
Woodville, Miss. |
| Tevin Isom |
UTL |
West Georgia |
Sr. |
Lithonia, Ga. |
* Indicates previous First Team All-GSC selection
^ Indicates previous Second Team All-GSC selection
GSC Offensive Player of the Year: Devontae Jackson, West Georgia
GSC Defensive Player of the Year: Terry Samuel, West Alabama
GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year: Mike Beaudry, West Florida
GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year: Christon Taylor, North Alabama
GSC Coach of the Year: Brett Gilliland, West Alabama