2015 All-Great American Conference Football Team (pdf)
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Dan Cocannouer was named the Great American Conference Coach of the Year as
Trevon Hartfield and
D.J. Jones headlined a group of seven Bulldogs who made the 2015 All-GAC Football team. The all-conference squad was announced Wednesday afternoon by the league office.
Cocannouer is the second SWOSU coach to be named Coach of the Year in the Bulldogs' NCAA Division II Era after leading the third-largest turnaround in program history. His team improved its record of 3-7 last year to 8-3 this season and he directed the Dawgs to the program's first postseason berth since 1996 as SWOSU gears up for the Texarkana Live United Bowl on December 5. The Bulldogs finished tied for second as Cocannouer completed his second winning season in the last three years.
Hartfield, a senior, earned First Team All-GAC honors as a defensive back for the first time in his career. The native of Watonga, Oklahoma, anchored a defensive backfield that ranked 13th nationally in team passing efficiency defense. Hartfield led the conference and set a new program season record with 22 passes defended, including four interceptions that he returned for 75 yards. Hartfield recorded 64 tackles, including 50 solo, and had a season-high 13 tackles against Northwestern Oklahoma State. The senior also recorded two tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.
Jones, a junior, also earned First Team All-GAC honors for the first time as a return specialist. The Oakland, California, native was second in all of Division II in punt return yards after averaging 19.6 yard per return. Jones also ranked in the top 20 nationally in average kickoff return yards at 27.1 yards on 15 returns. His two punt return touchdowns set a new school single-season record, and he also ranks second in punt returns in a single season with 275 yards. Jones was also named an All-GAC Honorable Mention wide receiver, and finished the regular season with the team lead in touchdowns (7) after hauling in a team-best 46 receptions for 796 yards.
Earning Second Team All-GAC honors for the first time in his career was junior safety
Conner Bays. A native of Edmond, Oklahoma, Bays led the team and was fifth in the GAC with 105 tackles, including 55 solo, and 5.5 tackles for loss. His 105 tackles ranks third in a single season since SWOSU joined the NCAA, and it is the first 100-plus tackle season since 2013. He finished with double-digit tackles six times, including a career-high 14 tackles against both Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas Tech. Bays also broke up seven passes, and intercepted three more, taking one 41 yards into the end zone against Oklahoma Baptist.
Karltrell Henderson, a sophomore, received an All-GAC Honorable Mention nod, the first time he's been named to the all-conference squad. Hailing from Moore, Oklahoma, Henderson carried the ball 196 times for 776 yards, surpassing 100-yards rushing mark twice this season. He also hauled in another 20 passes for 235 yards and 13 total touchdowns. Henderson's 11 rushing touchdowns ranks as the second-most rushing scores in a single season in the Division II era, and tied him for the third-most rushing touchdowns in the GAC this season.
Kenneth Martey, a junior, also garnered an All-GAC Honorable Mention as a running back, the first of his career. The San Diego, California, native racked up 534 yards on the ground, finding the end zone seven times and breaking the 100-yard barrier twice. His 93-yard touchdown run against Northwestern Oklahoma State ranks as the longest rush from scrimmage in program history. Martey also caught 10 passes for 124 yards.
Garrett Luke, a sophomore, took home an All-GAC Honorable Mention accolade. A native of Willis, Texas, he has started 15 straight games along the offensive line, including 11 games as a left tackle this season. He helped anchor a defense that totaled 1,823 yards on the ground and 2,584 yards through the air and tied for the second-fewest sacks allowed with just 14 sacks given up.
SWOSU has now produced 36 All-Great American Conference selections, including eight first-team selections, and three specialty award winners since joining the GAC for the 2011 season.
2015 All-Great American Conference Football TeamOFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JaQuan Cole, Senior, Running Back, Henderson State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Logan Genz, Senior, Linebacker, Arkansas Tech
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Barrett Renner, Quarterback, Southern Arkansas
COACH OF THE YEAR: Dan Cocannouer, Southwestern Oklahoma State 2015 ALL-GAC FOOTBALL FIRST TEAMQB - Barrett Renner, Fr., SAU (Rowlett, Texas)
RB - JaQuan Cole, Jr., HSU, (Dallas, Texas)
RB - Kris Oliver, Fr., OUA (Arkadelphia, Ark.)
FB/HB - Chris Eastburn, Fr., ATU (Pearcy, Ark.)
* WR - David Moore, Jr., ECU (Gainesville, Texas)
WR - Javonte Mack, Sr., HSU (Lufkin, Texas)
WR - Franky Okafor, Sr., SE (Arlington, Texas)
TE - Johnathan Powell, Sr., OUA (Searcy, Ark.)
UT - Park Parish, Jr., HU (Clinton, Ark.)
C - Cory Stitle, So., HSU (Aledo, Texas)
OL - Kevin Bowen, Sr., ECU (San Diego, Calif.)
OL - Travis Hening, Sr., ECU (Yukon, Okla.)
OL - Eric Mitchell, Jr., HU (Harrison, Ark.)
OL - Mike Russell, Sr., OUA (Charleston, Ark.)
DE - Trevon Biglow, Jr., HU (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
DE - Joby Saint Fleur, Jr., NWOSU (Winter Haven, Fla.)
DT - Demetris Ford, Jr., ATU (Magnolia, Ark.)
DT - Grady Ollison, Sr., HSU (Malvern, Ark.)
ILB - Logan Genz, Sr., ATU (West Fork, Ark.)
ILB - Jameel Whitney, Sr., ECU (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
* OLB - Josh Davis, Jr., HSU (El Dorado, Ark.)
OLB - Lexus Jackson, Jr., ECU (Bristow, Okla.)
CB - Trevon Hartfield, Sr., SWOSU (Watonga, Okla.)CB - Quan Warren, Sr., SAU (Linden, Texas)
S - Gary Vines, Jr., HSU (North Little Rock, Ark.)
S - Kenrick Burns, Sr., HSU (Fort Smith, Ark.)
P - Clayton Watson, So., ATU (Green Forest, Ark.)
K - Houston Ray, So., HSU (Owensboro, Ky.)
RS - Daniel Jones., Jr. SWOSU (Oakland, Calif.)S/T - James Jackson, Jr., HSU (Birmingham, Ala.)
2015 ALL-GAC FOOTBALL SECOND TEAMQB - Rocky Moore, Sr., ECU (Pasadena Calif.)
RB - Bryan Allen, Fr., ATU (Forrest City, Ark.)
RB - Zach Shelley, So., HU (Marlin, Texas)
FB/HB - Michael Latu, Jr., HU (San Mateo, California)
WR - Cody Bordelon, Sr., UAM (Shreveport, La.)
WR - Jalen Tolliver, So., UAM (Monroe, La.)
WR - Jonathan Weisheit, So., SAU (Frisco, Texas)
TE - Tanner Hudson, So., SAU (Big Sandy, Tenn.)
UT - Ryan McDonald, Sr., HSU (Charleston, Ark.)
C - Bryce Bray, Fr., HU (Rogers, Ark.)
C - Garrett Johnson, Jr., ECU (Wasco, Calif.)
OL - Jonathon Greenidge, Sr., SAU (Baltimore, Md.)
OL - Nicholas Nichols, Sr., SAU (Rayville, La.)
OL - Javin Prunty, Sr., OUA (Jonesboro, Ark.)
OL - Lawrence Willis, Sr., HSU (Houston, Texas)
DE - Trevon Del Rio, Jr., HSU (La Marque, Texas)
DE - Karmah Yates, Sr., ECU (Elk Grove, Calif.)
DT - Calvin Lyson, Jr., SAU (Texarkana, Texas)
DT - Cordell Zalenski, Jr., HU (Durant, Okla.)
ILB - Lawson Schulz, Jr., HSU (Atlanta, Texas)
ILB - Daylan Skidmore, Jr., HU (Houston, Texas)
OLB - Kendrick Henderson, Sr., OUA (Hooks, Texas)
OLB - Scott Middleton, Jr., HU (Jasper, Texas)
CB - Tavares Garner, Jr., HSU (Missouri City, Texas)
CB - Jhames West, So., ECU (Moore, Okla.)
S - Conner Bays, Jr., SWOSU (Edmond, Okla.)S - Elgin Moore, So., SAU (Minden, La.)
S - Cua Rose, Fr., ATU (McGehee, Ark.)
P - Will Hawkins, Sr., NWOSU (California City, Calif.)
K - Eric Perez, Fr., ATU (Green Forest, Texas)
RS - Ke'Vontae Pope, Jr., OUA (Blytheville, Ark.)
S/T - Tevin McDonald, Sr., SAU (Corsicana, Texas)
HONORABLE MENTIONSQB - Arsenio Favor, Sr., ATU (Montgomery, Ala.)
RB - Karltrell Henderson, So., SWOSU (Moore, Okla.)RB - Kenneth Martey, Jr., SWOSU (San Diego, Calif.)FB/HB - Connor Kinsey, So, OKB (Midwest City, Okla.)
WR - Andrew Dather, So., HU (Conway, Ark.)
WR - Daniel Jones., Jr., SWOSU (Oakland, Calif.)WR - Ke'Vontae Pope, Jr., OUA (Blytheville, Ark.)
TE - Justin Schanbacher, Sr., NWOSU (Cherokee, Okla.)
UT - Jeremy Jackson, So., UAM (Edgard, La.)
C - Chris Paul, Jr., SAU (Texarkana, Texas)
OL - Jed Beach, Jr., OUA (West Fork, Ark.)
OL - Cole Lockwood, Sr., HU (Cabot, Ark.)
OL - Garrett Luke, So., SWOSU (Willis, Texas)OL - Trey Martin, Jr., ATU (Hot Springs, Ark.)
DE - Davondrick Lison, Fr., SAU (Arkansas City, Ark.)
DE - Bruce Livingston, Jr., ATU (Bradenton, Fla.)
DT - Jacoby Beasley, Jr., NWOSU (Lancaster, Texas)
DT - Francisco Silva, Sr., ECU (Broken Bow, Okla.)
ILB - Zack Bishop, So., OKB (Allen, Texas)
ILB - Larry Butler, Sr., SNU (Baton Rouge, La.)
ILB - Ofisa Kose, Sr., UAM (Oceanside, Calif.)
ILB - Brynden Pitzer, Jr., OKB (Edmond, Okla.)
ILB - Mike Williamson, Sr., OUA (Hollywood, Fla.)
OLB - Devin Peyton, So., NWOSU (Perkins, Okla.)
OLB - Nick Sierra, Jr., SE (San Antonio, Texas)
CB - Shaquille Hunter, So., OUA (Junction City, Ark.)
CB - Jordan Norris, Jr., NWOSU (Garland, Texas)
CB - Raheem Wilson, Jr., SE (Desoto, Texas)
S - DeAndre Baines, Sr., HU (Tacoma, Wash.)
S - Alex Myres, So., OUA (The Woodlands, Texas)
P - Shelton Wooley, So., OUA (Ruston, La.)
K - Cole Antley, Fr., OUA (Atlanta, Ga.)
RS - Darrian Gray, Fr., HSU (Huffman, Texas)
S/T - K.J. Reid, Fr., ATU (Texarkana, Texas)
S/T - Christian Witt, So., HU (Nixa, Mo.)
