LSC All-Conference Team

LSC All-Academic Team

CANYON, Texas  – The West Texas A&M football team played a total of 19 student-athletes on the 2015 Lone Star All-Conference Teams, which were announced Thursday by the league office.  The Buffs had five first team selections and three earned Academic All-LSC honors.
 
Overall, there were 115 student-athletes were recognized by the LSC's postseason awards program, with 31 players named to the first team, 34 on the second team and another 50 gaining honorable mention.  The all-conference honors were selected by the head coaches of the seven league teams.
 
The three student-athletes named to the LSC All-Academic Team include; sophomore offensive lineman/tight end Dillon Vaughan (Finance), senior wide receiver Word Hudson (Accounting/Finance) and sophomore offensive lineman Garrett Neuman (Business Management). 
 
WT senior running back Geremy Alridge-Mitchell concluded his career with his second-straight first team all-conference nod as he finished the season with 1,296 yards on 260 carries with 16 rushing touchdowns.  His 1,296 yards ranks sixth all-time in school-history for a season behind his 1,342 yards from 2014.
 
Alridge-Mitchell finished the season with 1,772 all-purpose yards and 4,878 all-purpose yards for his career.  He rushed 32 times for 216 yards and three rushing touchdowns in his final game Saturday in a Buff uniform.  He finishes career playing in 50 games with 22 starts, while carrying the ball 644 carries for 3,381 yards rushing finishing fifth all-time in rushing just seven yards behind Eugene "Mercury" Morris (1966-68) for fourth and 47 rushing touchdowns. 
 
The Dallas, native finished with 77 receptions for 549 yards and three receiving touchdowns for his career.  His 308 points ranks him third all-time, while he finished with 51 total touchdowns ranking second all-time behind DeWayne Miles' 55 (1997-00). 
 
Alridge-Mitchell is seventh nationally this season in all-purpose yards (177.2), 15^th in rushing touchdowns (16), 12^th in rushing yards (1,296), eighth in rushing yards per game (129.6) which leads the LSC and 19^th in scoring (10.2).
 
He was the lone representative to the first team offense, but WT had four first team defense selections as senior tackle Alex Tucci earned first team honors after being a second team honoree each of the past two seasons.  Tucci finished the season with 29 total tackles and six solo stops.  He was second on the team in tackles for loss with seven for 18 yards and had two sacks for 11 yards, along with two pass breakups, two hurries and one forced fumble. 
 
Tucci, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., played in 35 games with 34 starts.  He tallied 76 tackles with 28 solo stops, 18.5 tackles for loss for 48 yards and four sacks for 20 yards.  He had four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and five blocks.
 
Redshirt senior John Sheehy came back this season after an injury and moved from defensive line to linebacker where he excelled for the Buffs.  Sheehy played in nine games with 27 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss for 10 yards, one sack for six, one interception return for a touchdown (65 yards), three pass breakups and a team-high nine hurries.
 
The Leander, Texas, native, earned his first all-conference accolades of his WT career.  He finished his career with 43 tackles, five tackles for loss for 26 yards and 2.5 sacks for 17 yards.  He notched 10 quarterback hurries, along with his INT for a score and three pass breakups.
 
Sophomore safety Hunter Streuling earned first team honors as he led the team with 90 tackles, including 46 solo stops.  The Austin, Texas, native had three interceptions which tied for the team-lead, along with three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble playing and starting all 10 games. 
 
Streuling tied with junior teammate Davontae Merrieweather for the LSC-lead in interceptions with three.  Merriweather earned second team all-conference honors in his first season as a Buffalo.  Streuling finished second in the LSC and 102^nd nationally in solo tackles at 4.6 per game, while ranking 71^st and fifth in the league in total tackles per game at 8.9.
 
Junior punter Felipe Parra rounds out the first team selections for the Buffs as he had not punted for the Buffs before this season. 
 
The Center, Texas, native, finished an outstanding season with 56 punts for 2,413 yards and a 43.1 average.  Had a career-long of 76, along with five touchbacks, 18 punts inside the 20 and 13 over 50 yards.  He leads the league in punting average at 43.1 and entered the week ranked fifth nationally in punting.  His 13 punts over 50 yards were most in the LSC as was his long of 76.  Parra punted every punt this season as the Buffs rank third nationally in net punting at 38.70 per punt which leads the LSC.
 
WT didn't have any specialty award winners this season, but did have six named to the second team all-conference with three on each side of the ball.  Junior center Austin Carson earned second team honors for the second-straight season, while senior receiver Xavier Amey earned his first all-conference accolades after leading the team in receiving in 2015. 
 
Senior return specialist/wide receiver Jarrian Rhone earned his first all-conference accolades of his career as a second team selection.   The Sacramento, Calif., native finished the season with a team-high 50 catches for 388 yards and four scores, while returning 13 punts for 123 yards and a score, along with nine kick returns for 270 yards and a score.
 
Rhone, a Silsbee, Texas, native finished his career playing in 48 games with 23 starts.  He recorded 165 receptions for 1,672 yards and 13 touchdowns, while returning 37 kicks for 1,005 yards and one touchdown.  He also became the primary punt returner this season returning 13 punts for 123 yards and a touchdown. 
 
Senior Iosia Iosia also earned second team honors at defensive end.  The San Francisco, Calif., native, finished the season with a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss for 64 yards and 6.5 sacks for 45 yards.  He had 43 total tackles which was good for fifth on the team with 19 solo stops.  Iosia recorded three pass breakups, three hurries and forced three fumbles to lead the team.
 
For his career, he tallied 86 total tackles with 40 solo stops, 20 tackles for loss for 113 yards and 9.5 sacks for 75 yards.  His 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2015 are season-bests.  Iosia was named honorable mention all-conference last season.
 
Junior cornerback Rashawn DuPree also earned second team honors as he started seven games and played in all ten.  The Vance, S.C., native, had 25 total tackles with 21 solo stops which ranked sixth on the team.  DuPree recorded three tackles for loss for 10 yards, along with one interception, four pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. 
 
Merriweather, a junior safety from Palmdale, Calif., had a standout season in his first year as a Buff.  He finished third on the team in total tackles with 61, including 30 solo stops which were good for second on the team.  He recorded three tackles for loss for eight yards, tied with Streuling for the team-lead in interceptions with three, while recording four pass breakups, one hurry and one forced fumble. 
 
WT placed eight on the honorable mention team as junior kicker Conner Hollabaugh, junior defensive tackle LaPear Willrich, sophomore linebacker Carter James, senior safety Ethan Morriss and senior deep snapper Josh Beal all earned all-conference honors last season.  Junior defensive tackle Jacob Laguna, sophomore linebacker Trevor Myklebust and junior cornerback Tevin Creeks all make their first appearances on the all-conference team.
 
2015 LSC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Alfredo Moreno                         Midwestern State                       OG               Sr.         Phoenix, Ariz.
Cody Jurek                                    Eastern New Mexico                  OG               Sr.         Gonzales, Texas
Elwood Clement                         Texas A&M-Commerce             OT                Sr.         Deptford, NJ
John Rowell                                  Midwestern State                       OT                So.        Stafford, Texas
Tyler Hamilton                             Angelo State                                  C                   Jr.         San Antonio, Texas
Derek Lockhart                           Midwestern State                       TE                 Sr.         San Antonio, Texas
Anthony Autry                            Texas A&M-Kingsville                WR               Jr.         Atlanta, Ga.
Donovan Thompson                 Angelo State                                  WR               So.        Houston, Texas
Lance Evans                                  Texas A&M-Commerce             WR               Jr.         Mansfield, Texas
La'Nard Meyers                          Tarleton State                               WR               Sr.         Gatesville Texas
Kyle Washington                        Angelo State                                  QB                Sr.         Humble, Texas
Geremy Alridge-Mitchell        West Texas A&M                         RB                 Sr.         Dallas, Texas
Richard Cooper                           Texas A&M-Commerce             RB                 Jr.         Angleton, Texas
Kamal Cass                                    Eastern New Mexico                  FB                 So.        Clovis, NM
Blake Barnes                                Tarleton State                               PK                 Sr.         Stephenville, Texas
Buck Wilson                                  Texas A&M-Commerce             RS                 So.        Commerce, Texas 
 
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Alex Tucci                                      West Texas A&M                         DT                 Sr.         Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Toni Pulu                                       Texas A&M-Commerce             DT                 Sr.         Provo, Utah
Clayton Callicutt                          Angelo State                                  DE                 Sr.         Crosby, Texas
Harold Wills                                  Midwestern State                       DE                 Sr.         Gainesville, Texas
Cole Pitts                                       Texas A&M-Commerce             ILB                Sr.         Alvin, Texas
Daniel Laudermilk                      Midwestern State                       ILB                Sr.         Austin, Texas
Elliot Peters                                  Eastern New Mexico                  OLB              Jr.         Pago Pago, AS
John Sheehy                                West Texas A&M                         OLB              Sr.         Leander, Texas
Dominique Rouse                      Midwestern State                       CB                 Sr.         Apopka, Fla.
Fred Lawrence                            Angelo State                                  CB                 So.        Abilene, Texas
Marqui Christian                         Midwestern State                       S                    Sr.         Spring, Texas
Darian Lindsey                             Texas A&M-Commerce             S                    Sr.         Walnut, Calif.
Hunter Streuling                         West Texas A&M                         S                    So.        Austin, Texas
Felipe Parra                                  West Texas A&M                         P                   Jr.         Center, Texas
Tanner Hightower-Wilson      Eastern New Mexico                  DS                 Sr.         Hobbs, NM
 
SPECIAL AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year (J.W. Rollins award): Kyle Washington, Angelo State
Offensive Back of the Year: Richard Cooper, Texas A&M-Commerce
Receiver of the Year: La'Nard Meyers, Tarleton State
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Alfredo Moreno, Midwestern State
Freshman of the Year: Vincent Johnson, Midwestern State
Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes award): Marqui Christian, Midwestern State
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Clayton Callicutt, Angelo State
Linebacker of the Year: Daniel Laudermilk, Midwestern State
Defensive Back of the Year: Marqui Christian, Midwestern State
Coach of the Year: Bill Maskill, Midwestern State
 
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Jason Osei                                     Texas A&M-Commerce             OG               Jr.         London, England
Quade Huckaba                          Angelo State                                  OG               Jr.         Midland, Texas
Bo Villarreal                                  Texas A&M-Kingsville                OT                Jr.         San Antonio, Texas
Denzell Dotson                           Midwestern State                       OT                Jr.         Phoenix, Arizona
Austin Carson                              West Texas A&M                         C                   Jr.         San Antonio, Texas
Torrey Thomas                            Texas A&M-Kingsville                TE                 Fr.         Katy, Texas
Darby Smith                                 Texas A&M-Commerce             WR               Jr.         Ennis, Texas
Xavier Amey                                West Texas A&M                         WR               Sr.         Sacramento, Calif.
Adrian Horton                             Eastern New Mexico                  WR               Sr.         Midland, Texas
Statron Jones                              Midwestern State                       WR               Jr.         Manor, Texas
Harrison Stewart                        Texas A&M-Commerce             QB                Sr.         Yucaipa, Calif.
Theo Wofford                             Texas A&M-Commerce             RB                 Sr.         Stockton, Calif.
Ryan Byrd                                      Angelo State                                  RB                 Sr.         Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Danny Ramirez                            Texas A&M-Kingsville                FB                 Jr.         Harlingen, Texas
Andy Alkhazshvilly                     Midwestern State                       PK                 Sr.         Mansfield, Texas
Jarrian Rhone                              West Texas A&M                         RS                 Sr.         Silsbee, Texas
 
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
John Siliga                                     Angelo State                                  DT                 Sr.         Redlands, Calif.
Jeremy Johnson                         Angelo State                                  DT                 Sr.         Chicago, Ill.
Sione Tupouata                          Texas A&M-Kingsville                DE                 Jr.         Oakland, Calif.
Iosia Iosia                                      West Texas A&M                         DE                 Sr.         San Francisco, Calif.
Tyree Barton                                Texas A&M-Commerce             DE                 Sr.         Beaverton, Ore.
Lawrence Hall                              Eastern New Mexico                  ILB                Jr.         Sacramento, Calif.
Charles Woods                            Texas A&M-Commerce             ILB                Sr.         Humble, Texas
Davarus Shores                           Texas A&M-Commerce             OLB              Sr.         Mesquite, Texas
Brandon Moore                          Tarleton State                               OLB              Sr.         Carrollton Texas
De'Aundre Sanders                   Eastern New Mexico                  CB                 Jr.         Long Beach, Calif.
Demarlon Morris                        Texas A&M-Commerce             CB                 Sr.         Chicago, Ill.
Dominique Williams                  Midwestern State                       CB                 Sr.         Houston, Texas
Rashawn DuPree                      West Texas A&M                         CB                 Jr.         Vance, SC
Lamont Hills                                  Texas A&M-Kingsville                S                    Sr.         San Antonio, Texas
Ibrahim Maiga                             Eastern New Mexico                  S                    Sr.         Socorro, NM
Davontae Merriweather         West Texas A&M                         S                    Jr.         Palmdale, Calif.
Timothy Callian                           Eastern New Mexico                  P                   Sr.         Irvine, Calif.
Cameron Rogers                        Texas A&M-Commerce             DS                 Jr.         San Antonio, Texas
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Nick Perez                                     Tarleton State                               OG               Sr.         Stephenville, Texas
Shane Thompson                       Texas A&M-Commerce             OG               Sr.         Keller, Texas
Joel Onyia                                     Midwestern State                       OG               Jr.         Dallas, Texas
Latham Johnson                         Tarleton State                               OG               Sr.         Aledo Texas
Cody Travis                                   Tarleton State                               OT                Sr.         Stephenville Texas
Rance Layton                               Angelo State                                  OT                Jr.         Seminole, Texas
Avery Poates                               Texas A&M-Commerce             OT                Jr.         Los Angeles, Calif.
Akoakoa Paleka-Kennedy      Midwestern State                       C                   Jr.         Hilo, Hawaii
Maanaima Lang                          Eastern New Mexico                  C                   Sr.         Pago Pago, AS
Landon Watkins                          Texas A&M-Commerce             C                   Fr.         Sulphur Springs, Texas
Chris Chumley                             Texas A&M-Commerce             TE                 Jr.         Longview, Texas
Derrick Macon                             Texas A&M-Commerce             WR               Jr.         Miami, Fla.
Aaron Johnson                            Eastern New Mexico                  WR               Jr.         Colorado Springs, Colo.
Arsenio Phillips                           Midwestern State                       WR               Sr.         New Orleans, La.
Talon Smith                                  Angelo State                                  WR               Sr.         Odessa, Texas
Jeremy Buurma                          Eastern New Mexico                  QB                Sr.         Las Cruces, NM
Hagen Hutchinson                     Midwestern State                       QB                So.        Stamford, Texas
Greg Pitre                                     Texas A&M-Kingsville                RB                 Jr.         Hutto, Texas
Vincent Johnson                        Midwestern State                       RB                 Fr.         Lubbock, Texas
Trey Green                                   Angelo State                                  FB                 Jr.         Mansfield, Texas
Conner Hollabaugh                   West Texas A&M                         PK                 Jr.         Amarillo, Texas
Kristov Martinez                         Texas A&M-Commerce             PK                 Fr.         Edinburg, Texas
Julio De La Garza                        Texas A&M-Kingsville                PK                 Fr.         Brownsville, Texas
Nick Pelrean                                 Texas A&M-Kingsville                RS                 Fr.         Houston, Texas
LaPear Willrich                             West Texas A&M                         DT                 Jr.         Giddings, Texas
AA Vaaulu                                     Texas A&M-Kingsville                DT                 Sr.         Los Angeles, Calif.
Darian Childers-Brown             Midwestern State                       DT                 Jr.         Killeen, Texas
Edgar Luna                                    Midwestern State                       DT                 Jr.         Cameron, Texas
Jacob Laguna                               West Texas A&M                         DT                 Sr.         San Antonio, Texas
Braedon Robinson                     Texas A&M-Kingsville                DE                 So.        San Antonio, Texas
Chase Varnado                           Tarleton State                               DE                 So.        Stephenville, Texas
Kieston Carter                             Texas A&M-Commerce             DE                 So.        Mexia, Texas
Tyler Massey                               Midwestern State                       DE                 R-Fr.    Magnolia, Texas
Adam Hill                                       Midwestern State                       ILB                Jr.         Cedar Park, Texas
Carter James                                West Texas A&M                         ILB                So.        Justin, Texas
DeMarcus Spurlock                   Texas A&M-Kingsville                ILB                So.        Houston, Texas
Trevor Myklebust                         West Texas A&M                         ILB                So.        Sugar Land, Texas
Willie Brown                                 Angelo State                                  ILB                Jr.         San Angelo, Texas
Tre'von Taylor                             Texas A&M-Commerce             OLB              So.        Cypress, Texas
Kevin Mederias                          Texas A&M-Commerce             CB                 Sr.         Los Angeles, Calif.
Tevin Creeks                                West Texas A&M                         CB                 Jr.         Navasota, Texas
Richard Franklin                          Angelo State                                  S                    Jr.         Dallas, Texas
Ethan Morriss                              West Texas A&M                         S                    Sr.         Sonora, Texas
Ryan Clapsaddle                         Angelo State                                  S                    Sr.         The Woodlands, Texas
Devonte Williams                       Texas A&M-Kingsville                S                    R-Fr.    Houston, Texas
Mitchell Henton                         Midwestern State                       P                   So.        Dallas, Texas
Isaac Arellano                              Tarleton State                               P                   Sr.         Euless, Texas
Chase Thrasher                           Texas A&M-Commerce             P                   Sr.         Rowlett, Texas
Bobby Joe Nielson                     Midwestern State                       DS                 So.        Lampasas, Texas
Josh Beal                                       West Texas A&M                         DS                 Sr.         San Antonio, Texas
 
 
2015 LSC FOOTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC AWARDS
Player                                 Team                                         Pos.       Yr.             Major                                           Hometown
Jeremy Buurma              Eastern New Mexico          Sr.           QB            Accounting                                 Las Cruces, N.M.
Kyle Washington            Angelo State                          Grad.     QB            Coach, Sport, Rec & Fitness Humble, Texas
Ryan Clapsaddle             Angelo State                          Grad.     DB            Criminal Justice                         The Woodlands, Texas
Cody Burtscher               Tarleton State                       Jr.           LB             Biomedical Sciences                Glen Rose, Texas
Zed Woerner                   Tarleton State                       So.          QB            Kinesiology                                 Marble Falls, Texas
Dillon Vaughan                West Texas A&M                 So.          OL/TE      Finance                                        Corpus Christi, Texas
Shane Thompson           Texas A&M-Commerce     Sr.           OL             Master of Business                 Keller, Texas
Garrett Neuman            West Texas A&M                 So.          OL             Business Management          Hondo, Texas
Word Hudson                  West Texas A&M                 Sr.           WR           Accounting/Finance                Sonora, Texas
Daniel Roland                  Texas A&M-Commerce     So.          LB             Finance and Mathematics    Rockwall, Texas
Isaac Arellano                  Tarleton State                       Grad.     P               Kinesiology                                 Euless, Texas
 
Special Recognition
Academic Player of the Year: Jeremy Buurma, Eastern New Mexico, Kyle Washington, Angelo State, and Ryan Clapsaddle, Angelo State