CANYON, Texas – Prior to the final spring scrimmage of the season Friday evening, West Texas A&M second year head coach Hunter Hughes announced the 2018 WT Spring Football Awards.  The final spring scrimmage was cut short due to thunderstorms Friday evening.
 
This year the Dustin Vaughan Quarterback Award went to junior transfer Mitch Hood who came to WT this spring from Mississippi State where he redshirted this past fall.  Prior to that, Hood attended Santa Rosa JC for head coach Lenny Wagner.  He was selected to the first team All-Bay 6 Conference in 2016 and the North State Bowl Most Valuable Player in 2015, while tying the school-record for touchdowns in a game (7).  He attended Sonoma Valley High School and played for head coach Bob Midgley. 
 
Vaughan registered one of the most storied career in West Texas A&M history from 2010-2013 as the Corpus Christi native holds the WT career record for total offense (13,608) and passing yards (13,525). As a senior, Vaughan threw for a Division II record 5,401 yards with a national-best 53 TD passes to finish as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill trophy. He finished his career as the Buffaloes' and LSC all-time leader in passing yards (13,525), total yards (13,608) and TD passes (123). Vaughan was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 and has been a part of the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburg Steelers before signing a reserve/futures contract with the Baltimore Ravens in January of 2017.  Vaughan was named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete as a senior and was the CoSIDA Division II Football Academic Player of the Year. 
 
The Eugene "Mercury" Morris Running Back Award went to freshman Tyler Gray as did the Charly Martin Outstanding Teammate Award.  Gray redshirted for the Buffs in the fall, but the Granbury, Texas, native, has had a solid spring.  He earned first team all-state honors in high school after running for 2,050 yards on 154 carries and 13.3 yards per carry.  He was named Mr. Texas Football Player of the Week on Sept. 16, 2016, after running for 260 yards and six scores in the Eagles' 42-35 win over Grapevine Faith Christian.  Gray had back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons for Brock High School.
 
Morris was a force in the backfield for the Buffs from 1965-1969 where he was an All-American in 1967 and 1968. The Pittsburgh native finished second in the nation in rushing (1,274) in 1967 followed by a record setting season in 1968 where he set a new NCAA record for rushing yards in a single season (1,571) and a single game (340). Morris set a new NCAA record for career rushing yards in a three-year career (3.388) and he was drafted in the 3^rd Round off the 1969 AFL-NFL Common Draft by the AFL's Miami Dolphins. Morris played in three Super Bowls and was selected to three Pro Bowls while being on the NFL's only undefeated Super Bowl Champion in history, the 1972 Miami Dolphins.  
 
Martin played for the Buffs from 2004-2008 and had an outstanding career for the Buffs on the gridiron as well, leading both the school and conference record book in career pass receptions (244) and receiving yards (4,108).  Martin has 45 career touchdown receptions which also is a record.  He owns the school record for TD receptions in a game (5) and a season (22).  He also owns the school-record for receiving yards in a game (343).  Martin was named Little All-America and Daktronics All-America as a senior and named LSC South Division Receiver of the Year.  He set a LSC and then-NCAA Division II record for receiving yards in a game with 323 against Abilene Christian.   Following college, Martin played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.  In 2014, Martin was the color analyst for the WT road football games.   
 
The Brittan Golden Wilde Receiver/Tight End Award went to junior PJ Leonce this season as he saw action in just three games this fall due to injuries.  The Bay Town, Texas, native, battled back from his injury for a good spring as he had an outstanding sophomore season starting all 11 games in 2016 at wide receiver and return specialist.  He earned honorable mention all-conference honors and tied for second on the team in receptions with 35.  He had 211 receiving yards with one score, while returning 12 punts for 200 yards and a score, and six kick returns for 105 yards.  Leonce had 523 all-purpose yards ranking third on the team.  He saw action in two games with one reception as a freshman in 2015.
 
Golden set himself apart as one of the top receivers in Division II Football during his time in Maroon & White from 2008-2011. The Denver City native ranks third in program history in receiving yards (2,895) and eighth in career receptions (165). Golden was signed by the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 2012 followed by a stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being signed by the Arizona Cardinals on September 17, 2013, and has played for the Cardinals since.
 
The Reggie McElroy Offensive Line Award went to junior Travis Vornkahl as did the Keith Null Leadership Award.  Vornkahl has been a mainstay on the offensive line each of the past two seasons.  As a sophomore in 2016, he started all 11 games and earned honorable mention all-conference, while earning honorable mention all-conference honors this past fall as the Sealy, Texas, native, played and started ten games.
 
McElroy was a standout offensive lineman for the Buffs from 1978-1981. The Beaumont native was drafted in the 2^nd round as the 51^st overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. McElroy spent 14 years in the NFL with the Jets, Raiders, Chiefs, Vikings and Broncos. 
 
Null played for the Buffs from 2005-2008 and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.  Null was the 196^th overall pick in the draft after a historic career at WT.  Null became the first WT quarterback to pass for over 9,000 career yards and registered 201 games of over 300 yards passing, 10 over 400 and two games of over 500 yards.  At the time, he held 22 WT, LSC or NCAA records.  He now ranks third all-time in school history in total offense (9,174) and third in passing yards (9,385).  His 91 touchdown passes ranks second in school history today. In 2008, Null ranked first nationally in passing yards per game and second in total offense, while throwing for 300 or more yards in all but two games.  Null threw for a school-record 595 yards and seven touchdowns that season at Abilene Christian in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.  The season he earned All-America honors.  Null went on to have a NFL career with Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers.  He started four games for the Rams in 2009 going 73 of 119 with three touchdowns and 566 yards. 
 
The Keith Null Leadership Award and the Charly Martin Outstanding Teammate Award are voted on by the players.
 
The Eugene Sims Defensive Line Award went to sophomore Gerred Johnson this year as he started all 11 games on the front line for the Buffs.  Johnson recorded 23 solo tackles with 29 total stops, while tallying four tackles for loss for 25 yards and two sacks for 19 yards, along with one breakup and five hurries.  He also had two forced fumbles.  As a freshman, Johnson played in 11 games with four starts, recording 24 tackles and 16 solo stops.  He had seven tackles for loss for 22 yards and two sacks for 12.  The Mansfield, Texas, native, forced one fumble with one recovery and one hurry.
 
Sims was a force on the defensive line for the Buffs in 2008 and 2009.  He earned AFCA Division II All-America honors as a senior in 2009.  The Mount Olive, Miss., native, was the Buffs' leading tackler among down linemen recording 56 tackles (19 solo, 37 assist) and had a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss for 89 yards and seven sacks for 57 yards.  Sims recorded five pass breakups, five hurries, four blocks, three forced fumbled and a safety. He earned LSC Defensive Lineman of the Year honors for the second time as a senior and was a first team all-conference selection.  Sims earned multiple All-America honors during his career and was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in 2010 by the St. Louis Rams.  Sims played for the Rams for seven years.    
 
The Chaun Thompson Outside Linebacker Award went to freshman Eric Collins who played and started all 11 games for the Buffs this season.  He finished fifth on the team in tackles with 56 and 35 solo stops, while recorded six tackles for loss for 30 yards for fourth on the team.  He had 2.5 sacks for 15 yards, along with three breakups and three hurries.  The Cedar Hill, Texas, native recorded one forced fumble in his first season as a Buff. 
 
Former WTAMU standout linebacker Chaun Thompson was selected in the second round (52nd pick overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the NFL's Cleveland Browns.  Thompson, a Mt. Pleasant, Texas, native, was a first-team AP Little All-America and the LSC Linebacker of the Year in 2002, in addition to earning honorable mention D2football.com All-America accolades. He also was selected to the All-LSC First Team and Daktronics All-West Region First Team. Thompson finished his WTAMU career with 358 tackles.  Thompson also played for the Houston Texans.    
 
The Jared Brock Inside Linebacker Award went to San Antonio, Texas, native sophomore Hayden Dennis.  Dennis played in all 11 games for the Buffs this season recording 29 tackles with 17 solo tackles.  He had one breakup and one hurry, while recording one fumble recovery.  As a freshman, Dennis played in nine games registering 49 tackles with 23 solo stops, along with one tackle for loss and a pass breakup, earning honorable mention all-conference honors.  His 49 tackles were good for sixth on the team.
 
Brock began his WT career in 2005 and played a major role in the resurgence of the football program as a linebacker.  In 2008, he was selected to multiple All-America teams while earning LSC South Division first team and linebacker of the year. Brock had 83 tackles with 43 solos stops, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three pass breakups, 10 hurries, two blocks and two fumble recoveries that season.  He led the team in tackles from 2006-2008 and played on two LSC championship teams.  He was inducted into the WT Hall of Champions in 2015.    
 
Redshirt freshman Keimone Davis earned the Tae Evans Defensive Back Award as the Carrollton, Texas, native played in 11 games with six starts this season.  He registered 45 tackles with 36 solo stops, while recording 2.5 tackles for loss for four yards.
 
Evans played for the Buffs from 2007-2010 had an outstanding career in the secondary for the Buffs as he earned second team All-America honors in 2010 as a senior.  Evans, a native of Amarillo, was among the national leaders in interceptions and led the team with 16 pass breakups.  He earned all-region honors as a senior and, in 2009, was named a NSCA All-America in Strength and Conditioning.   
 
Freshman Joseph Barron redshirted in 2017, but earned the Sergio Castillo Special Teams Award as he won the special teams competition this spring.  Barron is a Midland, Texas, native, and will look to see action in his first game in the fall. 
 
Castillo had an outstanding career for the Buffs as he is the program's all-time kicker and points scorer from 2010-2013.  He earned the prestigious Fred Mitchell Award as the nation's top kicker in FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA in 2013.  A native of La Joya, Texas, set the NCAA record for career scoring at 437 points and broke the LSC career field goal record with his 62 successful kicks.  Castillo went 24 of 30 in field goals this season while connecting on 77 of 78 extra-points.  Castillo earned first team all-conference accolades and was a first team Daktronics All-America selection for the second consecutive year.  He tied the school-record for four field goals in a game twice this season and earned LSC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades twice.   Castillo signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014 and currently plays in the Canadian Football League for the Ottawa Redblacks.
 
The Aaron Mulane Academic Award went to junior offensive lineman Michael Whitfield who played and started in ten games in the fall for the Buffs.  Whitfield, an Odessa, Texas, native earned Academic All-Lone Star Conference honors in 2017 and earned LSC Academic Honor Roll honors in 2015.  This award goes to the player who has the best academic grade-point average on the team.
 
Mullane was a four year starter for the Buffs on the offensive line and earned the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award in 2012.  As a senior, he blocked for quarterback Dustin Vaughan who became the school's and LSC all-time leading passer and was part of an offensive line blocking for one of the nation's top offenses over the course of his career.  Mullane, an Amarillo native, earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was named WT Male Athlete of the Year in 2013.  Mullane went on to Medical School at Texas Tech following graduation.   
 
The Jerry Behrens Most Improved Award went to two players in sophomore Brock Gerlich for offense and junior defensive lineman Henry Paul.  Gerlich, a New Braunfels, Texas, native has seen time at wide receiver, special teams, tight end and long snapper for the Buffs.  Gerlich had three tackles with two solo stops in 2017, while handling long snapping duties for the Buffs.  Paul, a native of Grand Prairie, Texas, played in nine games for the Buffs after transferring to WT from Cisco College.  He recorded ten tackles and nine solo stops with one tackle for loss for three yards and two hurries. 
 
Jerry Behrens played for the Buffs from 1958-1962 while Bachelor of Science in 1962 and a Master of Education in 1965. After graduation, he found success as a football coach winning a state title in 1965 with Odessa Permian High School before returning to coach at WT from 1971-1977. He was an avid supporter of WT athletics as a member of the T Club and Buffalo Club. He also helped create the Jerry Behrens Memorial Scholarship before his passing in February 2016. The scholarship awarded to an offensive lineman after the conclusion of the 2016 season.  The Tarleton State game on Sept. 24, 2016, at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium was a tribute to Behrens and his family was honored at the game.  
 
The final award, Dan Sherwood Panhandle Award, goes to a player from the Texas Panhandle and freshman Parker Hanna earned the honor this year.  Hanna, a Strafford, native is expected to do big things on the offensive line in the fall.
 
Sherwood played for the Buffs from 2007 to 2010 where he was one of the Buffs' top pass protectors.  Sherwood is a native of Amarillo and was named to the All-Academic LSC team in 2010 and earned LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll honors.      
 
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