CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M football head coach Hunter Hughes announced the 2019 WT Football Spring Awards prior to their final scrimmage on Friday afternoon at the WTAMU Practice Fields.
This year the Dustin Vaughan Quarterback Award went to sophomore transfer Nick Gerber, who came to WT this spring from Texas Tech where he redshirted last year. Prior to that, Gerber spent his freshman year at Tyler Junior College where he played in eight games completing 58.6 percent of his passes. As a senior at Levelland High School, he was named the 4A Built Ford Tough Texas High School Player of the Year after throwing a state record 5,617 yards and 77 touchdowns.
Vaughan registered one of the most storied careers 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 Brandon Blair as did the Aaron Mullane Academic Award. The Spring, Texas native started the final three games of the season at running back for the Buffs where he rushed for 313 yards and four touchdowns including the game-winner in the final minutes in their final game at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. He also played a key role on special teams as he recorded nine tackles while returning a punt for a touchdown.
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 3rd 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.
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.
Jamaal Hamilton was awarded the Brittan Golden Wide Receiver/Tight End Award as the freshman had a strong spring after hauling in 19 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in 2018. He recorded a season-high four receptions in wins over UT Permian Basin and Angelo State.
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. He currently plays for the New York Giants.
The Reggie McElroy Offensive Line Award went to Lesone Smith, who appeared in eight games for the Buffs offense that averaged 127.7 rushing yards per game.
McElroy was a standout offensive lineman for the Buffs from 1978-1981. The Beaumont native was drafted in the 2nd round as the 51st 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.
For the second straight year, the Eugene Sims Defensive Line Award went to Gerred Johnson as the redshirt junior is coming off a season where he earned All-Lone Star Conference Honorable Mention honors. The Mansfield, Texas native recorded a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss in 2018 with 38 tackles, four QB hurries and two sacks. As a sophomore he started in 11 games recording 29 tackles with four tackles for loss and two sacks.
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 goes to Frank Honang who has appeared in 29 games during his three-year career at WT. The Saginaw, Texas native appeared in all 11 games last fall including three starts where he recorded 67 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks along with a forced fumble and blocked punt. He recorded double digit tackles against Midwestern State and Angelo State.
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 Hayden Dennis for the second consecutive season as the San Antonio, Texas native also earned the Keith Null Leadership Award. Dennis has worked himself back onto the field after redshirting the 2018 season following an injury during fall camp. As a redshirt sophomore in 2017, he recorded 29 tackles while recovering a fumble against Adams State.
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.
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 196th 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.
Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year Tobias Harris earned the Tae Evans Defensive Back Award as the Pflugerville, Texas native started in all 11 games in 2018. He also earned D2CCA All-Super Region Four Second Team honors after recording a league-high seven interceptions with 48 tackles and seven pass breakups. He was also one of the top returner in the country as his 819 total return yards were the ninth-most in the Division II.
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.
Aaron Coash earned the Sergio Castillo Special Teams Award after redshirting in the fall of 2018. The Valley Center, Kansas native will battle Michael Shipley for kicking duties this 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 played in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Ottawa Redblacks and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Jerry Behrens Most Improved Award went to Marcus Braswell, a redshirt sophomore linebacker from Del Rio, Texas. He appeared in seven games in 2018 after making four appearances as a freshman where he recorded 10 tackles.
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.
Jordan Johnson was voted by his teammates as the recipient of the Charly Martin Outstanding Teammate Award as the redshirt junior appeared in eight games in 2018. The Eagle Lake, Texas native rushed four times for 31 yards with 14 receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2017, he earned First Team All-LSC honors after starting in 11 games as a fullback where re had a team-high 267 receiving yards.
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.
Parker Hanna became a two-time recipient of the Dan Sherwood Panhandle Award as the Stratford, Texas native started in all 11 games at left tackling blocking for Second Team All-conference running back Duke Carter IV.
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.
