HAMMOND – Nine members of the Southeastern Louisiana football team were named to the 2015 All-Southland Conference Football Teams, which were announced by the league office on Tuesday.
 
Leading the way for the Lions was senior defensive back Harlan Miller. The finalist for STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year, CFPA FCS Defensive Back of the Year and CFPA FCS Punt Returner of the Year was named first team at both defensive back and punt returner.
 
Representing the Lions on the second team were senior offensive lineman Joe Graves, senior defensive lineman Ashton Henderson, senior linebacker Herbert Harris and senior defensive back Jordan Batiste. Senior defensive lineman A.J. Bowen, senior defensive back Micah Eugene, sophomore offensive lineman Travis Romero and junior linebacker Tre' Bennett were honorable mention selections.
 
Miller, a Kentwood, Louisiana native, was named a first team defensive back for the third straight season – becoming the first Lion since the program returned in 2003 to earn All-Southland first team honors for three straight seasons. Miller led SLU with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups to go with 49 tackles and six tackles for loss. He finished the season fourth in school history with 11 career interceptions.
 
Miller was also rewarded for his efforts on punt returns, as he averaged 10.5 yards per punt return. The athletic Miller posted a season-long 38-yard return versus Abilene Christian and a 27-yard return in a 34-20 victory at Northwestern State.
 
Miller's fellow secondary standout Batiste joined Miller on the All-Southland team. Batiste earned all-conference accolades for the second straight season after being named honorable mention All-Southland a season ago. The Gramercy, Louisiana native was 10^th in the league with four sacks from his safety position, while also ranking among the team leaders with 66 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception.
 
Joining Miller and Batiste among the defensive standouts honored was Harris, who earned his first All-Southland nod. The Clinton, Mississippi product led the team and ranked among the Southland Conference leaders with 78 tackles (10^th in the Southland) and 12.5 tackles for loss (4^th in the Southland). Harris posted double-digit tackles in three games, including 16 in the regular season finale versus Nicholls.
 
Also making his first All-Southland appearance was Henderson, who was a stalwart in the middle of the SLU defensive line. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native finished the season with 43 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also provided the highlight of the year for the Lions, returning a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown in a 28-17 victory over Florida Tech. The video of the 320-pound Henderson's score went viral and earned him a nomination for the inaugural "Piesman" Award, given to the lineman that makes the most "un-lineman-like" play.
 
Rounding out the first and second team honorees for the Lions was Graves, who was named All-Southland for the second straight season. The Covington, Louisiana native started every game at center to cap off a well-rounded SLU career. An outstanding student, his accolades include being a two-time Academic All-District and Southland All-Academic selection.
 
Graves was one of two offensive lineman to earn recognition on Tuesday, along with honorable mention selection Travis Romero. The Manvel, Texas native bounced back from missing the 2014 season with an injury to start at right guard in every game, teaming with Graves to give the Lions an effective interior.
 
Overall the Lion secondary was represented by three players, as Eugene was named honorable mention All-Southland for the second straight season. The Lafayette, Louisiana native finished second on the team with 68 tackles to go with 4.0 tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups.
 
The lone Lion newcomer to earn All-Southland honors on Tuesday was Bennett. In his first season out of Holmes Community College, the Westpoint, Mississippi native led the team with three forced fumbles, while also contributing 45 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. Bennett also returned a fumble 49 yards for a touchdown versus Stephen F. Austin.
 
Rounding out the SLU honorees was Bowen, who was named honorable mention All-Southland Conference for the second straight season. The Olive Branch, Mississippi native finished with 18 tackles and two sacks in his senior season.
 
Lamar junior running back Kade Harrington was named the league's Player of the Year. Sam Houston State junior quarterback Jared Johnson was named the Southland Offensive Player of the Year, while McNeese State senior defensive back Wallace Scott claimed Defensive Player of the Year honors.
 
After helping McNeese State to a No. 4 national seed, a Southland championship and an undefeated regular season, Cowboy head coach Matt Viator was named Coach of the Year. Sam Houston State senior offensive lineman Donald Jackson III (Offensive Lineman of the Year), Abilene Christian freshman defensive back Jabari Butler (Freshman of the Year) and Incarnate Word senior linebacker Myke Tavarres (Newcomer of the Year) also earned individual accolades.
 
2015 Southland Conference Individual Superlative Winners
Player of the Year: Kade Harrington, Lamar (RB)
Offensive Player of the Year: Jared Johnson, Sam Houston State (QB)
Defensive Player of the Year: Wallace Scott, McNeese State (DB)
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Donald Jackson III, Sam Houston State (OT)
Freshman of the Year: Jabari Butler, Abilene Christian (DB)
Newcomer of the Year: Myke Tavarres, Incarnate Word (LB)
Coach of the Year: Matt Viator, McNeese State
 
First Team
Offense
Pos. – Name – School – Ht. – Wt. – Cl. – Hometown
QB – Jared Johnson – Sam Houston State – 6-1 – 215 – Jr. – Grand Prairie, Texas
RB – Kade Harrington – Lamar – 5-9 – 190 – Jr. – Kingwood, Texas
RB – Corey Avery – Sam Houston State – 5-10 – 190 – So. – Dallas, Texas
TE/HB – Cole Wick – Incarnate Word – 6-7 – 255 – Sr. – Hallettsville, Texas
WR – Ed Eagan – Northwestern State – 5-10 – 193 – Sr. – New Orleans, La.
WR – Desmond Smith – Central Arkansas – 6-1 – 201 – Jr. – Bentonville, Ark.
WR – Reggie Begelton – Lamar – 6-2 – 200 – Sr. – Beaumont, Texas
OL – Donald Jackson III – Sam Houston State – 6-2 – 290 – Sr. – Kilgore, Texas
OL – Quinton Marsh – McNeese State – 6-3 – 310 – Sr. – Dickinson, Texas
OL – Kyle Stouffer – Central Arkansas – 6-7 – 316 – Sr. – Dallas, Texas
OL – Cody Elenz – Lamar – 6-4 – 290 – Sr. – Copperas Cove, Texas
OL – Bret Treadway – Lamar – 6-3 – 280 – Jr. – Silsbee, Texas
AP – Ed Eagan – Northwestern State – 5-10 – 193 – Sr. – New Orleans, La.
PK – Chris Moore – Northwestern State – 6-0 – 215 – Sr. – Plano, Texas
 
Defense
Pos. – Name – School – Ht. – Wt. – Cl. – Hometown
DL – Jonathan Woodard – Central Arkansas – 6-6 – 271 – Sr. – Brentwood, Tenn.
DL – P.J. Hall – Sam Houston State – 6-1 – 280 – So. – Seguin, Texas
DL – Isaiah Golden – McNeese State – 6-2 – 335 – So. – Carthage, Texas
DL – Larance Hale – Lamar – 6-2 – 280 – Jr. – Tatum, Texas
LB – Myke Tavarres – Incarnate Word – 6-2 – 220 – Sr. – Lake Oswego, Ore.
LB – Bo Brown – McNeese State – 6-1 – 216 – Sr. – Katy, Texas
LB – Sam Denmark – Abilene Christian – 6-1 – 230 – So. – Las Cruces, N.M.
DB – Harlan Miller – Southeastern Louisiana – 6-1 – 180 – Sr. – Kentwood, La.
DB – Wallace Scott – McNeese State – 6-1 – 211 – Sr. – Weyanoke, La.
DB – Trenier Orr – Sam Houston State – 5-11 – 180 – Sr. – Orlando, Fla.
DB – Tremon Smith – Central Arkansas – 6-0 – 185 – So. – Anniston, Ala.
DB – Jabari Butler – Abilene Christian – 5-11 – 180 – Fr. – Potomac, Md.
P – Jean Breaux – McNeese State – 5-10 – 172 – Sr. – Scott, La.
KR – Ed Eagan – Northwestern State – 5-10 – 193 – Sr. – New Orleans, La.
PR – Harlan Miller – Southeastern Louisiana – 6-1 – 180 – Sr. – Kentwood, La.
 
Second Team
Offense
Pos. – Name – School – Ht. – Wt. – Cl. -- Hometown
QB – Daniel Sams – McNeese State – 6-2 – 198 – Sr. – Slidell, La.
RB – Blake Veasley – Central Arkansas – 6-0 – 205 – Sr. – Cherry Valley, Ark.
RB – Ryan Ross – McNeese State – 5-9 – 205 – So. – Richwood, Texas
TE/HB – Zach Hetrick – McNeese State – 6-3 – 250 – Jr. – Baton Rouge, La.
WR – Kent Shelby – McNeese State – 6-3 – 194 – So. – New Orleans, La.
WR – Gerald Thomas – Sam Houston State – 5-10 – 183 – Sr. – The Colony, Texas
WR – Yedidiah Louis – Sam Houston State – 5-8 – 187 – So. – Richardson, Texas
OL – Joe Graves – Southeastern Louisiana – 6-3 – 320 – Sr. – Covington, La.
OL – Codey Funk – Abilene Christian – 6-6 – 325 – Sr. – Gridley, Ill.
OL – Ben Jones – McNeese State – 6-5 – 283 – Sr. – Nederland, Texas
OL – Pace Murphy – Northwestern State – 6-6 – 296 – Sr. – Houston, Texas
OL – Byron Williams – Stephen F. Austin – 6-4 – 302 – Sr. – Dickinson, Texas
AP – Yedidiah Louis – Sam Houston State – 5-8 – 187 – So. – Richardson, Texas
PK – Jace Denker – Central Arkansas – 6-1 – 188 – Sr. – Bryant, Ark.
 
Second Team
Defense
Pos. – Name – School – Ht. – Wt. – Cl. – Hometown
DL – Ashton Henderson – Southeastern Louisiana – 6-1 – 320 – Sr. – Tulsa, Okla.
DL – Derek Floyd – Central Arkansas – 6-2 – 248 – Sr. – Dallas, Texas
DL – Cameron Smith – McNeese State – 6-3 – 238 – Sr. – Tamarac, Fla.
DL – John Franklin – Stephen F. Austin – 6-4 – 284 – So. – Greenville, Texas
LB – Herbert Harris – Southeastern Louisiana – 6-1 – 225 – Sr. – Clinton, Miss.
LB – Ricky Wyatt – Central Arkansas – 5-11 – 222 – Sr. – Monroe, La.
LB – Ashari Goins – McNeese State – 5-10 – 200 – So. – Monroe, La.
DB – Jordan Batiste – Southeastern Louisiana – 5-10 – 185 – Sr. – Gramercy, La.
DB – Mikell Everett – Sam Houston State – 5-11 – 185 – Sr. – Kent, Wash.
DB – Dominique Hill – McNeese State – 5-10 – 177 – So. – Mansfield, La.
DB – Kobie Douglas – Incarnate Word – 5-9 – 162 – Sr. – Plano, Texas
DB – B.T. Sanders – Nicholls – 6-0 – 190 – Jr. – Foley, Ala.
P – Lachlan Edwards – Sam Houston State – 6-5 – 215 – Sr. – Victoria, Australia
KR – Rodney Randle – Lamar – 5-10 – 200 – Fr. – Beaumont, Texas
PR – Jonathan Epps – Abilene Christian – 5-9 – 170 – Sr. – Fort Worth, Texas
 
Honorable Mention
Quarterback: Trent Brittain, Incarnate Word; Zach Conque, Stephen F. Austin; Running Back: Michael Henry, Nicholls; De'Mard Llorens, Northwestern State; De'Andre Brown, Abilene Christian; Tight End/H-Back: Jamie Walker, Abilene Christian; DeAndre Jennings, Lamar; Offensive Linemen: Travis Romero, Southeastern Louisiana; Zach Stevens, Sam Houston State; Nathan Thompson, Incarnate Word; Bridge Blount, Sam Houston State; Stockton Mallett, Central Arkansas; Alec Willis, Central Arkansas; Justin Brock, Lamar; Nick Gorman, McNeese State; Ryan Hanley, Nicholls; Terrance Boyd, Northwestern State; Offensive All-Purpose: Kody Edwards, Incarnate Word; Defensive Linemen: A.J. Bowen, Southeastern Louisiana; LaMarcus Allen, Abilene Christian; Alex Jenkins, Incarnate Word; James DeLaRosa, Sam Houston State; Josh Bloom, Abilene Christian; Jammerio Gross, McNeese State; Jacobi Hunter, Sam Houston State; Kedrick Harrison, Stephen F. Austin. Linebackers: Tre' Bennett, Southeastern Louisiana; Justin Owens, Stephen F. Austin; Garrett Dolan, Houston Baptist; Josh Zellars, Incarnate Word; Logan Moss, Lamar; Hezekiah White, Nicholls; Jacob Merriman, Northwestern State; Myke Chatman, Sam Houston State. Defensive Backs: Micah Eugene, Southeastern Louisiana; Brent Spikes, McNeese State; Bobby Watkins, Central Arkansas; Xavier Bethany, Lamar; Devin Spurlock, Central Arkansas; Patrick Martin, Stephen F. Austin; Prince Sam, Houston Baptist; Robert Johnson, Incarnate Word; Kick Return Specialist: Kody Edwards, Incarnate Word; Byron Proctor, Abilene Christian; Punt Return Specialist: Jordan Hicks, Incarnate Word; Brandon Cox, Central Arkansas.