HAMMOND, La. –  The Southeastern Louisiana football team was well-represented on the 2020-21 Spring All-Southland Conference Football Teams presented by Ready Nutrition, which were released by the league office on Tuesday.
 
Walter Payton Award finalist and Southeastern Louisiana senior quarterback Cole Kelley was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year and was one of 17 Lions to earn All-Southland Conference notice.  
 
SLU put a trio on the first team. Representing the Lions were junior wide receiver CJ Turner, junior offensive lineman Jalen Bell and junior defensive back Ferlando Jordan.
 
Kelley was joined on the second team by senior offensive lineman Ethan McMullan, sophomore kicker Mateo Rengifo, sophomore punter Austin Dunlap, freshman defensive lineman Darrius Harry, senior linebacker Alexis Ramos and sophomore defensive back Donniel Ward-Magee.
 
Rounding out the Lion All-Southland contingent were seven third-team selections. The group included junior running back Marcus Cooper, senior tight end/h-back Damien Dawson, senior offensive lineman Drew Jones, senior wide receiver Austin Mitchell, sophomore linebacker Herman Christophe and freshman defensive back Jack Henderson.
 
Sam Houston took home three individual awards, as senior quarterback Eric Schmid was named the Player of the Year, K.C. Keeler was named the league's Coach of the Year and graduate receiver Jequez Ezzard was tabbed Newcomer of the Year after helping SHSU to an undefeated season and the No. 2 national seed in the FCS playoffs.
 
McNeese graduate defensive lineman Isaiah Chambers was named Defensive Player of the Year, UIW freshman quarterback Cameron Ward was tabbed the league's top freshman and Nicholls senior offensive lineman PJ Burkhalter repeated as the Offensive Lineman of the Year.
 
The All-Southland Conference teams and individual superlative awards were selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the seven league institutions who participated in Southland Conference play this season. Voters were not allowed to vote for their institution's student-athletes.
 
Southeastern Louisiana All-Southland Conference Player Capsules
(Statistics and biographical information based on conference-only numbers)
Cole Kelley, QB
Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year …. Second team All-Southland … Walter Payton Award finalist … 176-for-263, 2,244 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT … Four rushing TDs … Kelley leads FCS in passing yards and also ranks among the national leaders in completion percentage (5^th), completions per game (5^th), passing efficiency (9^th), passing touchdowns (5^th), passing yards per game (3^rd) and total offense (5^th) … In conference games this spring, he is second in the league in total offense, passing yards per game and pass efficiency … Threw for 300 or more yards in all six conference games … Named Louisiana Offensive Player of the Week after throwing, rushing for and catching a touchdown versus Northwestern State … First Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year for SLU since Bryan Bennett in 2014.
 
CJ Turner, WR
First team All-Southland …  40 catches, 506 yards, 5 TD … In conference games, leads the Southland in receptions per game and ranks second in receiving yards per game … Leads the Lions in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns despite missing the UIW game and only playing in five of six Southland games … Ranks in the FCS Top 20 in receiving touchdowns (14^th), receiving yards (16^th), receiving yards per game (7^th) and receptions per game (4^th) … Had 100-plus yard performances versus Sam Houston (11 catches, 150 yards, 2 TD), Northwestern State (9-127) and Nicholls (11-110-2 TD) … First SLU first team All-Southland wide receiver since Simmie Yarborough in 2011.
 
Jalen Bell, OL
First team All-Southland … Plays left tackle … Led team in knockdowns in all five games he played in and has totaled 39 knockdowns in conference games … Selection marks the second straight year and third time in the past four years a Lion left tackle has been named first team all-conference (Pat Allen, 2019; Maea Teuhema, 2017).
 
Ferlando Jordan, DB
First team All-Southland … 23 tackles (16 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 2 INT, 1 TD, 5 PBU, 3 blocked kicks … Ranks among the conference leaders in interceptions (3^rd) and passed defended (2^nd) … Leads the nation with three blocked kicks … Named Southland Conference and LSWA Defensive Player of the Week after recording an interception and forcing the game-clinching fumble in a win over McNeese … Blocked two field goals on the way to earning SLC and LSWA Special Teams Player of the Week in win over Northwestern State … Tied a Southland career record with his fourth interception return for a TD with a 35-yard pick six at Nicholls … First Lion to be named first team All-Southland in consecutive years since Harlan Miller (2013, 2014 and 2015).
Ethan McMullan, OL
Second team All-Southland … Stepped in as starting right guard in first season after transferring from North Alabama … Graded out at 90 percent or higher in four of six Southland games …. Credited with 14 knockdowns.
 
Mateo Rengifo, K
Second team All-Southland … Made 9-of-10 field goals in Southland play … Also connected on 26-for-28 PAT's … Ninth nationally in field goals per game and 10^th in FCS in field goal percentage … Named Southland Conference and Louisiana Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on all four of his field goal tries versus McNeese.
 
Austin Dunlap, P
Second team All-Southland … Leads the Southland with a 44.5 punting average in conference games … Would be fourth in the nation in punting average, but hasn't punted enough to qualify for the national rankings … Has seven punts of 50-plus yards and six punts downed inside the 20. 
 
Darrius Harry, DL
21 tackles (11 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one blocked kick … In conference games, he ranks eighth in sacks and 10^th in tackles for loss … Credited with sacks versus McNeese and UIW … Recorded two tackles for loss in win over Lamar … Blocked a field goal at UIW.
 
Alexis Ramos, LB
Second team All-Southland … 64 tackles (28 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 PBU … Seventh nationally with 10.7 tackles per game … Leads the Southland in conference games in tackles …. Also ranks among the league leaders in tackles for loss (10^th) … Has four games with double-digit tackles … Named Louisiana Defensive Player of the Week after win over Northwestern State, recording 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup … Recovered the game-clinching fumble in win over McNeese … Named All-Southland for the second straight season.
 
Donniel Ward-Magee, DB
Second team All-Southland … 45 tackles (24 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, 3 PBU … Second on the team and sixth in the Southland in tackles in conference games … Fourth in the league in forced fumbles and second in fumble recoveries … Finished with 14 tackles in win over McNeese … Forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble at UIW … Intercepted a pass in victory over Lamar.
 
Marcus Cooper, RB
Third team All-Southland … 32 receptions, 329 yards, two TD … 25 carries, 124 yards … Third leading receiver on the team with 32 catches … Caught touchdowns in wins over Lamar and Nicholls … Second All-Southland selection after earning honorable mention all-conference honors as a freshman in 2017.
 
Damien Dawson, TE/HB
Third team All-Southland … Key part of an offense that ranks among the FCS leaders in total offense (7^th), passing offense (4^th) and scoring offense (9^th) … Primarily used as a blocker … Caught four passes for 132 yards in six conference games.
 
Austin Mitchell, WR
Third team All-Southland … 19 catches, 245 yards, 1 TD … Fourth on the team in receiving despite missing two games due to injury … Best game came in season opener at Sam Houston (10 catches, 142 yards, 1 TD) … Named to all-conference team for the second straight season.
 
Rendon Miles-Character, OL
Third team All-Southland … Plays right tackle … Topped 90 percent grade in four games … Finished the conference season with 19 knockdowns.
 
Drew Jones, OL
Third team All-Southland … Plays center … Graded at 86 percent or higher in all six conference games, including topping 90 percent three times …. Credited with 13 knockdowns.
 
Herman Christophe, LB
Third team All-Southland … 34 tackles (11 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, 1 PBU … Third on the team and 19^th in the Southland in tackles … Fourth in the league with two forced fumbles … Named Louisiana Defensive Player of the Week after recording 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in win over Lamar.
 
Jack Henderson, DB
Third team All-Southland … 20 tackles (8 solo), 2.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1 PBU, 1 blocked kick … Became bigger part of Lion defense as year progressed … In first career start, he recorded 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception in win over Lamar … Returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown in victory over Nicholls.
 
2020-21 Southland Conference Spring Football Individual Superlative Award Winners
Player of the Year: Eric Schmid, Sam Houston
Offensive Player of the Year: Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana
Defensive Player of the Year: Isaiah Chambers, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston
Freshman of the Year: Cameron Ward, UIW
Offensive Lineman of the Year: PJ Burkhalter, Nicholls
Coach of the Year: K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston
 
First Team Offense
Pos. | Name | School | Cl. | Hometown
QB | Eric Schmid | Sam Houston | Jr. | The Woodlands, Texas
RB | Kevin Brown | UIW | Sr. | Mount Pleasant, S.C.
RB | Scooter Adams | Northwestern State | Jr. | Huntsville, Texas
TE/HB | David Mosley | Nicholls | Sr. | New Orleans, La.
WR | CJ Turner | Southeastern Louisiana | Jr. | LaPlace, La.
WR | Jequez Ezzard | Sam Houston | Gr. | College Park, Ga.
WR | Dai'Jean Dixon | Nicholls | Sr. | New Orleans, La.
OL | Jalen Bell | Southeastern Louisiana | Jr. | Amory, Miss.
OL | PJ Burkhalter | Nicholls | Sr. | Franklinton, La.
OL | Colby Thomas | Sam Houston | Sr. | Manvel, Texas
OL | Jair Joseph | Nicholls | Sr. | Belle Rose, La.
OL | Evan Roussel | Nicholls | Fr. | Gramercy, La.
PK | Seth Morgan | Sam Houston | Fr. | Houston, Texas
P | Matt McRobert | Sam Houston | Sr. | Berowra, Australia
 
First Team Defense
Pos. | Name | School | Cl. | Hometown
DL | Isaiah Chambers | McNeese | Gr. | Houston, Texas
DL | Jahari Kay | Sam Houston | Sr. | Berkeley, Calif.
DL | Joseph Wallace | Sam Houston | Sr. | Dallas, Texas
DL | Jevon Leon | Sam Houston | So. | Houston, Texas
LB | Quentin Brown | Sam Houston | Jr. | Conroe, Texas
LB | Kelechi Anyalebechi | UIW | Jr. | Pearland, Texas
LB | Jomard Valsin | Northwestern State | Jr. | Port Arthur, Texas
DB | Ferlando Jordan | Southeastern Louisiana | Jr. | Atlanta, Ga.
DB | Zyon McCollum | Sam Houston | Sr. | Galveston, Texas
DB | Kevin Moore III | Nicholls | Sr. | Lafayette, La.
DB | Jaylen Thomas | Sam Houston | Sr. | Houston, Texas
KR | Ce'Cori Tolds | UIW | Jr. | Houston, Texas
PR | Jequez Ezzard | Sam Houston | Gr. | College Park, Ga.
 
Second Team Offense
Pos. | Name | School | Cl. | Hometown
QB | Cole Kelley | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Lafayette, La.
RB | Ramon Jefferson | Sam Houston | Jr. | Bronx, N.Y.
RB | Julien Gums | Nicholls | Jr. | New Orleans, La.
TE/HB | Isaac Schley | Sam Houston | Sr. | Littleton, Colo.
WR | Robert Ferrel | UIW | Jr. | Sparks, Nev.
WR | Ife Adeyi | Sam Houston | So. | Mansfield, Texas
WR | Javon Antonio | Northwestern State | Jr. | LaPlace, La.
OL | Ethan McMullan | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Decatur, Miss.
OL | Caleb Johnson | UIW | Jr. | Mount Pleasant, Texas
OL | Khalil Corbett-Canada | Northwestern State | Jr. | Harker Heights, Texas
OL | Prince Pines | Sam Houston | So. | Baton Rouge, La.
OL | Ethan Hagler | Sam Houston | So. | Cove, Texas
PK | Mateo Rengifo | Southeastern Louisiana | So. | Lawrenceville, Ga.
P | Austin Dunlap | Southeastern Louisiana | So. | Slidell, La.
 
Second Team Defense
Pos. | Name | School | Cl. | Hometown
DL | Darrius Harry | Southeastern Louisiana | Fr. | New Orleans, La.
DL | Trace Mascorro | Sam Houston | Sr. | Refugio, Texas
DL | Mason Kinsey | McNeese | So. | Mansfield, Texas
DL | Cameron Preston | UIW | Jr. | Crowley, Texas
LB | Alexis Ramos | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Salinas, Calif.
LB | Trevor Williams | Sam Houston | Jr. | College Station, Texas
LB | Markel Perry | Sam Houston | Jr. | Beaumont, Texas
DB | Donniel Ward-Magee | Southeastern Louisiana | So. | New Orleans, La.
DB | Chris Joyce | McNeese | So. | Hampton, Ga.
DB | Pig Cage | Nicholls | Fr. | Kenner, La.
DB | Shawn Hilton | UIW | So. | Fort Worth, Texas
KR | Donovan Duvernay | Northwestern State | Sr. | Garland, Texas
PR | Robert Ferrel | UIW | Jr. | Sparks, Nev.
 
Third Team Offense
Pos. | Name | School | Cl. | Hometown
QB | Cameron Ward | UIW | Fr. | West Columbia, Texas
RB | Marcus Cooper | Southeastern Louisiana | Jr. | Altair, Texas
RB | Noah Smith | Sam Houston | So. | Houston, Texas
TE/HB | Damien Dawson | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Franklinton, La.
WR | Austin Mitchell | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Plaquemine, La.
WR | KJ Franklin | Nicholls | So. | Prairieville, La.
WR | Josh Matthews | McNeese | Jr. | Baton Rouge, La.
OL | Rendon Miles-Character | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | New Orleans, La.
OL | Drew Jones | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Des Allemands, La.
OL | Nash Jones | UIW | Fr. | Nacogdoches, Texas
OL | Jakob Sell | Northwestern State | Jr. | Dallas, Texas
OL | Reed Francis | UIW | Fr. | College Station, Texas
PK | Carson Mohr | UIW | So. | The Woodlands, Texas
P | Scotty Roblow | Northwestern State | Fr. | Shreveport, La.
 
Third Team Defense
Pos. | Name | School | Cl. | Hometown
DL | Blaine Hoover | UIW | Jr. | Bedias, Texas
DL | Chance Main | UIW | Jr. | Cherryvale, Kan.
DL | Tyo Phillips | Lamar | Jr. | Collinsville, Miss.
LB | Herman Christophe | Southeastern Louisiana | So. | Plaquemine, La.
LB | Blake Stephenson | Northwestern State | Sr. | Deer Park, Texas
LB | Isaiah Paul | UIW | Fr. | San Antonio, Teas
DB | Jack Henderson | Southeastern Louisiana | Fr. | Mandeville, La.
DB | Anthony Ruffin | Lamar | So. | Houma, La.
DB | P.J. Herrington | Northwestern State | Jr. | Natchez, Miss.
DB | Elliott Davison | UIW | Fr. | Flint, Texas
DB | William Hooper | Northwestern State | Jr. | Montgomery, Ala.
KR | Dontaze Costly | Nicholls | Jr. | Vacherie, La.
 
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