HAMMOND, La. –  Five members of the Southeastern Louisiana University football team earned All-America and Freshman All-America honors from Phil Steele when the 2021 teams were announced on Tuesday.
 
Senior quarterback Cole Kelley was the first team All-America choice and also tabbed the FCS National Offensive Player of the Year. He was joined on the All-America team by senior wide receiver Austin Mitchell (third team) and freshman Zy Alexander (fourth team).
 
Alexander was a first team selection on the freshman All-America team and was joined by two teammates on the squads. Wide receiver/kick returner Gage Larvadain was on the third team, while defensive end Bryce Cage earned second team honors.
 
All five honorees were key contributors to a Southeastern team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs. The Lions finished 9-4 overall and ranked 15^th in the final FCS polls, establishing themselves as one of six FCS teams to be ranked in the top 25 at the end of each of the past three seasons.
 
A season after becoming the third Southland Conference student-athlete to claim the Walter Payton Award, Kelley was even better in his final campaign in the green and gold. In his third season in Hammond, the consensus All-American and Southland Player of the Year threw for 5,124 yards and 44 touchdowns on 406-for-552 passing (73.6 completion percentage), while also rushing for a team-high 491 yards and 16 touchdowns.
 
Kelley leads the FCS in passing yards, total offense, completion percentage and points responsible for, as his 60 total touchdowns (44 passing, 16 rushing) were one off the single-season FCS record set by Willie Totten in 1984.  Kelley's single-season totals for passing yards (2^nd), total offense (5,615 yards, 3^rd) and passing touchdowns (10^th) were all among the best performances in the history of FCS football.
 
Kelley's 72.1 career completion percentage (685-for-950) during his time at Southeastern is a new FCS standard (minimum 750 pass attempts). In 33 games for the Lions, Kelley set new program career records with 8,602 passing yards, 9,339 yards of total offense, 70 passing touchdowns, 33 rushing touchdowns and 105 touchdowns responsible for (70 passing, 33 rushing, two receiving).
 
A first team All-Southland selection, Mitchell earned his first All-America nod after a prolific 2021 campaign that saw him haul in 78 passes for 1,184 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Plaquemine, Louisiana native finished sixth in the FCS in receiving yards.
 
Mitchell etched his name in the Southeastern career record books, finishing as the program's all-time leader in receiving yards and 100-yard receiving games, as well as second on the career list for receptions and receiving touchdowns. The speedster's single-season totals for receptions (second), receiving yards (second) and receiving touchdowns (third) all rank among the best in school history, as he is the third Lion to post a 1,000-plus receiving yards in a season.
 
Tuesday's selection was the third All-America honor for Alexander, who finished eighth in FCS with six interceptions. The Loreauville, Louisiana native was previously named to the Associated Press and Stats Perform All-America teams.
 
Larvadain is no stranger to accolades either, as he was named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, while also earning All-Southland recognition at wide receiver (second team) and kick returner (first team). The playmaker from New Orleans averaged 26.6 yards per kickoff return, while also hauling in 37 passes for 521 yards and five touchdowns.
 
Cage became a bigger part of the Lion defense as the season progressed. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana product finished with 23 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in his debut campaign in Hammond.
 
SLU will open spring practice on March 8. The Lions will open the 2022 season at UL Lafayette on Sept. 3.
 
2021 Phil Steele FCS All-America Teams
FCS Offensive Player of the Year: QB Cole Kelley, Southeastern
FCS Defensive Player of the Year: LB Troy Andersen, Montana State
FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year: OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
FCS Freshman of the Year: QB Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State
 
First Team Offense
QB – Cole Kelley, Southeastern, Sr.
RB – Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State, Sr.
RB – Quay Holmes, ETSU, Jr.
FB – Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State, Jr.
WR – Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, So.
WR – Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas, So.
WR – Taylor Grimes, UIW, Jr.
TE – Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State, So.
OL – Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa, Sr.
OL – Cole Strange, Chattanooga, Sr.
OL – Nick Zakelj, Fordham, Sr.
OL – Braxton Jones, Southern Utah, Jr.
OL – Matt Waletzko, North Dakota, Sr.
 
First Team Defense
DL – Bryce Carter, James Madison, Sr.
DL – Jared Brinkman, Northern Iowa, Sr.
DL – Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga, Jr.
DL – Daniel Hardy, Montana State, Sr.
LB – Troy Andersen, Montana State, Sr.
LB – Isaiah Land, Florida A&M, Jr.
LB – Forrest Rhyne, Villanova, Sr.
LB – Patrick O'Connell, Montana, Jr.
DB – Decobie Durant, South Carolina State
DB – Justin Ford, Montana, Jr.
DB – Christian Benford, Villanova, Sr.
DB – Devin Hafford, Tarleton State, Sr.
 
First Team Specialists
K – Ethan Ratke, James Madison, Sr.
P – Brian Buschini, Montana, Fr.
KR – Isaiah Bolden, Jackson State, Jr.
PR – Warren Newman, Jackson State, Sr.
AP – Montrell Washingotn, Samford, Sr.
LS – Matthew O'Donoghue, Montana, Sr.
 
Second Team Offense
QB – Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington, Sr.
RB – Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State, Jr.
RB – Ramon Jefferson, Sam Houston, Jr.
FB – Logan Kendall, Idaho, Jr.
WR – Dai'Jean Dixon, Nicholls, Sr.
WR – Talolo Limu-Jones, Eastern Washington, Sr.
WR – Dennis Houston, Western Illinois, Sr.
TE – Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman, Sr.
OL – Cordell Volson, North Dakota State, Sr.
OL – Lewis Kidd, Montana State, Sr.
OL – P.J. Burkhalter, Nicholls, Sr.
OL – Tre'mond Shorts, ETSU, Jr.
OL – David Kroll, Delaware, Sr.
 
Second Team Defense
DL – James Houston, Jackson State, Sr.
DL – Nate Lynn, William & Mary, So.
DL – Isaiah Chambers, McNeese, Sr.
DL – Vaughn Taylor Jr., Morehead State, Sr.
LB – Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Jr.
LB – Stone Snyder, VMI, Jr.
LB – Jared Folks, ETSU, Sr.
LB – Adam Bock, South Dakota State, So.
DB – Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston, Sr.
DB – Greg Ross, James Madison, Sr.
DB – Markquese Bell, Florida A&M, Sr.
DB – Koby Perry, Austin Peay, Sr.
 
Second Team Specialists
K – Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa, So.
P – Daniel Whelan, UC Davis, Sr.
KR – Malik Flowers, Montana, Jr.
PR – Jah-Marae Sheread, Florida A&M, Jr.
AP – Rashid Shaheed, Weber State, Sr.
LS – Kyle Davis, James Madison, Jr.
 
Third Team Offense
QB – Cole Johnson, James Madison, Sr.
RB – Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State, Jr.
RB – Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri, Sr.
FB – Joe Kenny, Rhode Island, Sr.
WR – Austin Mitchell, Southeastern, Sr.
WR – BJ Byrd, Morehead State, Sr.
WR – Christian Watson, North Dakota State, Sr.
TE – Ryan Miller, Furman, Sr.
OL – Matthan Hatchie, UT Martin, Jr.
OL – Hunter Nourzad, Cornell, Sr.
OL – Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington, Sr.
OL – Prince Pines, Sam Houston, So.
OL – Michael Corbi, Villanova, Sr.
 
Third Team Defense
DL – Josiah Erickson, Sacramento State, Sr.
DL – Brevin Allen, Campbell, Sr.
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, Fr.
DL – Titus Leo, Wagner, Sr.
LB – Tylar Wiltz, Missouri State, Jr.
LB – Tre Walker, Idaho, Sr.
LB – Jack Cochrane, South Dakota, Sr.
LB – Kelechi Anyalebechi, UIW, Sr.
DB – Montrae Braswell, Missouri State, So.
DB – Darius Joiner, Western Illinois, Sr.
DB – Johnathon Edwards, Austin Peay, Sr.
DB – Tyree Robinson, ETSU, Sr.
 
Third Team Specialists
K – Jose Pizano, Missouri State, So.
P – Grant Burkett, Missouri State, Fr.
KR – Rashid Shaheed, Weber State, Sr.
PR – Montrell Washington, Samford, Sr.
AP – Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, So.
LS – Robert Soderholm, VMI, Sr.
 
Fourth Team Offense
QB – Cameron Ward, UIW, So.
RB – Darius Hale, Central Arkansas, Fr.
RB – Malik Grant, Sacred Heart, Jr.
FB – Coy Williams, Davidson, Sr.
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison, Jr.
WR – Antwane Wells Jr., James Madison, Fr.
WR – Jalyn Witcher, Presbyterian, Fr.
TE – Marshel Martin, Sacramento State, So.
OL – Andrew Trainer, William & Mary, Sr.
OL – AJ Farris, Monmouth, Sr.
OL – Justin Redd, Norfolk State, Jr.
OL – ZeVeyon Furcron, Southern Illinois, Sr.
OL – Jason Poe, Mercer, Sr.
 
Fourth Team Defense
DL – Brayden Thomas, North Dakota State, Sr.
DL – Rayshad Nichols, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.
DL – Jahari Kay, Sam Houston, Sr.
DL – Shaundre Mims, Charleston Southern, Sr.
LB – Jeremiah Tyler, Princeton, Sr.
LB – Tristan Wheeler, Richmond, So.
LB – David Hoage, Northern Colorado, So.
LB – Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, James Madison, Jr.
DB – Zy Alexander, Southeastern, Fr.
DB – Qua Brown, Southern Illinois, Sr.
DB – Davion Ross, Eastern Kentucky, So.
DB – K.J. Smith, North Alabama, Sr.
 
Fourth Team Specialists
K – Kyle Sentkowski, Sacramento State, Jr.
P – Max Quick, Stephen F. Austin, So.
KR – Calvin Jones, Western Carolina, Fr.
PR – Jayden Price, North Dakota State, Jr.
AP – Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State, So.
LS – Dalton Godfrey, South Dakota, Jr.
 
2021 Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America Teams
FCS Offensive Freshman of the Year: QB Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State
FCS Defensive Freshman of the Year: DE Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
 
First Team Offense
QB – Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State
RB – Darius Hale, Central Arkansas
RB – Kevin Daniels, Northern Arizona
WR – Antwane Wells Jr., James Madison
WR – Jalyn Witcher, Presbyterian
WR – Raphael Williams, Western Carolina
TE – Cole Grossman, Montana
OL – Jared Penning, Northern Iowa
OL – Evan Roussel, Nicholls
OL – Colton Harberts, South Dakota
OL – Justin Lairy, Central Arkansas
OL – Dylan Davis, Furman
 
First Team Defense
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
DL – Nick Gaes, South Dakota
DL – Jared Verse, Albany
DL – Jordan Miles, Eastern Illinois
LB – Tyler King, Stony Brook
LB – Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri
LB – Rodney Dansby, Houston Baptist
LB – Jackson Ambush, Albany
DB – Zy Alexander, Southeastern
DB – Alijah Huzzie, ETSU
DB – Dominick Poole, The Citadel
DB – Tyrell Grayson, Dixie State
 
First Team Specialists
K – Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin
P – Brian Buschini, Montana
KR – Calvin Jones, Western Carolina
PR – Robert McMinn, Alabama State
AP – J.J. Davis, Norfolk State
LS – Steele Judy, The Citadel
 
Second Team Offense
QB – Tyler Riddell, ETSU
RB – Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls
RB – Zak Wallace, UT Martin
WR – Drae McCray, Austin Peay
WR – Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington
WR – Jacari Carter, Merrimack
TE – Jake Saathoff, Murray State
OL – Jabari Brooks, Samford
OL – Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky
OL – Reese Moore, Abilene Christian
OL – Hunter Zambrano, Illinois State
OL – Jeremiah Frazier, Tennessee State
 
Second Team Defense
DL – Bryce Cage, Southeastern
DL – Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly
DL – Thor Griffith, Harvard
DL – James Carpenter, James Madison
LB – James Conway, Fordham
LB – Evan Stewart, Rhode Island
LB – Parker McKenna, Portland State
LB – Jared Pedraza, Northwestern State
DB – Andreas Keaton, Western Carolina
DB – Jordan Vincent, Eastern Illinois
DB – David Miller, Southern Illinois
DB – Esaias Guthrie, Delaware State
 
Second Team Specialists
K – Blake Glessner, Montana State
P – Grant Burkett, Missouri State
KR – Lan Larison, UC Davis
PR – Tanner Shiver, Tennessee Tech
AP – Carter Bell, South Dakota
LS – Caden Bolz, Missouri State
 
Third Team Offense
QB – Zev Eckhaus, Bryant
RB – Damonta Witherspoon, Murray State
RB – Fred Davis, Mercer
WR – Gage Larvadain, Southeastern
WR – Coleman Owen, Northern Arizona
WR – Calvin Jones, Western Carolina
TE – KeShawn Toney, Chattanooga
OL – Jabril Williams, Elon
OL – DJ Jones, Murray State
OL – Alec Rasmussen, St. Thomas
OL – Nick Taiste, South Carolina State
OL – Justice Guillory, Stephen F. Austin
 
Third Team Defense
DL – Bryce Stanfield, Furman
DL – Wesley Neal Jr., Rhode Island
DL – Gentle Hunt, Florida A&M
DL – Jaden Taylor, North Carolina Central
LB – Geoffrey Brown, Indiana State
LB – C.J. Tillman, Campbell
LB – Lawaun Powell, Murray State
LB – Hayden Shaheen, Nicholls
DB – Kobe Singleton, Southern Utah
DB – Josiah Ganues, South Dakota
DB – Aamir Hall, Richmond
DB – Oshae Baker, UT Martin
 
Third Team Special Teams
K – Maddux Trujillo, Austin Peay
P – Jack Dawson, Jacksonville State
KR – Tyson Thompson, HBU
PR – Giancarlo Woods, Cal Poly
AP – Tyson Thompson, HBU
LS – Brady McKnight, Morehead State
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.