HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team earned 15 selections on the 2024 All-Southland Conference Football Teams, which were released by the league office Tuesday.
 
A total of 14 Lions earned All-SLC recognition, as Darius Lewis was a first team selection at both wide receiver and punt returner. Lewis was joined on the first team by five teammates - running back Antonio Martin Jr., offensive lineman Brockhim Wicks, defensive lineman Warren Peeples, defensive back Keydrain Calligan and kick returner Brandon Hayes.
 
Southeastern was represented on the second team by kicker Riley Callaghan, punter Alec Mahler, defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor, defensive end Shemar Pearl, linebacker KK Reno, defensive back Khamron Ford, defensive back Coryell Pierce and long snapper Will Davidson.
 
Quarterback Zach Calzada (Player of the Year), wide receiver Jalen Walthall (Offensive Player of the Year) and head coach Clink Killough (Coach of the Year) of SLC champion UIW were among the individual award winners.
 
Others taking home individual superlatives included East Texas A&M linebacker Brandon Tucker Jr. (Defensive Player of the Year), Nicholls center Evan Roussel (Offensive Lineman of the Year), Stephen F. Austin quarterback Sam Vidlak (Newcomer of the Year) and Nicholls running back/kick returner Miequle Brock (Freshman of the Year).
 
Southeastern's 15 All-SLC selections were tied for most in the league with UIW. SFA and Lamar each had eight selections, followed by McNeese with five, East Texas A&M and HCU with four each and Nicholls with three.
 
SLU's All-Southland contingent were all key contributors to SLU winning six of its final seven games on the way to a 7-5 overall mark and 6-1 conference record. Southeastern narrowly missed its sixth NCAA FCS playoff appearance, as the Lions were listed as one of the last four teams out of the 24-team field on the selection show Sunday.
 
2024 All-Southland Conference Football Teams and Individual Superlatives
Player of the Year: Zach Calzada, UIW
Offensive Player of the Year: Jalen Walthall, UIW
Defensive Player of the Year: Brandon Tucker Jr., East Texas A&M
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Evan Roussel, Nicholls
Newcomer of the Year: Sam Vidlak, SFA
Freshman of the Year: Miequle Brock, Nicholls
Coach of the Year: Clint Killough, UIW
 
First Team Offense
Pos. | Name | School
QB | Zach Calzada | UIW
RB | Antonio Martin Jr. | Southeastern
RB | DeKalon Taylor | UIW
TE/HB | Logan Compton | UIW
WR | Darius Lewis | SLU
WR | Jalen Walthall | UIW
WR | Kylon Harris | SFA
OL | Brockhim Wicks | Southeastern
OL | Evan Roussel | Nicholls
OL | Traveon Newsome | UIW
OL | Mason Williams | UIW
OL | Cole Leclair | McNeese
 
First Team Defense
Pos. | Name | School
DL | Warren Peeples | Southeastern
DL | Declan Williams | UIW
DL | Rasheed Lovelace | Nicholls
DL | Zack Bernard | Nicholls
LB | Brandon Tucker Jr. | East Texas A&M
LB | Eli Ennis | Nicholls
LB | Jake Dalmado | Nichols
DB | Keydrain Calligan | Southeastern
DB | Darius Sanders | UIW
DB | Max Epps | East Texas A&M
DB | Mason Chambers | UIW
DB | Jeremiah Walker | SFA
 
First Team Specialists
Pos. | Name | School
PR | Darius Lewis | Southeastern
KR | Brandon Hayes | Southeastern
PK | Chris Campos | SFA
P | Finn Lappin | McNeese
LS | Jovoni Borbon | McNeese
 
Second Team Offense
Pos. | Name | School
QB | Sam Vidlak | SFA
RB | Khalan Griffin | Lamar
RB | Joshon Barbie | McNeese
TE/HB | Devyn Gibbs | Lamar
WR | Roy Alexander | UIW
WR | AJ Wilson | HCU
WR | Kyndon Fuselier | Lamar
WR | Christian Jourdain | East Texas A&M
OL | Nolan Hay | UIW
OL | Rasheed Jackson | UIW
OL | Dion Daniels | HCU
OL | Elias Ripley | Lamar
OL | Javale Robinson | Lamar
OL | Kortez Winslow | Lamar
OL | Nate Adams | Lamar
 
Second Team Defense
Pos. | Name | School
DL | Kaleb Proctor | Southeastern
DL | Shemar Pearl | Southeastern
DL | Aaron Austin | SFA
DL | Ed Bobino III | SFA
DL | Devin Grant | UIW
DL | Caleb Williams | Lamar
LB | KK Reno | Southeastern
LB | Mister Williams | UIW
LB | Micah Davey | McNeese
DB | Khamron Ford | Southeastern
DB | Coryell Pierce | Southeastern
DB | Jaden Rios | East Texas A&M
DB | Charles Demmings | SFA
DB | Kristian Pugh | Lamar
 
Second Team Specialists
Pos. | Name | School
KR | Champ Dozier | HCU
PR | DeKalon Taylor | UIW
PK | Riley Callaghan | Southeastern
PK | Dillon Fedor | HCU
P | Alec Mahler | Southeastern
LS | Will Davidson | Southeastern
 
Southeastern All-Southland Conference Capsules
Antonio Martin Jr. | RB | So. | Atlanta, Ga.
2024 Stats: 230 carries, 1,228 rushing yards, 11 TD
Highlights: Martin Jr. led the Southland Conference and ranked eighth in FCS with 1,228 rushing yards - 11 yards shy of setting a new single-season school record. He also led the SLC with 11 rushing touchdowns. He was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 206 yards and three touchdowns at Tarleton State. Martin Jr. finished with 185 yards and two touchdowns in a win over East Texas A&M and also rushed for two scores - including the game-winner - in a 30-27 overtime win at Lamar. He rushed for 110 yards and a score in a 41-0 win over Northwestern State. Martin Jr. also rushed for touchdowns in wins over HCU and SFA. He is the first Lion running back to earn first team All-SLC honors since Jay Lucas in 2007.
 
Darius Lewis | WR/PR | Sr. | New Orleans, La.
2024 Stats: 82 catches, 806 yards, 5 TD | 18.5 yards per punt return
Highlights: Lewis, Southeastern's top playmaker, was named All-SLC at both wide receiver and punt returner for the second consecutive season. As a receiver, he was fifth in the FCS in receptions and sixth nationally in receptions per game. He was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week after catching the game-winning touchdown with two seconds remaining in a 24-23 victory over Stephen F. Austin, capping an 11-catch, 96-yard night versus the Lumberjacks. Lewis finished with 111 yards on eight catches in a 21-9 win over East Texas A&M. He also caught touchdowns passes in wins over Lamar, Northwestern State and Nicholls. As a punt returner, he finished the regular season as the FCS national leader with 18.5 yards per punt return, averaging 22.6 yards per return versus Southland Conference competition. He was named SLC Special Teams Player of the Week after recording returns of 62 and 55 returns in a 37-7 road win at HCU. Lewis averaged 27.3 yards per return in a 41-0 win over Northwestern State and 27.5 yards per return in a 19-16 victory at Nicholls.
 
Brockhim Wicks | OL | Sr. | Plaquemine, La.
2024 Stats: 12 games started at right tackle
Highlights: Wicks earned his first All-SLC selection and was the leader of the Southeastern offensive line, starting all 12 games at right tackle. Wicks helped clear the way for the SLC's leading rusher and helped the Lions rank third in the SLC with 29.0 points per game versus league competition. 
 
Warren Peeples | DL | Sr. | Stone Mountain, Ga.
2024 Stats: 33 tackles (16 solo) | 7.5 TFL | 5 sacks | 1 FF
Highlights: Peeples was SLU's top pass rusher in his first season in Hammond. He is fifth in the Southland in sacks with four of those sacks coming versus Southland Conference competition. Peeples had two sacks in 24-23 win over Stephen F. Austin, while also credited for sacks at HCU and versus Stephen F. Austin. He made a season-high eight tackles in a 30-27 SLU overtime win at Lamar. 
 
Keydrain Calligan | DB | Sr. | New Iberia, La.
2024 Stats: 39 tackles (29 solo) | 2.5 TFL | 1 INT | 4 PBU | 1 FF
Highlights: Calligan stepped in as one of SLU's starting cornerbacks in his first season in Hammond. He finished with 39 tackles (29 solo) from his cornerback position and consistently drew the opposing team's top receiver. Calligan intercepted a pass in 30-27 overtime victory over Lamar and recorded a season-high seven tackles in a 24-23 win over Stephen F. Austin. He was credited with a season-high two pass breakups in a 37-7 road victory over HCU. 

Brandon Hayes | KR | Jr. | Hattiesburg, Miss.
2024 Stats: 26.7 yards per kickoff return | 1 TD
Highlights: Hayes ranks second in the SLC and 11th in FCS with 26.7 yards per kick return. He was named Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown versus UIW. Hayes also had a 49-yard kickoff return in a 19-16 win at Nicholls. 

Kaleb Proctor | DL | Jr. | Oak Grove, La.
2024 Stats: 49 tackles (16 solo) | 6 TFL | 4.5 sacks | 1 FR
Highlights: Proctor was fifth on the team in tackles during the regular season from his defensive tackle position. He is ninth in the Southland in sacks. Proctor was credited with two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a 21-9 win over East Texas A&M. He also had sacks in league road wins at Nicholls and Lamar. 

Shemar Pearl | DL | Sr. | Plano, Texas
2024 Stats: 37 tackles (13 solo) | 7 TFL | 2.5 sacks | 1 PBU | 1 FR
Highlights: Pearl has been an effective pass rusher in his first season as a full-time starter. He had sacks in wins over Northwestern State and HCU. Pearl also recovered a fumble in a 21-9 win over East Texas A&M. 

KK Reno | LB | Jr. | New Iberia, La.
2024 Stats: 94 tackles (32 solo) | 1.5 TFL | 1 INT | 1 PBU | 3 FF
Highlights: Reno was the team's leading tackler from his linebacker position, starting all 12 games for a Lion defense that held conference opponents to a league-low 16.5 points per game. He is fifth in the SLC in tackles and second in forced fumbles (17th in FCS). In conference games, he finished the regular season ranked sixth in the conference in tackles. Reno finished with a season-high 14 tackles in a 24-23 win over Stephen F. Austin. He also had double-digit tackles in victories over HCU (12) and Lamar (11). Reno was named the SLC Defensive Player of the Week after he closed out the regular season with nine tackles, a forced fumble and an interception that set up the game-winning field goal in 19-16 road victory at Nicholls. 

Khamron Ford | DB | Sr. | Olive Branch, Miss.
2024 Stats: 72 tackles (37 solo) | 3.5 TFL | 1 INT | 2 PBU | 1 FR | 1 FF
Highlights: Ford was one of the Lions' top tacklers in his first year as a full-time starter. He finished the regular season ranked 11th in the SLC in tackles. In conference games, his 55 tackles are good for 10th in the league. He posted 14 tackles versus UIW and recorded 10 tackles in SLC wins over SFA and East Texas A&M. Ford intercepted a pass and returned it 42 yards to set up a touchdown in a 37-7 victory over HCU and forced a fumble in a 24-23 victory over SFA. 

Coryell Pierce | DB | Sr. | New Orleans, La.
2024 Stats: 57 tackles (31 solo) | 4 TFL | 2 INT | 1 TD | 3 PBU
Highlights: Pierce started all 12 games at safety for the Lions, finishing fourth on the team in tackles. He was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception 50 yards for a touchdown in a 30-27 overtime win at Lamar. 

Riley Callaghan | PK | Jr. | Ashburn, Va.
2024 Stats: 17-22 FG | 26-27 PAT
Highlights: Callaghan was named second team All-SLC for the second time in his career, after earning the honor in 2022 as a freshman. Much like his team, Callaghan bounced back from a slow start during nonconference play to excel during Southland Conference action. He made 14-for-15 field goal attempts versus Southland Conference competition with his lone miss a potential game-tying 58-yard try on the final play of the game versus UIW. Callaghan was named Stats Perform FCS Special Team Player of the Week and SLC Special Teams Player of the Week after he made a career-high four field goals - including a game-winning 40-yarder - in 19-16 win at Nicholls. His 17 made field goals are good for eighth in FCS and tied a single-season school record.

Alec Mahler | P | So. | Vacherie, La.
2024 Stats: 45.6 punting average | 9 of 50+ | Long: 75
Highlights: Mahler averaged 45.6 yards per punt, including a 46.8 yard punting average versus Southland Conference opponents. Nine of Mahler's 32 punts were over 50 yards, including a school-record tying 75-yarder at Nicholls and a 72-yard punt that was the third-longest in school history in a 30-27 overtime win at Lamar. 

Will Davidson | LS | Fr. | Marietta, Ga.
Highlights: Davidson stepped in as the Lions' long snapper on field goals and extra points this fall. His accurate snapping helped All-SLC kicker Riley Callaghan connect on a school-record 17 field goals, including a 14-of-15 showing in Southland Conference play.  

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.
 
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