Seven Lions Earn All-SAC Honors; Holmes, Taylor Receive Player of the Year Accolades
Seven Mars Hill student-athletes earned a spot on the All-SAC teams. Dimitri Holmes was chosen as the Offensive Player of the Year, with Keshaun Taylor receiving Offensive Freshman of the Year accolades.
ROCK HILL, S.C. - The South Atlantic Conference football teams were announced today with seven Lions earning All-Conference honors. Dimitri Holmes was named Offensive Player of the Year, with Keshaun Taylor claiming Freshman of the Year honors.
Holmes earned Offense Player of the Year, First Team Wide Receiver and Second Team Return Specialist honors. Holmes caught 50 passes for 782 yards and seven touchdowns with a league-leading 78.2 average yards per game; he also returned 22 kickoffs for 598 yards with two touchdowns with an average of 24.5 yards per return. He averaged a team-leading 135.5 all-purpose yards per game, earning AstroTurf Offensive Player of the Week on September 15 and Special Teams Player of the Week on September 29. Holmes earned All-Conference honors in each of his four seasons with first team nods in his final three seasons. He ends his collegiate career as the South Atlantic Conference record-holder in career receptions (267) and career receiving yards (4,231).
In his first collegiate season, Taylor caught 32 passes for 626 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor also returned 12 kickoffs for268 yards with an average of 22.3 yards per return.
Denzell Goode earned first team accolades at offensive line. The junior was part of a group that produced nearly 190 rushing yards per game. This is the second year that Goode is a member of the first team.
Jamel Harbison earned second team honors at running back. Harbison ran for 1,204 yards on 227 carries with nine touchdowns and earned AstroTurf Offensive Player of the Week honors on October 13. The redshirt sophomore averaged 120.4 yards per game in his first season with the Lions.
Nick Allison earned second team honors as an offensive lineman and earns All-SAC honors for the fourth straight season to conclude his Lion career. Allison earned All-Region accolades in 2012 and was a D2football.com Preseason All-American last year.
Marquez Williams was named to the second team at tight end. Williams caught seven passes for 100 yards and had one rushing touchdown.
Christiaan Davis claimed second team defensive lineman honors after a 52 tackle, two sack season.
Jasper Mason claimed second team honors at linebacker after a senior season in which he led the team with 76 tackles, 7.6 tackles per game and three fumble recoveries. Mason earned preseason second team honors.
The complete 2014 SAC All-Conference teams are listed below
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – De'Andre Thomas, Carson-Newman AND Miles Freeman, Lenoir-Rhyne
Running Back – Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Chris Robinson, Lenoir-Rhyne
Running Back – Jarrod Spears, Lenoir-Rhyne
Wide Receiver – Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Justin Houston, Tusculum
Wide Receiver – Jordan Berry, Wingate
Offensive Line – Josh Turner, Brevard
Offensive Line – Robby Ignangi, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Taylor Fender, Catawba
Offensive Line – Joe Ray, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Jimmy Bayer, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Denzell Goode, Mars Hill
Tight End – Brandon Ellington, Wingate
Placekicker – Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne
Return Specialist – Lonnie Williams, Carson-Newman
Long Snapper – Dusty Nance, Carson-Newman
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Blake Baker, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Line – Alstevis Squirewell, Newberry
Defensive Line – Caushaud Lyons, Tusculum
Defensive Line – Nick Napolitano, Wingate
Linebacker – Michael Gruber, Brevard
Linebacker – Jason Taylor, Catawba
Linebacker – Tanner Botts, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Edmond Robinson, Newberry
Linebacker – Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
Defensive Back – Jerry Miclisse, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – O'neil Blake, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Sharon Irwin, Newberry
Defensive Back – Brandon Hathaway, Wingate
Punter – Kyle Clark, Newberry
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Running Back – Kelvin Jeter, Brevard
Running Back – Jordan Ollis, Brevard
Running Back – Jamel Harbison, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – TraShaun Ward, Carson-Newman
Wide Receiver – Carlos Tarrats, Catawba
Wide Receiver – Victor Brannan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Nick Allison, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Stephen Nance, Newberry
Offensive Line – Jake Bridwell, Tusculum
Offensive Line – Will Poteat, Wingate
Tight End – Marquez Williams, Mars Hill
Placekicker – Alex Noboa, Brevard
Return Specialist – Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill
Long Snapper – Andrew Smith, Newberry
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – William Alderman, Carson-Newman
Defensive Line – Kegan Funderburk, Catawba
Defensive Line – Chris Green, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Line – Christiaan Davis, Mars Hill
Linebacker – Rodney Singleton, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Jasper Mason, Mars Hill
Linebacker – Eric Mapoles, Wingate
Defensive Back – Mark McDaniel, Catawba
Defensive Back – Marcus Kincaid, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Arnez Gray, Newberry
Defensive Back – Jon Jimenez, Wingate
Punter – Caleb Berry, Catawba AND Mikey Destephens, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Player Of The Year
Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill
Defensive Player Of The Year
Tanner Botts, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Freshman Of The Year
Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Defensive Freshman Of The Year
L'Keith Brown, Tusculum
Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Joe Ray, Lenoir-Rhyne
SAC Coach Of The Year
Ian Shields, Lenoir-Rhyne
Statistical Champions
Rushing Yards Per Game: Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman (139.1)
Passing Yards Per Game: Mike Sheehan, Catawba (206.6)
Total Offense Per Game: Mike Sheehan, Catawba (251.2)
Receptions Per Game: Justin Houston, Tusculum (6.0)
Receiving Yards Per Game: Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill (78.2)
All-Purpose Yards Per Game: Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman (158.3)
Passing Efficiency Rating: Mike Sheehan, Catawba (136.2)
Punt Return Avg.: Kevin Miller, Newberry (15.0)
Kick Return Avg: Lonnie Williams, Carson-Newman (34.1)
Punting Avg: Kyle Clark, Newberry (39.3)
Scoring Average (TDs): Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman (11.0)
Scoring Average (K): Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne (7.6)
Field Goals Per Game: Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne (1.0)
Field Goal Percentage: Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne (.917)
Tackles Per Game: Michael Gruber, Brevard (10.3)
Sacks Per Game: Blake Baker, Lenoir-Rhyne (0.95)
Tackles for Loss Per Game: Caushaud Lyons, Tusculum (1.5)
Interceptions Per Game: Brandon Hathaway, Wingate (0.5)
Team Scoring Offense: Lenoir-Rhyne (38.5)
Team Passing Offense: Catawba (217.4)
Team Rushing Offense: Lenoir-Rhyne (415.5)
Team Rushing Defense: Lenoir-Rhyne (129)
Team Total Offense: Carson-Newman (480.9)
Team Total Defense: Newberry (298.9)
