Lions Place Six On All-Conference List: Rucker And Hillin Garner Top Accolades
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Mars Hill Lion football team placed six players on the 2016 South Atlantic Conference All-Conference list.
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Mars Hill Lion football team placed six players on the 2016 South Atlantic Conference All-Conference list. Running back Jamel Harbison, wide receiver Craig Rucker, and offensive lineman Joe Hillin all found their names on the All-SAC First Team Offense, while linebacker Carl Mattox earned All-SAC First Team Defense. Tight end Kedar Bryant and defensive lineman Jamel Brintley collected All-SAC Second Team Offense and Defense, respectively.
Rucker also earned South Atlantic Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year while Joe Hillin garnered the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given to the top offensive lineman in the league. Jamel Harbison was the conference's statistical champion in rushing yards as well as all-purpose yards per game.
Rucker, a wide out from Leesburg, Fla., recorded 846 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns for the Lions this season. He recorded seven games with at least one score, including three contests with multiple touchdown receptions. He posted three games with 100-yards receiving to finish the 2016 season with an average of 77 receiving yards per game. Rucker also carried the ball nine times on the year for 88 yards and one score.
Hillin, a senior from Atlanta, Ga., has been the starting center at Mars Hill for three years. This year he was named team captain and MHU's leader on the offensive line. Hillin posted an average grade of 90 percent, including a 95 percent pass protection grade and an 85 percent run blocking grade. He has also given up zero sacks this season to go along with 40 pancake blocks this during the 2016 campaign to average 4.44 per game.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB – Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
RB – Jamel Harbison, Mars Hill
RB – Blake Hayes, Wingate
RB – Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman
WR – Markell Castle, Newberry
WR – Craig Rucker, Mars Hill
WR – Cole Watson, Newberry
OL – Joe Hillin, Mars Hill
OL – Daniel Owens, Wingate
OL – Bobby McNeil, Newberry
OL – Quinzavious Sands, Catawba
OL – Tyler Stasky, Newberry
TE – Baptiste Staggers, Newberry
PK – Caleb Baird, Wingate
LS – Steven Bartlett, Catawba AND Eddie Slyle, Brevard (TIE)
RS – Jay Boyd, Tusculum
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL – Ray Edwards, Wingate
DL – C.J. Barksdale, Catawba
DL – Jimmy Holmes, Newberry
DL – Jamarcus Henderson, Newberry
LB – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
LB – Carl Mattox, Mars Hill
LB – Joe Blue, Newberry
LB – Trey Evans, Catawba
DB – Case Woodard, Catawba
DB – Rodney Singleton, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB – Ashud Moore, Brevard
DB – Jerry Miclisse, Carson-Newman
P – Michael DeStephens, Lenoir-Rhyne
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB – Kyle Johnson, Wingate
RB – Romelo Doctor, Newberry
RB – Nelson Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB – Lawrence Pittman, Wingate
WR – Jordan Berry, Wingate
WR – Sam Mobley, Catawba
WR – Braxton Ivery, Newberry
OL – Jaleel Roberts, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL – Austin Lewis, Carson-Newman
OL – Cabell Cantrell, Wingate
OL – Dakota Mozingo, Newberry
OL – T.J. Olsen, Catawba
TE – Kedar Bryant, Mars Hill AND Jake Jensen, Wingate (TIE)
PK – Brennan Lambert, Catawba AND Carson Wise, Carson-Newman
RS – Jordan Berry, Wingate AND Cole Watson, Newberry (TIE)
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL – Andre Foulks, Wingate
DL – Chris Green, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL – Brandon Williams, Tusculum
DL – Jamel Brintley, Mars Hill AND Josh Mills, WINGATE (TIE)
LB – Zack Singleton, Wingate
LB – Deres Benn, Tusculum
LB – Jamal Lackey, Catawba
LB – Lane Bloom, Carson-Newman AND Will Elm, Newberry (TIE)
DB – Rashaad Smith, Newberry
DB – Cornel Cheron, Wingate
DB – Chris Page, Catawba
DB – Jay Boyd, Tusculum
P – Jonathan King, Carson-Newman
OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Craig Rucker, Mars Hill
DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Jay Boyd, Tusculum
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
DEFENSVIE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ray Edwards, Wingate
JACOBS BLOCKING TROPHY – Joe Hillin, Mars Hill
COACH OF THE YEAR – Todd Knight, Newberry
Statistical Champions
Rushing Yards Per Game: Jamel Harbison, Mars Hill (109.5)
Passing Yards Per Game: Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry (308.7)
Total Offense Per Game: Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry (341.8)
Receptions Per Game: Markell Castle, Newberry (5.8)
Receiving Yards Per Game: Markell Castle, Newberry (78.5)
All-Purpose Yards Per Game: Jamel Harbison, Mars Hill (123.5)
Passing Efficiency Rating: Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry (158.5)
Punt Return Avg.: Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman (8.7)
Kick Return Avg: Jay Boyd, Tusculum (26.0)
Punting Avg: Michael Destephens, Lenoir-Rhyne (44.2)
Scoring Average (TDs): Blake Hayes, Wingate (7.6)
Scoring Average (K): Caleb Baird, Wingate (7.5)
Field Goals Per Game: Caleb Baird, Wingate (1.09)
Field Goal Percentage: Caleb Baird, Wingate (.800)
Tackles Per Game: Ashud Moore, Brevard (8.9)
Sacks Per Game: Kyle Kitchens, Catawba (0.77)
Tackles for Loss Per Game: Brandon Williams, Tusculum (1.7)
Interceptions Per Game: Jay Boyd, Tusculum (0.6)
Team Scoring Offense: Newberry (36.6)
Team Scoring Defense: Newberry (18.7)
Team Passing Offense: Newberry (302.9)
Team Passing Defense: Brevard (149.5)
Team Rushing Offense: Carson-Newman (272.8)
Team Rushing Defense: Wingate (98.2)
Team Total Offense: Newberry (464.0)
Team Total Defense: Wingate (284.7)
