SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- Appalachian State and Furman dominated the Southern Conference Sports Media Association’s all-conference teams. The Mountaineers had nine first-team honorees while Furman placed seven players on the first-team in a vote of the membership of the league’s sports media association.
Elon had four players honored with first-team recognition followed by Georgia Southern (three), The Citadel (one) and Wofford (one).
Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore was named the league’s Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Appalachian State running back Kevin Richardson was named Offensive Player of the Year and quarterback Armanti Edwards was tabbed Freshman of the Year. Elon linebacker Chad Nkang repeated as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.
The Mountaineers finished the season with a 10-1 overall mar and a perfect 7-0 record in Southern Conference play. Appalachian State, the nation’s top-ranked team, will host Coastal Carolina (9-2, 4-0 in Big South) in the first round of the I-AA playoffs.
Three Furman players were named first-team on offense and four earned first-team recognition on defense. The Paladins (8-3, 6-1) play at Montana State (7-4, 6-2) in the opening round of the playoffs.
SCSMA All-Southern Conference Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year- Kevin Richardson, Appalachian State
Defensive Player of the Year- Chad Nkang, Elon
Freshman of the Year- Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State
Coach of the Year- Jerry Moore, Appalachian State
First Team
Offense
TE- Daniel Bettis, Appalachian State Sr. Roswell, Ga.
WR- Terrell Hudgins, Elon Fr. Rocky Mount, N.C.
WR- William Mayfield, Appalachian State Sr. Durham, N.C.
T- John Kivett, Furman Sr. High Point, N.C.
T- Will Rutherford, Wofford Sr. Woodstock, Ga.
G- Andrew Thornburg, Furman Sr. Snellville, Ga.
G- Kerry Brown, Appalachian State Jr. Marietta, Ga.
C- Scott Suttle, Appalachian State Jr. Charlotte, N.C.
QB- Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State Fr. Greenwood, S.C.
RB- Kevin Richardson, Appalachian State Jr. Elizabethtown, N.C.
RB- Jerome Felton, Furman Jr. Madisonville, Tenn.
RS- Jayson Foster, Georgia Southern Jr. Canton, Ga.
PK- Andrew Wilcox, Elon So. Richmond, Va.
First Team
Defense
L- Marques Murrell, Appalachian State Sr. Fayetteville, N.C.
L- Charrod Taylor, Georgia Southern Sr. Miami, Fla.
L- Justin Brown, Furman Fr. Warner Robins, Ga.
L- Roy Ravenell, Furman Sr. Goose Creek, S.C.
LB- Chad Nkang, Elon Sr. Hyattsville, Md.
LB- Andrew Jones, Furman Jr. Birmingham, Ala.
LB- John Mohring, Georgia Southern Sr. Naples, Fla.
DB- Jeremy Blocker, Furman Sr. Hodges, S.C.
DB- Jeremy Wiggins, Appalachian State Sr. Macon, Ga.
DB- Corey Lynch, Appalachian State Jr. Cape Coral, Fla.
DB- Josh Lawson, The Citadel Jr. Summerton, S.C.
P- Brandon Lane, Elon So. Greensboro, N.C.
Second Team
Offense
TE- Brad Bell, Furman Sr. Watkinsville, Ga.
WR- Justin Stepp, Furman Sr. Pelion, S.C.
WR- Michael Mayers, Elon Jr. Norfolk, Va.
T- Joel Bell, Furman So. Spartanburg, S.C.
T- Mario Acitelli, Appalachian State Fr. Charlotte, N.C.
G- Jeremy Robertson, Appalachian State Sr. Columbus, Ga.
G- Michael Moody, Elon Sr. Laurinburg, N.C.
C- Reggie Goolsby, Furman Jr. Monticello, Ga.
QB- Wes Pope, Elon Jr. Jamestown, N.C.
RB- Eldra Buckley, Chattanooga Sr. Charleston, Miss.
RB- Cedric Gipson, Furman Jr. Summerton, S.C.
RS- Justin Stepp, Furman Sr. Pelion, S.C.
PK- Julian Rauch, Appalachian State Jr. Gastonia, N.C.
Second Team
Defense
L- Omarr Byrom, Appalachian State Sr. Winston-Salem, N.C.
L- Gary Tharrington, Appalachian State Fr. Middlesex, N.C.
L- Trevar Broughton, The Citadel Jr. Hampton, Va.
L- Wesley Bray, Furman Sr. Cave Spring, Ga.
LB- Pierre Banks, Appalachian State Jr. Durham, N.C.
LB- Justin Franklin, Wofford Sr. Jacksonville, N.C.
LB- Gary Nelson, Furman Jr. Stone Mountain, Ga.
DB- Brandon Jackson, Georgia Southern So. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
DB- Dan Tavani, Wofford Jr. Easton, Pa.
DB- Quintez Smith, Chattanooga Jr. Dublin, Ga.
DB- Austin Holmes, Furman Jr. Jacksonville Fla.
P- Tim Mayse, Western Carolina Sr. Pine Mountain, Ga.