SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference Sports Media Association selected its football all-conference team and specialty awards for the 2013 season. Samford’s Andy Summerlin earned the Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year honor, while teammate Justin Shade was chosen as the defensive player of the year. Appalachian State running back Marcus Cox was tabbed the freshman of the year, while Furman head coach Bruce Fowler was named the Wallace Wade Coach of the Year.
Summerlin and Shade become the first Bulldogs to win the annual awards. Summerlin led the conference and ranks eighth nationally with 296.6 passing yards per game. He threw for more than 400 yards in three different contests this season. The senior also ranked among the nation’s best in pass efficiency (143.5) and total offense (290.5 ypg). Summerlin led the Southern Conference and ranked 24th in efficiency, while coming in at No. 14 in total offense. He threw touchdown passes in 11 of Samford’s 12 games this year and tossed at least two TD passes in eight different contests. Summerlin guided the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record with a 6-2 mark in league play. Samford earned a share of the 2013 Southern Conference championship for the first time since joining the league in 2008. The Bulldogs also earned their first invite to the FCS Playoffs since 1992.
Shade ranks 18th nationally and led the league with 10.0 tackles per game during the regular season, including a SoCon single-game high this season with 19 stops against Southeast Louisiana. The senior tied for the league lead in sacks (9.0) and led the conference in tackles for loss (15.5 TFL). He added five pass break-ups, a quarterback hurry and was credited with two forced fumbles on the season. Shade helped anchor a unit that was the third-best in the conference in total defense (377.9 ypg).
Cox becomes the second consecutive Mountaineer to win the freshman of the year award. Cox appeared in all 12 games for the Mountaineers and started each of the last 10 contests. The Dacula, Ga., native set a new school record for single-season rushing yards by a freshman with 1,250 yards on the ground. He also set a new mark among first-year players at Appalachian State with 21 total touchdowns. In his final game of the season, Cox rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. The 215 yards was a single-game record among Appalachian freshmen.
Third-year head coach Bruce Fowler guided the Paladins to a share of the conference title for the first time since 2004. The Paladins were picked seventh in preseason balloting but reeled off five wins in their last six games to finish the regular season at 7-5. The seven overall wins are the most for Furman since the 2008 season, while the 6-2 mark in league play is its best since the 2006 campaign. The Paladins earned the league’s automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs and will face South Carolina State on Saturday.
The group also selected two all-conference teams to go along with the specialty awards. Samford led all schools with 11 all-conference selections, including six on the first team. Furman and Chattanooga each earned eight all-conference honorees.
2013 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team
Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Andy Summerlin, Sr., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year – Justin Shade, Sr., LB, Samford
Freshman of the Year – Marcus Cox, RB, Appalachian State
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Bruce Fowler, Furman
First Team Offense
QB Andy Summerlin, Sr., Samford
RB Marcus Cox, Fr., Appalachian State
RB Jerick McKinnon, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Dakota Dozier, Sr., Furman
OL Dorian Byrd, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Kasey Morrison, Sr., Samford
OL Kevin Revis, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Ty Gregory, Sr., Wofford
TE Faysal Shafaat, Jr., Chattanooga
WR Tony Washington, Sr., Appalachian State
WR Kelsey Pope, Sr., Samford
First Team Defense
DL Justin Oxendine, Jr., The Citadel
DL Gary Wilkins, Jr., Furman
DL Davis Tull, Jr., Chattanooga
DL Tarek Odom, Jr., Wofford
LB Carl Rider, So., Furman
LB Justin Shade, Sr., Samford
LB Alvin Scioneaux, Sr., Wofford
DB Greg Worthy, Sr., Furman
DB D.J. Key, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Kadeem Wise, Sr., Chattanooga
DB Jaquiski Tartt, Jr., Samford
First Team Specialists
PK Ray Early, Sr., Furman
P Bentlee Critcher, Fr., Appalachian State
RS Fabian Truss, Sr., Samford
Second Team Offense
QB Jacob Huesman, So., Chattanooga
RB Hank McCloud, Jr., Furman
RB Fabian Truss, Sr., Samford
OL Kendall Lamm, Jr., Appalachian State
OL Jared Singleton, Sr., Wofford
OL Garrett Frye, Sr., Georgia Southern
OL Cullen Brown, Sr., The Citadel
OL Manrey Saint-Amour, Jr., Georgia Southern
TE Zeke Walters, Sr., Samford
WR Andrew Peacock, Sr., Appalachian State
WR Karnorris Benson, So., Western Carolina
Second Team Defense
DL Derek Douglas, Sr., The Citadel
DL Jerry Mathis, Jr., Samford
DL Jeremy Towns, Sr., Samford
DL Josh Freeman, So., Chattanooga
LB Karl Anderson, Sr., Appalachian State
LB Wes Dothard, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Courtland Carson, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Brandon McCladdie, Sr., The Citadel
DB Jairus Holloman, So., Furman
DB Deion Stanley, Jr., Georgia Southern
DB Lavelle Westbrooks, Sr., Georgia Southern
Second Team Specialists
PK Warren Handrahan, Fr., Samford
P Ray Early, Sr., Furman
RS Kierre Brown, Jr., Elon