SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference Sports Media Association selected its football all-conference team and specialty awards for the 2014 season. Chattanooga quarterback Jacob Huesman earned the Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year honor, while teammate Davis Tull was chosen as the defensive player of the year. VMI quarterback Al Cobb was tabbed the freshman of the year and UTC’s Russ Huesman was named the Wallace Wade Coach of the Year.
Huesman and Tull become the sixth pair to teammates to sweep the media awards and the first duo to do so for UTC. Huesman averaged 243 yards of total offense per game. He led the Southern Conference and ranks sixth nationally in pass efficiency (155.9). The Chattanooga, Tenn., native completed 68 percent of his passes for 2,155 yards this season, including a season-high 359 yards against Mercer on Oct. 25. Huesman tossed 21 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. The junior is just three touchdown passes away from setting a new school record. He averaged 63.6 yards per game on the ground and scored 10 touchdowns. Huesman earned the postseason nod from the league’s media after being named the league’s player of the year by the coaches in 2013 and 2014.
Tull earned the defensive award for the second time in three seasons after taking the honor in 2012. The senior leads the Southern Conference and ranks 16th nationally with 10.5 sacks. Earlier this season, he became the league’s all-time leader with 37.0 career sacks. The defensive end finished the 2014 regular season with 17 tackles for loss, good for second place in the SoCon and 32nd nationally. Tull helped anchor a stout UTC defense that ranks seventh nationally in total defense (281.8 ypg) and eighth in scoring defense (18.5 ppg).
Cobb becomes the first VMI Keydet to be named the league’s freshman of the year, as selected by the media, dating back to 1979. Cobb led all SoCon quarterbacks with 247 passing yards per game, which ranked 16th nationally. He had six 300-plus passing yard performances, including a personal-best 396 yards against The Citadel on Nov. 22. That mark was the second-highest passing performance in school history. The freshman completed 61 percent of his passes and threw 20 touchdowns on the season.
Russ Huesman became a two-time winner of the Wallace Wade award, after garnering the same honor following the 2009 season. Huesman guided the Mocs to a 9-3 overall mark, including a perfect 7-0 record in league play this season. UTC’s nine wins was the most since 1979 and the seven conference wins marked the most in school history. After earning a share of the conference crown a year ago, UTC won the league championship outright this season and clinched its first berth in the FCS Playoffs since 1984. The Mocs earned the No. 8 national seed and will face either Eastern Kentucky or Indiana State on Dec. 6.
The group also selected two all-conference teams to go along with the specialty awards. Chattanooga led all schools with 15 all-conference selections, including 10 on the first team. Samford and Western Carolina each earned 10 all-conference honorees, and all eight SoCon schools were represented on the all-conference teams.
2014 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team
Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Jacob Huesman, Jr., QB, Chattanooga
Defensive Player of the Year – Davis Tull, Sr., DE, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year – Al Cobb, QB, VMI
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Russ Huesman, Chattanooga
First Team Offense
QB Jacob Huesman, Jr., Chattanooga
RB Alex Lakes, Fr., Mercer
RB Keon Williams, Sr., Chattanooga
OL Sam Frye, Jr, The Citadel
OL Jordan Boatright, Sr., Samford
OL Corey Levin, So., Chattanooga
OL Jake Thornton, Jr., Western Carolina
OL T.J. Chamberlain, Jr., Wofford
TE Faysal Shafaat, Sr., Chattanooga
WR Karel Hamilton, So., Samford
WR Spearman Robinson, So., Western Carolina
First Team Defense
DL Davis Tull, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Gary Wilkins, Sr., Furman
DL Derrick Lott, Sr., Chattanooga
DL Tarek Odom, Sr., Wofford
LB Cory Magwood, Jr., Furman
LB Muhasibi Wakeel, Sr., Chattanooga
LB Christon Gill, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Jaquiski Tartt, Sr., Samford
DB Lucas Webb, Fr., Chattanooga
DB Ace Clark, Sr., Western Carolina
DB Trey Morgan, So., Western Carolina
First Team Specialists
PK Henrique Ribeiro, So., Chattanooga
P Nick Pollard, Sr., Chattanooga
RS Chandler Curtis, Fr., Mercer
Second Team Offense
QB Troy Mitchell, Jr., Western Carolina
RB Denzel Williams, So., Samford
RB Lorenzo Long, So., Wofford
OL Joe Turner, Jr., Furman
OL Kyle Champion, Sr., Samford
OL Jacob Revis, Fr., Chattanooga
OL Andy Marcotte, Sr., VMI
OL Josh Wineberg, Jr., Western Carolina
TE Duncan Fletcher, So., Furman
WR Jordan Snellings, Jr., Furman
WR Terryon Robinson, So., Western Carolina
Second Team Defense
DL Mitchell Jeter, Jr., The Citadel
DL Michael Pierce, Jr., Samford
DL Keionta Davis, So., Chattanooga
DL Caleb Hawkins, Jr., Western Carolina
LB Tyler Ward, So., Mercer
LB Justin Cooper, Jr., Samford
LB Nakevion Leslie, So., Chattanooga
DB Reggie Thomas, Jr., Furman
DB Alex Avant, Jr., Mercer
DB Jamerson Blount, So., Samford
DB Cedric Nettles, So., Chattanooga
DB Dee Virgin, So., Chattanooga
Second Team Specialists
PK Warren Handrahan, So., Samford
P Greg Peranich, Sr., Samford
RS Detrez Newsome, Fr., Western Carolina