SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference Sports Media Association has selected its annual all-conference teams and specialty awards for the 2020-21 season. VMI junior wide receiver Jakob Herres was named the Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year, while Keydet linebacker Stone Snyder was tabbed the defensive player of the year. Mercer quarterback Carter Peevy was named the freshman of the year and VMI’s Scott Wachenheim was named the Wallace Wade Coach of the Year.
 
Due to a tie in the voting, there is an additional spots defensive line on the second team.
 
 
2020-21 SCSMA All-Southern Conference Football Team
 
Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Jakob Herres, Jr., WR, VMI
Defensive Player of the Year ­– Stone Snyder, So., LB, VMI
Freshman of the Year – Carter Peevy, QB, Mercer
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Scott Wachenheim, VMI
 
First team offense
QB       Liam Welch, Gr., Samford
RB       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
RB       Donnavan Spencer, R-Sr., Western Carolina
OL        Haden Haas, R-Jr., The Citadel
OL        Tre'mond Shorts, R-Jr., ETSU
OL        Mike Williams, Sr., Samford
OL        Marshall Gill, Jr., VMI
OL        Nick Hartnett, R-So., VMI
TE        Ryan Miller, Jr., Furman
WR      Ty King, So., Samford
WR      Jakob Herres, Jr., VMI
 
First team defense
DL        Dalton Owens, R-Jr., The Citadel
DL        Solomon Zubairu, So., Mercer
DL        Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., Chattanooga
DL        Micheal Mason, So., Wofford
LB        Anthony Britton Jr., So., The Citadel
LB        Isaac Dowling, Fr., Mercer
LB        Stone Snyder, So., VMI
DB       Tyree Robinson, Sr., ETSU
DB       Darius Kearse, Sr., Furman
DB       Lance Wise, So., Mercer
DB       Chris Edmonds, So., Samford
 
First team special teams
PK        Mitchell Fineran, Jr., Samford
P          Matt Campbell, Jr., The Citadel
RS       Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
 
Second team offense
QB       Reece Udinski, Sr., VMI
RB       Devin Wynn, Sr., Furman
RB       Deondre Johnson, R-So., Mercer
OL        Anderson Tomlin, R-So., Furman
OL        John Harris, R-So., Mercer
OL        Gavin Orr, Jr., Samford
OL        Cole Strange, Sr., Chattanooga
OL        Isaiah Helms, So., Western Carolina
TE        Michael Vice, So., Samford
WR      A.J. Toney, So., Samford
WR      Montrell Washington, Sr., Samford
 
Second team defense
DL        Carson Hatchett, Fr., The Citadel
DL        Nelson Jordan, Jr., Samford
DL        Armond Lloyd, Gr., Samford
DL        Jay Person, So., Chattanooga
DL        Jordan Ward, Sr., VMI
LB        Jared Folks, Gr., ETSU
LB        Connor Riddle, R-Sr., VMI
LB        Ty Harris, Sr., Western Carolina
DB       Alijah Huzzie, R-Fr., ETSU
DB       AJ Smith, Sr., VMI
DB       Ethan Caselberry, Jr., VMI
DB       Ronald Kent Jr., Jr., Western Carolina
 
Second team special teams
PK        Tyler Keltner, So., ETSU
P          Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., Furman
RS       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., ETSU
 
Notes:
- Herres (Walter Payton Award), Snyder (Buck Buchanan Award) and Wachenheim (Eddie Robinson Award) are all national finalists for FCS legacy awards.
 
- Herres is the first VMI player to earn offensive player of the year honors from the league’s media since running back Thomas Haskins in 1996 (VMI was not a member of the SoCon from the 2003-13 seasons).
 
- He is the first wide receiver to earn the offensive award since Appalachian State’s DaVon Fowlkes in 2004.
 
- In seven games, Herres has 67 catches for 807 yards (115.3 per game) and seven touchdowns, all of which lead the league.
 
- Herres was the Stats Perform FCS Offensive Player of the Week after grabbing 15 catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-31 win at Wofford.
 
- Snyder is VMI’s first-ever defensive player of the year.
 
- He leads the league in tackles with 10.9 per game, totaling 76 (25 solo), and sacks per game at 1.14 (8.0 total). Snyder is third in the league in tackles for loss with 1.36 per game and 9.5 total.
 
- Snyder has helped VMI rank tied for second in the SoCon in scoring defense at 20.4 points allowed per game.
 
- Peevy is the second Mercer player to be named the freshman of the year by the media, joining quarterback Kealan Riley in 2017.
 
- Peevy has played in nine contests for the Bears, starting the last seven. He has gone 89-for-164 through the air for eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Peevy has also run the ball 71 times for 186 yards and four TDs.
 
- He was the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the Week after throwing for 406 yards and two touchdowns and running for 12 yards and a score in a 26-14 win over then-No. 17/21 Furman.
 
- Wachenheim is the first VMI coach to earn coach of the year honors from the media since Bob Thalman in 1981.
 
- He was named the AFCA FCS Region 2 Coach of the Year on Wednesday.
 
- Wachenheim led VMI to its first SoCon title since 1977 and its first-ever FCS playoff berth. The Keydets also posted their first winning season since 1981 and got off to a 5-0 start to the season, its best since 1960.
 
- The Keydets earned their first-ever FCS national ranking this year, reaching their highest-ever ranking of No. 10 on March 29.
 
- Samford had the most all-conference selections with 12, putting six each on the first and second teams. VMI followed with nine, including four on the first teams, and ETSU had seven, with three on the first teams.
 
- All nine teams had at least one first-team pick and eight had at least one second-team pick.