Williams becomes C-N football's 122nd All-American
March 22, 2018

Williams becomes C-N football's 122nd All-American

BROOKFIELD, Ill. - Carson-Newman sophomore safety Darius Williams (St. Petersburg, Fla.) has been lauded as an All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, the organization announced Thursday morning on March 22.  

BROOKFIELD, Ill. - Carson-Newman sophomore safety Darius Williams (St. Petersburg, Fla.) has been lauded as an All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, the organization announced Thursday morning on March 22.  

Williams becomes Carson-Newman's 122nd All-American.  The sophomore gives Carson-Newman back-to-back All-Americans at safety after Jerry Miclisse was recognized last year.  Carson-Newman hadn't had All-American safeties since 1996-99 when Montrea Ford and Jon Jon Simmons were presented laurels in four straight seasons.  

The St. Petersburg, Fla.-native gives Carson-Newman an All-American selection in 39 of the last 40 years. 

Darius Williams led the South Atlantic Conference in interceptions with five in his sophomore season and helped Carson-Newman finish the year with the most picks in the South Atlantic Conference with 14.

Williams tallied a pick in three straight games from Sept. 23 against Newberry to Oct. 7 against Limestone.

His top effort though came against Tusculum when he snared an INT and returned it 58 yards to the house for the Eagles' lone defensive touchdown of the season. 

Williams five interceptions are the most for Carson-Newman since All-American Eien Jacob snared that many in 2013.  He was 19th nationally in interceptions. 

Williams also finished the year with 48 tackles, the fourth most on Carson-Newman's team. 

He and the rest of the Eagles' secondary limited every receiver they faced under their season averages, with the exception of Mars Hill's Keshaun Taylor and Craig Rucker. 

Offensive Player of the Year:  Luis Perez, QB, Texas A&M-Commerce

Defensive Player of the Year:  Marcus Martin, DE, Slippery Rock

Special Teams Player of the Year:  Deonte Harris, RS, Assumption

Freshman of the Year:  Austin Ryan, WR, Bentley

Co-Coaches of the Year:  Pete Shinnick, West Florida & Paul Tortorella, Indiana (Pa.)

 

 

First Team Offense

POS     NAME                                HT    WT     YR     SCHOOL                               HOMETOWN

QB       Luis Perez                          6-3    220    SR     Texas A&M-Commerce          Chula Vista, Calif.

FB        Jordan Johnson                 6-1    231    SO     West Texas A&M                   Eagle Lake, Texas

RB        Marc Jones                        5-11  225    JR      Gannon                                 Painesville, Ohio

RB        Cameron Mayberry             5-11  200    SO     Colorado Mines                     Stillwater, Okla.

WR       Weston Carr                       6-2    200    SO     Azusa Pacific                        Benica, Calif.

WR       J.T. Luper                          5-9    175    SR     Central Oklahoma                  Sherman, Texas

WR       Austin Ryan                       6-0    185    FR     Bentley                                 Foxborough, Mass.

TE        Nick Keizer                         6-5    255    SR     Grand Valley State                 Portage, Mich.

OC       Taylor Nikithser                  6-4    300    SR     California (Pa.)                      Wexford, Pa.

OG       Bryan Redmond                 6-2    312    SR     Bowie State                           Upper Marlboro, Md.

OG       Nic Sawyer                         6-5    305    JR      Ferris State                           Ann Arbor, Mich.

OT        Jared Machorro                  6-7    280    SR     Texas A&M-Commerce          Coldspring, Texas

OT        Travis Talley                       6-3    285    SR     Fort Hays State                     Colorado Springs, Colo.

AP        Trenton Cannon                  5-11  175    SR     Virginia State                         Hampton, Va.

PK        Cole Tracy                         5-11  190    SR     Assumption                           Camarillo, Calif.

 

First Team Defense

POS     NAME                                HT    WT     YR     SCHOOL                               HOMETOWN

DE       Marcus Martin                    6-2    255    SR     Slippery Rock                       West Mifflin, Pa.

DE       Zach Sieler                         6-6    290    JR      Ferris State                           Pinckney, Mich.

DT        Jake Klinger                       6-2    275    JR      Bloomsburg                          Berwick, Pa.

DT        Nathan Shepherd                6-5    300    SR     Fort Hays State                     Ajak, Ontario, Canada

LB        Kirby Hora                         6-2    210    JR      Augustana (S.D.)                   Sioux Falls, S.D.

LB        Kyle Kitchens                     6-2    205    SR     Catawba                                Decatur. Ga.

LB        Osband Thompson             6-0    205    SR     Tuskegee                              Miami, Fla.

LB        Collin Schlosser                 6-1    230    SR     Grand Valley State                 Ada, Mich.

S          Andrew Benson                  6-2    205    SR     Assumption                           East Bridgewater, Mass.

S          Chris Johnson                    6-3    200    JR      North Alabama                      Birmingham, Ala.

CB        Tyler Hasty                         6-0    190    JR      Central Washington                Bellevue, Wash.

CB        Zuril Hendrick                     6-0    181    JR      Edinboro                               Rochester, N.Y.

P          Justin Marcha                     6-1    200    SR     Emporia State                       Edmond, Okla.

RS        Deonte Harris                     5-6    170    JR      Assumption                           Baltimore, Md. 

Second Team Offense

POS     NAME                                HT    WT     YR     SCHOOL                               HOMETOWN

QB       Connor Jessop                  6-5    220    SR     Shepherd                              Ashburn, Va.

FB        Chris Eastburn                   6-0    244    JR      Arkansas Tech                       Pearcy, Ark.

RB        Kamal Cass                       5-11  185    SR     Eastern New Mexico              Clovis, N.M.

RB        Walter Fletcher                   5-9    191    SO     Edinboro                               Columbia, Md.

WR       Cory Contini                       6-1    195    JR      Ohio Dominican                     Dover, Ohio

WR       Ryan Feiss                         5-10  190    JR      Shepherd                              Forest Hill, Md.

WR       Keshaun Taylor                  6-1    180    SR     Mars Hill                                Homestead, Fla.

TE        Vincent Hobbs                   6-3    255    JR      Texas A&M-Commerce          Mesquite, Texas

OC       Dominic Giunta                  6-3    284    SR     Ashland                                Willoughby, Ohio

OG       Innis Claud V                      6-0    290    SO     Delta State                            Albany, Ga.

OG       Colin McAllister                  6-2    290    SO     Indiana (Pa.)                          Boothwyn, Pa.

OT        John Conner                      6-5    293    SR     Ashland                                Akron, Ohio

OT        Levonte Hights                   6-4    300    SR     Shepherd                              North Chesterfield, Va.

AP        Ja'Quan Gardner                5-7    205    SR     Humboldt State                     Ceres, Calif.

PK        Casey Bednarski                6-1    230    JR      Minnesota State                    Oconomowoc, Wis.

Second Team Defense

POS     NAME                                HT    WT     YR     SCHOOL                               HOMETOWN

DE       Myles Humphrey                6-2    245    SR     Shepherd                              Upper Marlboro, Md.

DE       James Prater, Jr.                6-0    253    JR      Ashland                                Columbus, Ohio

DT        Jemal Averette                   6-2    288    SR     Indiana (Pa.)                          Upper Marlboro, Md.

DT        Freddie Reed                     6-0    309    SR     North Alabama                      West Point, Miss.

LB        Sam Blankenship               6-2    205    JR      Harding                                 Tulsa, Okla.

LB        Dennis Gareck                   6-0    205    SR     Sioux Falls                            Lake in the Hills, Ill.

LB        Kevin Haynes                     6-1    228    SR     Central Washington                Battle Ground, Wash.

S          Glenn Harris                       6-1    180    SR     Wayne State (Neb.)                Kansas City, Mo.

S          Andrew Spencer                 6-1    210    SR     Winona State                         Lake Villa, Ill.

CB        J.R. Stevens                      6-0    175    SO     Indiana (Pa.)                          Langhorne, Pa.

CB        Darius Williams                  6-0    195    JR      Colorado State-Pueblo          Gilbert, Ariz.

P          Zach Gaines                       6-1    218    SO     West Alabama                       Calera, Ala.

RS        Trenton Cannon                  5-11  175    SR     Virginia State                         Hampton, Va.

RS        Vashon Nutt                       5-9    175    SR     Northwood                            Northridge, Calif.

Third Team Offense

POS     NAME                                HT    WT     YR     SCHOOL                               HOMETOWN

QB       Amir Hall                            6-4    180    JR      Bowie State                           Bowie, Md.

FB        Theo Blackston                  6-0    235    JR      Mercyhurst                            Wheeling, W. Va.

RB        Daouda Sylla                     5-9    210    SR     Findlay                                  Ypsilanti, Mich.

RB        David Tann                        5-10  210    SR     Colorado Mesa                      Cedar Rapids, Iowa

WR       James Clark                       6-1    176    SO     Edinboro                               Coatesville, Pa.

WR       Chad Hovasse                   6-1    215    JR      Adams State                         Colorado Springs, Calif.

WR       Jalen Tolliver                      6-3    210    SR     Arkansas-Monticello              Rayville, La.

TE        D.J. Cornish                       6-2    260    SO     Shepherd                              Felton, Del.

OC       A.J. Roland                        6-0    230    JR      Midwestern State                   Temple, Texas

OG       Chris Gomez                      6-3    330    SR     Central Missouri                     Lenexa, Kan.

OG       Islam Sbeih                        6-1    298    SR     Midwestern State                   East Oakland Calif.

OT        Frank Ball                          6-3    280    SO     Virginia State                         Hampton, Va.

OT        Devon Johnson                  6-7    315    JR      Ferris State                           Aurora, Ill.

OT        Jerron Searles                    6-5    280    SR     Indiana (Pa.)                          Atlantic City, N.J.

AP        Deshawn Jones                  5-9    185    SO     Missouri S&T                         Olympia Fields, Ill.

PK        Kristov Martinez                 5-6    135    JR      Texas A&M-Commerce          Edinburg, Texas 

Third Team Defense

POS     NAME                                HT    WT     YR     SCHOOL                               HOMETOWN

DE       Markus Jones                    6-3    255    JR      Angelo State                         Crowley, Texas

DE       John Williamson                 6-3    240    JR      West Florida                          Stockton, Ala.

DT        Chris Okoye                       6-6    320    SR     Ferris State                           Novi, Mich.

DT        Simanu'a Thomas               6-1    288    SO     Pittsburg State                      Independence, Mo.

LB        Ben Althoff                        6-1    220    JR      Northwest Missouri                Palmyra, Mo.

LB        Jose Delgado                    5-11  200    JR      Fort Hays State                     Derby, Kan.

LB        Damon Lloyd                     6-0    235    SO     Indiana (Pa.)                          Bel Air, Md.

S          Sterling Hammon                6-1    210    SO     Virginia Union                        Caret, Va.

S          D.J. Olmstead                    5-11  185    SR     Washburn                              Scottsdale, Ariz.

CB        Jeremy Jackson                 5-8    200    SR     Arkansas-Monticello              Hahnville, La.

CB        Monteze Latimore               6-0    185    SR     Central Missouri                     St. Louis, Mo.

CB        Tavierre Thomas                 6-0    205    SR     Ferris State                           Detroit, Mich.

P          Zach Davidson                   6-7    230    FR     Central Missouri                     Webb City, Mo.

RS        Corey Ballentine                 6-0    204    JR      Washburn                              Topeka, Kan. 

Honorable Mention

ALPHABETICAL, BY SCHOOL — Adams State: Marquese Surrell, AP; American International: Anthony Appleton, DT; Angelo State: Justin Jackson, LB; Fred Lawrence, CB; Arkansas Tech: K.J. Reid, LB; Clayton Watson, P; Ashland: Aidan Simenc, PK; Travis Tarnowski, QB; Assumption: James McNerney, OC; Ray Sarkodieh, DE; Bemidji State: Gunner Olszewski, CB; Bowie State: Brandon Britton, WR; Robert Chesson, RB; Sean Copeland, DT; Victor Tamba, OT; Derrick Tate, DE; California (Pa.): Will Brazill, PK; Luke Hrapchak, LB; Craig McCorkle, OT; Carson-Newman: Darius Williams, S; Catawba: Sam Mobley, WR; Cris Page, CB; Quinzavious Sands, OG; Central Missouri: Brook Bolles, QB; Seth Hebert, TE; Devante Turner, RB; Central Oklahoma: Sam Noble, OT; Central Washington: Nicholas Aumua, DT; Bo Banner, DE; James Moore, OT; Kyle Self, TE; Chowan: Drew Buck, TE; Colorado Mesa: Austin Fleer, OT; Virnel Moon, RS; Blake Nelson, DE; Aaron Simons, OG; Colorado State-Pueblo: Corbin Feenstra, OC; Emery Taylor, CB; Concord: Jeremiah Johnson, CB; Garrett Lee, P; Delta State: Jamoral Graham, CB; Eastern New Mexico: Tayshaun Gary, FB; Emporia State: Justin Brown, WR; Fairmont State: Marcus Porter, LB; Michael Porter, CB; Stephen Turner, S; Ferris State: Jake Daugherty, OC; Findlay: Andrew Alten, OG; Johnny Hopkins, DE; Aaron Ivery, S; Luke Stuffel, TE; Florida Tech: Adonis Davis, DE; Fort Hays State: Brandon Brown, PK; Dante Brown, P; Monterio Burchfield, WR; Kenneth Iheme, RB; Doyin Jibowu, S; Fort Valley State: Lorenzo Smothers, RS; Grand Valley State: Marty Carter, RB; Harding: Gavin De Los Santos, OT; Humboldt State: Alex Cappa, OT; Robert Webber, QB; Indiana (Pa.): Max Redfield, S; Lenny Williams, QB; Indianapolis: Jordan Bedan, OG; Kentucky State: Brett Sylve, AP; Kutztown: Ahkee Cox-Cowan, CB; Lane: MarQuel Shelton, DE; Limestone: Alex Haynes, P; LIU-Post: Anthony DeNunzio, DT; Joe Lacey, OT; Malik Pierre, AP; Malone: Ryan Weber, LB; Mars Hill: Brandon Berridge, OT; McKendree: Austin Weltha, LB; Midwestern State: Josh Wydermyer, S; Miles: Justin Hardy, RB; Millersville: Sean Dugan, LB; Minnesota Crookston: Rod Stewart, RS; Minnesota Duluth: Nolan Folkert, OT; Minnesota State: Brendan Chrystal, LB; Nate Gunn, RB; Evan Perrizo, DE; Sam Schrauth, OG; Missouri S&T: Roderick Chapman, CB; Tershawn Wharton, DE; North Alabama: Maurice Carnell, CB; North Carolina-Pembroke: Tyler Hinton, DE; North Greenville: Matt Gravely, PK; Northeastern State: Gary McKnight, WR; Northern Michigan: Jake Mayon, AP; Northwood: Nick Tripp, S; Northwest Missouri: Austen Eskew, DE; Zach Flott, OG; Marcus Jones, CB; Caleb Mather, DT; Notre Dame (Ohio): Claudy Mathieu, DE; Ohio Dominican: Tristan Kehres, DT; Grant Russell, QB; Zach Williams, OT; Pittsburg State: Bo Farrow, OC; Codey Funk, OT; Austin Panko, RS; Michael Rose, RB; Saginaw Valley State: Chad Gailliard, WR; Seton Hill: Evan Byrd, FB; Shepherd: Jamie Colon, OC; James Gupton, LB; Jabre Lolley, RB; Shippensburg: Winston Eubanks, WR; Kevin Taylor, CB; Shorter: Lewis Hayes, WR; Slippery Rock: Marcus Johnson, RS; Ian Park, OG; Southeastern Oklahoma: Joel Carlos, PK; O.J. Walker, RS; Southern Arkansas: Davondrick Lison, DT; Elgin Moore, S; Southwest Baptist: Corey Hanger, CB; Kendrick Payne, WR; Tarleton State: Tyrell Thompson, DT; Texas A&M-Commerce: Michael Onuoha, DE; Brucks Saathoff, LB; Texas A&M-Kingsville: Jordan Thomas, WR; Tuskegee: Leward Brown, OC; Jonah McCutcheaon, S; Valdosta State: Kevin Battle, OG; Virginia Union: Karl Calhoun, LB; West Alabama: Donta Armstrong, WR; Qua Boyd, TE; Tevin Madison, CB; Terry Samuel, LB; Harry Satterwhite, QB; West Chester: Tyler Morrissey, LB; Brendan Paulison, P; West Florida: Austin Williams, PK; West Georgia: Desmond Harrison, OT; Harley Vaughan, OC; West Liberty: Cliff Clark, LB; West Texas A&M: John Cummings, P; West Virginia Wesleyan: Cody Goode, DT; Western New Mexico: D'Angelo Bowie, WR; Western Oregon: Paul Revis, WR; Wingate: Buck Muckelvene, RS; Daniel Owens, OC; Lawrence Pittman, RB; Winona State: Jake Balliu, RS; Michael Gomez, DT; Jake Gronholz, OG.