The South Atlantic Conference Announces Football Annual Awards

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Mars Hill wide receiver Dimitri Holmes was tabbed the South Atlantic Conference Football Offensive Player of the Year, while Lenoir-Rhyne linebacker Tanner Botts was tabbed the League's Defensive Player of the Year.  In addition, Keshaun Taylor of Mars Hill was named the SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year and L'Keith Brown from Tusculum was tabbed the Defensive Freshman of the Year.  Bears' offensive lineman Joe Ray garnered the Jacobs Blocking Trophy and Lenoir-Rhyne mentor Ian Shields picked up South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honors, the League announced today.

Holmes, a senior from Athens, Ga., finished his career ranked No. 1 All-Time in South Atlantic Conference history in two categories.  He hauled in 267 balls in his career at Mars Hill to rank No. 1, while his 4,231 receiving yards in his career was good for tops All-Time in the League.  During the 2014 season, he led the League with 782 yards receiving and also finished No. 1 in the Conference with seven receiving touchdowns and 78.2 receiving yards per game.  Holmes caught 5.0 balls per game to rank No. 2 in the SAC and placed third in the League with 135.5 all-purpose yards per game.  He brought back a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns this season to finish tied for No. 1 in Division II.  Holmes was tabbed an All-American during the 2013 season.

Botts, a senior from Lawrenceville, Ga., posted 82 tackles on the year for the Bears.  He posted 8.5 tackles for loss on the season and chipped in 2.5 sacks.  Botts registered .20 forced fumbles per game and posted one pass breakup.  He anchored a Bears defense that finished the regular-season ranked No. 9 in the nation in scoring defense with 14.9 points per game.  The Bears topped the League allowing just 129 rushing yards per game and ranked No. 2 in the South Atlantic Conference as it gave up just 306.4 yards of total offense per game.  A three-time first-team All-South Atlantic Conference selection, Botts was tabbed an All-American during the 2013 season. 

Taylor, a wide receiver from Homestead, Fla., finished the 2014 campaign ranked in the top 10 in the League in four offensive categories.  His 32 receptions on the year was good for No. 7 in the Conference, while his 626 receiving yards ranked No. 4 in the League.  Taylor is currently No. 1 in the South Atlantic Conference with 19.6 yards per catch and is No. 2 in the SAC with 62.6 receiving yards per game.  Taylor finished the 2014 season with a pair of touchdowns.

Brown, a linebacker from Athens, Ga., turned in 70 total tackles during the 2014 season to rank No. 13 in the League.  He is currently ninth in the SAC with 7.0 tackles per game.  Brown posted 33 solo stops on the year and helped a Tusculum defense to rank No. 21 in the nation in red zone defense.

Ray, a junior from Atlanta, Ga., earned his second-straight Jacobs Blocking Trophy after anchoring an offensive line that finished the regular-season ranked No. 1 in the nation with 415.5 rushing yards per game.  The Lenoir-Rhyne offense is currently ranked No. 21 in the nation with 38.5 points per game.  A 2013 All-American, he helped the Lenoir-Rhyne offense punch in 48 rushing scores on the season.  The award marks the fifth-straight Lenoir-Rhyne offensive lineman to win the award.

Shields coached his Bears to a No. 3 ranking in the American Football Coaches Association National Poll.  His Bears are the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division II Super Region II for the second-straight year and earned a first-round bye in the 2014 NCAA Division II Football Championship.  The Bears finished the season at 11-0 to mark the first time since 1962 that a Lenoir-Rhyne team finished the regular-season undefeated.

Lenoir-Rhyne finished No. 1in the League with nine first-teams selection.  Carson-Newman placed six on the first-teams, while Newberry was close behind with five.  Wingate put four players first-teams as Mars Hill, Tusculum, Catawba and Brevard each posted two player on the first-teams.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – De'Andre Thomas, Carson-Newman AND Miles Freeman, Lenoir-Rhyne
Running Back – Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Chris Robinson, Lenoir-Rhyne
Running Back – Jarrod Spears, Lenoir-Rhyne
Wide Receiver – Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Justin Houston, Tusculum
Wide Receiver – Jordan Berry, Wingate
Offensive Line – Josh Turner, Brevard
Offensive Line – Robby Ignangi, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Taylor Fender, Catawba
Offensive Line – Joe Ray, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Jim Bayer, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Denzell Goode, Mars Hill
Tight End – Brandon Ellington, Wingate
Placekicker – Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne
Return Specialist – Lonnie Williams, Carson-Newman
Long Snapper – Dusty Nance, Carson-Newman

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Blake Baker, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Line – Alstevis Squirewell, Newberry
Defensive Line – Caushaud Lyons, Tusculum
Defensive Line – Nick Napolitano, Wingate
Linebacker – Michael Gruber, Brevard
Linebacker – Jason Taylor, Catawba
Linebacker – Tanner Botts, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Edmond Robinson, Newberry
Linebacker – Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
Defensive Back – Jerry Miclisse, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – O'neil Blake, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Sharon Irwin, Newberry
Defensive Back – Brandon Hathaway, Wingate
Punter – Kyle Clark, Newberry

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Running Back – Kelvin Jeter, Brevard
Running Back – Jordan Ollis, Brevard
Running Back – Jamel Harbison, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – TraShaun Ward, Carson-Newman
Wide Receiver – Carlos Tarrats, Catawba
Wide Receiver – Victor Brannan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Nick Allison, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Stephen Nance, Newberry
Offensive Line – Jake Bridwell, Tusculum
Offensive Line – Will Poteat, Wingate
Tight End – Marquez Williams, Mars Hill
Placekicker – Alex Noboa, Brevard
Return Specialist – Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill
Long Snapper – Andrew Smith, Newberry

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – William Alderman, Carson-Newman
Defensive Line – Kegan Funderburk, Catawba
Defensive Line – Chris Green, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Line – Christiaan Davis, Mars Hill
Linebacker – Rodney Singleton, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Jasper Mason, Mars Hill
Linebacker – Eric Mapoles, Wingate
Defensive Back – Mark McDaniel, Catawba
Defensive Back – Marcus Kincaid, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Arnez Gray, Newberry
Defensive Back – Jon Jimenez, Wingate
Punter – Caleb Berry, Catawba AND Mikey Destephens, Lenoir-Rhyne

Offensive Player Of The Year
Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill

Defensive Player Of The Year
Tanner Botts, Lenoir-Rhyne

Offensive Freshman Of The Year

Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill

Defensive Freshman Of The Year
L'Keith Brown, Tusculum 

Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Joe Ray, Lenoir-Rhyne

SAC Coach Of The Year
Ian Shields, Lenoir-Rhyne

Statistical Champions
Rushing Yards Per Game: Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman (139.1)
Passing Yards Per Game: Mike Sheehan, Catawba (206.6)
Total Offense Per Game: Mike Sheehan, Catawba (251.2)
Receptions Per Game: Justin Houston, Tusculum (6.0)
Receiving Yards Per Game: Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill (78.2)
All-Purpose Yards Per Game: Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman (158.3)
Passing Efficiency Rating: Mike Sheehan, Catawba (136.2)
Punt Return Avg.: Kevin Miller, Newberry (15.0)
Kick Return Avg: Lonnie Williams, Carson-Newman (34.1)
Punting Avg: Kyle Clark, Newberry (39.3)
Scoring Average (TDs): Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman (11.0)
Scoring Average (K): Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne (7.6)
Field Goals Per Game: Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne (1.0)
Field Goal Percentage: Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne (.917)
Tackles Per Game: Michael Gruber, Brevard (10.3)
Sacks Per Game: Blake Baker, Lenoir-Rhyne (0.95)
Tackles for Loss Per Game: Caushaud Lyons, Tusculum (1.5)
Interceptions Per Game: Brandon Hathaway, Wingate (0.5)
Team Scoring Offense: Lenoir-Rhyne (38.5)
Team Scoring Defense: Lenoir-Rhyne (14.9)
Team Passing Offense: Catawba (217.4)
Team Passing Defense: Newberry (120.2)
Team Rushing Offense: Lenoir-Rhyne (415.5)
Team Rushing Defense: Lenoir-Rhyne (129)
Team Total Offense: Carson-Newman (480.9)
Team Total Defense: Newberry (298.9)