Conque Announces 2015 Spring Awards
5/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- With the 2015 spring semester wrapping up this week, Stephen F. Austin head football coach Clint Conque has announced his offseason and on-field awards for the 2015 spring season. It is the second year Conque has announced the awards, building the culture of Lumberjack football.
"We had a very productive offseason and spring season as we had a large number of players step up and improve," Conque said. "Last year was the first year we instituted these awards and it was very well received by our players. This year we carried the momentum from last year into the spring season and hope to build on that as we move into the fall."
Each of the awards is named after a key figure in SFA football and program history and were voted on by members of the Lumberjack coaching staff.
A full list of the 2015 SFA Football Offseason/Spring Award winners follows with a brief bio of the award namesakes:
Krazy Jacks
Recognition for excellence in spring special teams competition:
• Jordan Barnard
• Chance Barney
• Barrett Cain
• John Franklin
• A.J. Jones
• Bradley Krall
• Alex Miller
• Edwin Mims
• Ahmad Muhammad
• Antoine Palmer
• Allen Stewart
• Aaron Thomas
Robert Hill Award for Offensive Leadership
Hill has become synonymous with SFA Athletics, being associated with the department for over 25 years and serving as Athletic Director since 2005. During his tenure, SFA has won 44 Southland Conference titles and multiple Commissioners Cups, being named the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year in 2011. This award recognizes outstanding leadership among offensive players during the 2015 spring practice season:
• Zach Conque
• Justice Liggins
• Anthony Pullins
• Joshawa West
• Byron Williams
Steve McCarty Award for Defensive Leadership
McCarty is the long-time Athletic Director at SFA who currently serves as the chairman of the SFA board of regents. Having spent over 20 years associated with the department, McCarty forged SFA Athletics into the modern era of Division I athletics and has a leadership award presented annually in the Southland Conference to a student-athlete from a member institution. This award recognizes outstanding leadership among defensive players during the 2015 spring practice season:
• Demundre Freeman
• Kedrick Harrison
Mike Wilhite Elite Jack Award
Wilhite played three seasons at SFA, earning both his bachelors and masters degrees. A highly successful businessman that has served on many boards, including the SFA letterman and alumni foundation and board of regents, Wilhite is the son-in-law of the late Homer Bryce and has been a significant financial donor to the program for many years. The award honors the top performers of the 2015 offseason:
• Zach Conque
• A.J. Jones
• Price Miller
• Anthony Pullins
• Robert Sylvester
Dan Eason Award
Eason has been with the SFA strength and conditioning department for 15 seasons, training and developing scores of Lumberjacks that went on to play in the NFL. Eason holds a BCS title for his work at the University of Tennessee. The award recognizes outstanding performances in the 2015 offseason:
• Jabralon Allen
• Jamal Allen
• Braxton Bearden
• Demundre Freeman
• John Franklin
• Patrick Martin
• Aaron Piper
• Zack Starnes
• Terran Vaughn
• Cameron Washington
• Jacolby Whitaker
• D.J. Witherspoon
Larry Centers Award for Outstanding Offensive Achievement
Centers was a two-time All-SLC performer at running back for the `Jacks and was selected in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals. He played 15 seasons in the NFL, being selected to three Pro Bowls, winning a Super Bowl championship with the New England Patriots in 2004, amassing 827 career receptions, the most in NFL history for a fullback. The award recognizes outstanding achievements among the offense during the 2015 spring practice season:
• Zach Conque
• Anthony Pullins
• Robert Sylvester
• Cameron Washington
• Joshawa West
Jeremiah Trotter Award for Outstanding Defensive Achievement
Trotter was an All-American linebacker for SFA before being selected in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He played 12 seasons in the NFL, being selected to four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro selection accumulating 636 tackles and 12.5 sacks while establishing a reputation as one of the most feared defensive players in the league. The award recognizes outstanding achievements among the defense during the 2015 spring practice season:
• Kedrick Harrison
• Lance Skyler
Mark Moseley Award for Special Teams
Moseley was a three year letterwinning kicker at SFA before being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 14th round of the 1970 NFL Draft. He will go on to play 17 seasons in the NFL, being named to the Pro Bowl three times and was the AP NFL MVP in 1982. Moseley won a Super Bowl title with the Washington Redskins in 1983 and ended his career as the Redskins all-time leading scorer, being inducted into the Redskings Ring of Fame. The award recognizes outstanding achievements among the special teams during the 2015 spring practice season:
• Allen Stewart
• Marlon Walls
Jabara Williams Award for Most Improved Player
Williams was a two-time All-American during his time at SFA, helping lead the `Jacks to a pair of Southland Conference championships. Williams was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 before being drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. The award recognizes the most improved players over the course of the 2015 spring football practice schedule:
• Jayson Clements
• John Franklin
• Justin Owens
• Hayden Scott
• Will Taylor
• Jake Wallace
• Mitchel Zimmerle
Max Holmes Award for Outstanding Newcomers
After transferring from LSU in 2008, Holmes started every game at center for SFA. An All-SLC selection, Holmes was also an All-SLC Academic selection before being named the conference's male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2009 and currently serves as the director of admissions of SFA. The award recognizes outstanding performances among newcomers during the 2015 spring football practice schedule:
• Lamont Alexander
• Tre Rosser
• Hayden Scott
• Zack Starnes
Jim Hess Head Coaches Award
Hess was the former head coach and athletic director for SFA, compiling a 47-30-2 record on the Lumberjack sidelines and remains the all-time winningest coach in program history. Helping make SFA transition from a Division II to a Division I-AA program, Hess went on to become the head coach at New Mexico State as well as a scout for the Dallas Cowboys. This award recognizes the top overall performers during the course of the 2054 spring football practice schedule, selected by head coach Clint Conque:
• Offensive: Zach Conque and Robert Sylvester
• Defensive: Demundre Freeman and Kedrick Harrison
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