Conque Announces 2016 Offseason/Spring Award Winners
5/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – As Stephen F. Austin closes out the 2015-16 academic year, head football coach Clint Conque has announced his yearly offseason and on-field awards for the 2016 winter/spring semester, encompassing SFA’s spring practice schedule. The awards are an annual fixture for Conque, recognizing those players showing commitment to the Lumberjack football program.
“I was pleased with the efforts of the team during both the offseason and spring season and feel we made great strides,” Conque said. “We continue to work on building that culture of hard work and discipline, and we have a group of players that really have bought in and accepted that mindset. We also have a good group of veteran seniors leading this team, and there were some big positives during the past semester.”
Each of the awards is named after a key figure in SFA football and athletic department history and were voted on by members of the Lumberjack football coaching staff.
A full list of the 2016 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:
- Jamal Allen
- Lucas Askew
- Nick Bailey
- Spencer Choka
- Aaron Piper
- Trevon Smith
- Marlon Walls
- Alize Ward
- Jacolby Whitaker
- Germod Williams
- Ryan Woods
Robert Hill Award
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 47 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 2016 spring practice season:
- Jabralon Allen
- Zach Conque
- Anthony Pullins
- Joshawa West
Steve McCarty Award
McCarty is the long-time Athletic Director at SFA who recently completed his service as a member of the SFA Board of Regents, including a term as the chair. 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 2016 spring practice season:
- Darrell Vanerson
- Marlon Walls
Mike Wilhite Elite Jack Award
Wilhite played three seasons at SFA, earning both his bachelors and masters degrees. A highly successful businessman that 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 was a significant financial donor to the program for many years before passing away this past fall. The award honors the top performers of the 2016 offseason:
- Spencer Choka
- Anthony Jacobs
- Travis Lock
- Robert Sylvester
Dan Eason Award
Eason has been with the SFA strength and conditioning department for 16 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 2016 offseason:
- Jabralon Allen
- Hunter Cabral
- Loren Easly
- John Franklin
- Lawrence Ghansah
- Kiki Hill
- Justice Liggins
- Price Miller
- Shane Roberson
- Jonathan Sam
- Marlon Walls
- Alize Ward
- Jacolby Whitaker
Larry Centers Award
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 2016 spring practice season:
- Zach Conque
- Robert Sylvester
Jeremiah Trotter Award
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 2016 spring practice season:
- Kedrick Harrison
- Mitchel Zimmerle
Mark Moseley Award
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 Redskins Ring of Fame. The award recognizes outstanding achievements among the special teams during the 2016 spring practice season:
- Patrick Martin
- Chris Wilkerson
Jabara Williams Award
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 2016 spring football practice schedule:
- A.J. Brown
- Shane Roberson
- Tarrin Mitchell
- Ryan Woods
Max Holmes Award
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 an academic advisor for the College of Forestry at SFA. The award recognizes outstanding performances among newcomers during the 2016 spring football practice schedule:
- Spencer Choka
- Kiki Hill
- Nick Jones
- Gary Sampson
- Alize Ward
Jim Hess 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 2016 spring football practice schedule, selected by head coach Clint Conque:
- Zach Conque
- John Franklin
- Price Miller
- Will Taylor
- Joshawa West
- Mitchel Zimmerle
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