Gameday Feature: This One is for You, Seniors and Veterans

Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography

Gameday Feature: This One is for You, Seniors and Veterans

11/10/2017 4:22:00 PM | Football

SFA will honor its 10 seniors Saturday prior to kick off against No. 17 Nicholls, while also saying “thank you” to four members of the football program who have served in the United States armed forces

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Saturday the Stephen F. Austin football team takes on 17th-ranked Nicholls inside Homer Bryce Stadium for its final home game of 2017. The Lumberjacks will be going for their third-straight win and fifth Southland Conference victory of the season as SFA strives to make it nine consecutive seasons with a winning record in Nacogdoches. However, the main storyline is SFA's 10 seniors who will be playing their final collegiate game inside Homer Bryce and the Lumberjack football program's four members who have served the United States.

This year, senior day has lined up with Veteran's Day and the SFA football team is appreciative of the hard work and contributions of its seniors, in addition to the sacrifices and dedication of those who are veterans.

Each of the Lumberjacks' 10 seniors has provided significant contributions to the SFA football program since their arrival on campus. Four, defensive end John Franklin (Greenville, Texas), cornerback Tarrin Mitchell (Dallas, Texas), tight end Will Taylor (Euless, Texas), and safety Marlon Walls (Pearland, Texas), were each a part of head coach Clint Conque's original recruiting class in 2014. The four came on board with SFA shortly after Conque was hired to lead the 'Jacks. Six, running back Kijana Amous (Mansfield, Texas), cornerback Aaron Foy (Kilgore, Texas), wide receiver Trae Hart (Mesquite, Texas), offensive lineman Josh Keith (Katy, Texas), cornerback Trent Perriman (Miami, Fla.) and offensive lineman Jaxon Salinas (Irving, Texas) joined the 'Jacks as transfers and complete this year's senior class.

Franklin, a native of Greenville, Texas (Greenville H.S.), is a four-year letter winner at SFA and is a two-time All-Southland Conference selection, claiming second-team honors as a sophomore and first-team honors as a junior. A preseason all-conference first-team pick as a senior, Franklin ranks sixth in program history in career tackles for loss (34.5) and ninth in career sacks (16.5). Franklin is pursuing a degree in kinesiology, while minoring in psychology.

A three-year letter winner for the 'Jacks, Mitchell has appeared in 30 games and made 14 starts in the secondary. Over the last three seasons, Mitchell has tallied 66 total tackles, including 40 of the solo variety, and picked off four passes. A native of Dallas, Texas (Roosevelt H.S.), Mitchell is majoring in kinesiology and minoring in general business.

Taylor has been a mainstay on offense at SFA over the last four years, hauling in 16 catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns in 43 games played and 17 starts. He has also provided blocking in both the interior and exterior. A native of Euless, Texas (Euless Trinity H.S.), Taylor is pursuing a degree in kinesiology.

Walls is SFA's ultimate scholar-athlete. Recently named a finalist for the prestigious National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame's 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy®, the academic Heisman Trophy in college football, Walls became the program's first national scholar-athlete. As a junior, Walls became the first football player in school history to be named a CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-American First Team selection and was tabbed as the 2016 Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year. A native of Pearland, Texas (Pearland H.S.), Walls is the most experienced player on this year's roster, having played in 44 games throughout his Lumberjack career with 22 starts. Walls is majoring in engineering physics and minoring in mathematics.

Amous, a native of Mansfield, Texas (Legacy H.S.), has been an offensive standout as the Lumberjacks' leading rusher in his second year at SFA after transferring from Navarro College. As one of SFA's top offensive players, Amous leads the 'Jacks this season with 511 rushing yards, six touchdowns and 821 total all-purpose yards. He was named Southland Offensive Player of the week on Oct. 23 after claiming 185 yards of offense for 38% of SFA's total yards in the win over Houston Baptist. Amous is majoring in kinesiology and minoring in general business.

Also transferring from Navarro College, Foy has competed for two seasons at SFA and has been a steady and reliable corner for the 'Jacks. Appearing in 15 games and making nine starts, Foy has tallied 36 total tackles and made 29 solo stops, while breaking up seven passes and recording an interception. A native of Kilgore, Texas (Kilgore H.S.), Foy is majoring in kinesiology and minoring in health science.

Hart has made an immediate impact for the 'Jacks as a wide receiver and punt returner after transferring from Purdue. He has compiled 942 all-purpose yards over the last two years and was named to the 2016 All-Southland Second Team. Hart was selected as a preseason All-Southland First Team punt returner and an All-Southland Second Team all-purpose player over the summer. A native of Mesquite, Texas (First Baptist Academy), Hart is majoring in kinesiology and minoring in health science.

Keith, a native of Katy, Texas (Houston Christian), has appeared in 19 games and made 15 starts on the offensive line for SFA over the past two seasons after transferring from Blinn Community College. He collected All-Southland Second Team honors as a junior in 2016 and was named to this season's preseason All-Southland First Team. Keith is majoring in general business.

Perriman has started all 20 games at cornerback for SFA over the last two seasons after transferring from Golden West College. His 35 solo stops this season lead the team while his 55 total tackles on the year are the second-most of any Lumberjack. In two years, Perriman has claimed 90 total tackles, including 60 solo stops, and registered 18 pass breakups. A native of Miami, Florida (Northwestern H.S.), Perriman is majoring in criminal justice.

Playing in 20 games and making three starts on the offensive line for the 'Jacks after transferring from Big 12 Oklahoma State, Salinas has been a loyal contributor to the SFA football program the last two years. A native of Irving, Texas (Irving H.S.), Salinas is majoring in kinesiology and minoring in art.

Four members of the SFA football program have made great sacrifices and put themselves in harm's way to protect and keep safe the United States of America. Current Lumberjack Mark Reed, a redshirt freshman tight end from Palestine, Texas (Palestine H.S.), served as a rescue swimmer for the United States Navy. The Lumberjacks' director of football operations, Kail Kaiser, was with the United States Air Force in security forces. Alex Rodriguez, an assistant athletic trainer for SFA, is a former Seabee equipment operator for the United States Navy. Head athletic trainer AJ Van Valkenburgh, who handles athletic training efforts for the entire football team, was a member of the Texas Army National Guard's Combat Medic 91W unit for eight years.

The 'Jacks have an opportunity Saturday to make it six years in a row of defeating a nationally-ranked opponent as SFA has earned a win over a top-25 team each of the last five seasons dating back to Sept. 29, 2012.

-SFA-