BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Four different schools claimed the four major 2008 Ohio Valley Conference postseason awards which were released on Tuesday. Tennessee State senior running back Javarris Williams was named Offensive Player of the Year, Murray State senior linebacker Nathan Williams was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year, Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tim Benford earned the Freshman of the Year award and first-year Eastern Kentucky head coach Dean Hood was named the OVC Roy Kidd Coach of the Year.
Jacksonville State and Tennessee State led the way with 11 selections each over the first-team, second-team and All-Newcomer squad. UT Martin had 10 total selections and 2008 OVC Champion Eastern Kentucky had nine picks. The Colonels and Skyhawks tied for the most first-team honorees (five), while Jacksonville State had the most second-teamers (6) and Tennessee State had the most All-Newcomer picks (4). The All-OVC first-team included 14 seniors, 10 juniors and a sophomore while the second-team had 15 seniors, eight juniors and one sophomore.
Javarris Williams completed his career at Tennessee State and the OVC by rushing for 4,329 yards, the fifth-highest total in league history and fourth-highest mark nationally among active players. In 2008 he ran for 1,037 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games (he missed the final two games of the year due to injury). That marked his third-straight season with 1,000 or more yards and his 103.7 yards/game ranked 26th nationally while his 9.60 points per game was the seventh-highest total in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) play. Williams netted 20 career games of 100 or more rushing yards, the fifth-highest active mark nationally. His 42 career rushing touchdowns marked the most by a player in Tennessee State history. Williams is the fourth Tiger player to be named OVC Offensive Player of the Year and first since 2004 when Charles Anthony took home the honor (ironically, it was Anthony’s career rushing touchdown record that Williams broke in his final game of the 2008 season).
Nathan Williams, a candidate for the 2008 Buck Buchanan Award (given to the nation’s top FCS defensive player) overcame season-ending injuries in each 2004 and 2007 to come back for a rare sixth-year of eligibility in 2008. This year he finished the season with 179 tackles, which was a Murray State single-season record and the most at any level of NCAA football in 2008. His 14.92 tackles/game ranked first in the FCS, as did his 76 solo stops. Williams netted 23 tackles in a game against Illinois State on Sept. 13; the 23 tackles were the most in a single-game nationally this season. Williams also had a 21-tackle game, a 19-tackle game and two 17-tackle performances. He added 13 tackles-for-loss, 8.0 sacks (second in the OVC and 26th nationally), two quarterback hurries, two pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery during the year. Williams was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week three times during the season and National Defensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network on Sept. 17. He is the third Racer to be named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year and first since the 1995 campaign (defensive back William Hampton).
Benford set the Tennessee Tech single-season record for receptions (68) and tied the school mark for receiving touchdowns (10) during his freshman campaign. He finished the season with 782 receiving yards (fifth most in the OVC) while his 5.7 receptions a contest was second-best in the league. Benford caught five or more passes in a game in nine of 12 contests in 2008. His best game of the season came on Oct. 25 at Austin Peay when he grabbed 10 balls for 123 yards and two scores. Benford is the second Tennessee Tech player to earn the OVC Freshman of the Year award, which was awarded for the fifth time in 2008. Previous winners include current Golden Eagle quarterback Lee Sweeney, who took home the honor in 2006.
In his first season as head coach at Eastern Kentucky, Hood led the Colonels to an 8-3 overall record, 7-1 Conference mark and the program’s 20th OVC Championship in earning the Roy Kidd Coach of the Year award. The award is named for the legendary EKU coach (who won the award a record 10 times) and for who Hood served as an assistant coach from 1994-98. After starting the year 1-3, Hood led the team to seven straight wins to close the regular season, including a dramatic 33-31 victory over UT Martin in the final game of the regular season, where a blocked field goal to end the game gave the Colonels the championship. By winning the Conference the team secured its second straight FCS playoff berth and its NCAA record 19th overall appearance in the playoffs. The season marked Eastern Kentucky’s 31st consecutive winning season, which is the second longest active streak in all of Division I (behind only Florida State). The Colonels also had its 36th consecutive non-losing season, which is now the longest streak in all of Division I (after Michigan had a losing season in 2008).
The All-OVC first-team featured players from eight of the nine OVC football-playing institutions and was highlighted by Williams at one of the two running back spots. He was joined by Eastern Illinois senior Travorus Bess at the other running back spot. Bess rushed for a league-best 1,086 yards in 12 games (90.5 yards/game) and scored three touchdowns. He is the third different EIU running back selected to the first-team over the past three seasons (joining Vincent Webb and Ademola Adeniji). The first-team quarterback was UT Martin senior Cade Thompson who tossed an OVC-best 24 touchdowns in 12 games. An All-Newcomer pick a year ago, Thompson led the Skyhawks to within one game of the OVC Championship by completing 190-of-328 passes (57.9%) for 2,680 yards. He ended the regular season ranked 23rd nationally in passing efficiency (142.17) and 30th in passing yards per game (223.33, which was tops in the OVC). One of Thompson’s favorite targets, junior newcomer Mike Hicks, was one of the two first-team wide receivers, joining Jacksonville State senior Maurice Dupree. Hicks, who transferred from Ole Miss, caught 66 passes for 894 yards and a league-best 12 touchdowns in 2008; his 894 receiving yards were the second most in the OVC and 30th nationally. Dupree, who was also a second-team selection as a return specialist, had a breakout year as a wide-out, pulling in 49 passes for 799 yards (16.3 yard/catch) and 10 touchdowns for the team that ranked first in the OVC in total offense (408.09 yard/game). Eastern Kentucky senior tight end Stephen Sizemore moved up from the second-team in 2007 to earn first-team tight end honors this year. Sizemore led OVC Champion EKU with 46 catches for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee State, who led the league in rushing (195.83 yards/game), had two selections on the offensive line, including senior center Cecil Newton and senior tackle Cornelius Lewis. Joining that duo is Eastern Illinois junior guard Chaz Millard (a repeat first-team selection from 2007), UT Martin senior guard Kevin Bannon and Eastern Kentucky junior tackle Derek Hardman.
The first-team defensive linemen selections included two repeat selections from last year, Eastern Illinois senior Pierre Walters (48 tackles, 16.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks) and Eastern Kentucky senior Chris Coy (45 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks). They were joined on the defensive line by Murray State junior Austen Lane and UT Martin senior Ray Williams (56 tackles, 8.0 tackles-for-loss, 5.0 sacks), who was a second-team pick a year ago. Lane finished the season with 12 sacks (1.0/game) which ranked fourth nationally; he also added 63 tackles and 22 tackles-for-loss (which ranked sixth nationally). The three first-team linebacker selections were among three of the best in the nation, as the trio combined for an impressive 432 tackles. That group was led by Williams, the OVC Defensive Player of the Year (who ranked first nationally in tackles/game). He was joined by Southeast Missouri State senior Nick Stauffer (150 tackles, fourth nationally) and Jacksonville State junior Alexander Henderson (109 tackles, 17th nationally). The four defensive back selections combined for 17 interceptions during the season and included Austin Peay junior Kevis Buckley (40 tackles, 6 interceptions), Eastern Kentucky senior Brandon Gathof (72 tackles, 5 interceptions), Jacksonville State junior Carnell Clark (66 tackles, 2 interceptions) and UT Martin junior Dontrell Miller (78 tackles, 4 interceptions). Miller etched his name into the NCAA record books with five defensive touchdowns in 2008, which set a NCAA single-season record; he returned two interceptions for scores and took back three fumble recoveries to pay dirt.
The first-team All-OVC specialist selections included Eastern Kentucky senior kicker Taylor Long, Southeast Missouri State junior punter Doug Spada and Austin Peay return specialist Terrence Holt. Long converted 19-of-26 field goals on the season, including a 50-yarder, and ranked second nationally in field goals made per game (1.73). Long was a second-team All-OVC pick a year ago. Spada, a repeat first-team selection, ranked third nationally in punting, averaging 44.74 yards per punt. He had a long of 65 yards and downed 12 punts inside his opponent’s 20-yard line. Holt, the lone sophomore on the first-team, broke the OVC single-season record for kick return yardage for the second straight year, netting 1,285 yards in 52 returns (24.7 yard/return). He had a long return of 77 yards.
The second-team offensive unit was highlighted by Jacksonville State junior quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. Perrilloux, a transfer from LSU, completed 187-of-297 passes for 2,318 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for an addition seven scores in 2008. He is joined on the team by Jacksonville state senior running back Daniel Jackson (815 yards, 3 touchdowns), UT Martin junior running back Brandyn Young (702 yards, 12 touchdowns), Murray State junior wide receiver Derrick Townsel (53 catches, 667 yards, 3 touchdowns), Southeast Missouri State junior wide receiver Walter Peoples (65 catches, 903 yards, 6 touchdowns), Murray State junior tight end DeAngelo Nelson (34 catches, 386 yards, 1 touchdown), Eastern Kentucky senior center Sam Reid, Jacksonville State senior guard Keith Gergel, Tennessee Tech senior guard Scott Eller, Tennessee State senior tackle Dumaka Atkins and UT Martin junior tackle Joe Gibbs.
The second-team defensive unit was comprised of four defensive lineman, including Eastern Illinois senior Donovan Johnson (58 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, 6.0 sacks), Eastern Illinois senior Jeff Sobol (37 tackles, 8.0 tackles-for-loss), Jacksonville State junior Brandt Thomas (37 tackles, 6.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks) and Tennessee State senior Maurice Davis (50 tackles, 11.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries). The linebackers included Austin Peay junior Daniel Becker (102 tackles, 3.0 sacks), Eastern Kentucky senior Tyjuan Jones (94 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles) and UT Martin sophomore Josh Bey (88 tackles, 16.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks). The defensive back selections were Eastern Kentucky senior Zach Denton (55 tackles, 6 interceptions), Tennessee State sophomore Eugene Clifford (61 tackles, 3 interceptions), Tennessee State senior Larry Williford (60 tackles, 3 interceptions) and Tennessee Tech senior Maurice Smith (128 tackles, 11.0 tackles-for-loss).
The second-team specialists were Jacksonville State senior kicker Gavin Hallford (7-of-9 field goals, 44-of-46 PAT’s), UT Martin senior punter Adam Ivey (41.3 yards/punt) and JSU’s Dupree (28.3 yards/return, 1 touchdown), who was also a first-team All-OVC wide receiver pick.
Eleven players were selected to the All-OVC Newcomer squad. To be selected to the team an individual had to be a first-year player (freshman or transfer) in the OVC. One of the selections was Tennessee Tech’s Benford, who was named the OVC Freshman of the Year. Three other players - Jacksonville State’s Perrilloux, Tennessee State’s Clifford and UT Martin’s Hicks were also selected to either the All-OVC first or second-team. The remaining players included Austin Peay freshman running back Ryan White (600 yards, 3 touchdowns), Eastern Kentucky senior wide receiver Stephon Fuqua (29 catches, 491 yards), Jacksonville State freshman defensive back A.J. Davis (41 tackles, 3 interceptions), Southeast Missouri State freshman linebacker Phillip Klaproth (76 tackles, 2 interceptions), Tennessee State sophomore defensive lineman Marcus Broxie (36 tackles, 4.0 sacks), Tennessee State sophomore linebacker Rico Council (67 tackles, 2 forced fumbles) and Tennessee State junior wide receiver/return specialist JaJuan Spillman (43 catches, 570 yards, 5 touchdowns, 24.9 yards/kick return, 1 touchdown).
Awards were voted on my OVC head football coaches and sports information directors.
2008 All-OVC Football Teams
OVC Offensive Player of the Year: Javarris Williams, Tennessee State
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Nathan Williams, Murray State
OVC Freshman of the Year: Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech
OVC Roy Kidd Coach of the Year: Dean Hood, Eastern Kentucky
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Cade Thompson, UT Martin
RB - Travorus Bess, Eastern Illinois
RB - Javarris Williams, Tennessee State
WR - Maurice Dupree, Jacksonville State
WR - Mike Hicks, UT Martin
TE - Stephen Sizemore, Eastern Kentucky
C - Cecil Newton, Tennessee State
G - Chaz Millard, Eastern Illinois
G - Kevin Bannon, UT Martin
T - Derek Hardman, Eastern Kentucky
T - Cornelius Lewis, Tennessee State
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DL - Pierre Walters, Eastern Illinois
DL - Chris Coy, Eastern Kentucky
DL - Austen Lane, Murray State
DL - Ray Williams, UT Martin
LB - Alexander Henderson, Jacksonville State
LB - Nathan Williams, Murray State
LB - Nick Stauffer, Southeast Missouri
DB - Kevis Buckley, Austin Peay
DB - Brandon Gathof, Eastern Kentucky
DB - Carnell Clark, Jacksonville State
DB - Dontrell Miller, UT Martin
FIRST-TEAM SPECIALISTS
K - Taylor Long, Eastern Kentucky
P - Doug Spada, Southeast Missouri
RS - Terrence Holt, Austin Peay
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Ryan Perrilloux, Jacksonville State
RB - Daniel Jackson, Jacksonville State
RB - Brandyn Young, UT Martin
WR - Derrick Townsel, Murray State
WR - Walter Peoples, Southeast Missouri
TE - DeAngelo Nelson, Murray State
C - Sam Reid, Eastern Kentucky
G - Keith Gergel, Jacksonville State
G - Scott Eller, Tennessee Tech
T - Dumaka Atkins, Tennessee State
T - Joe Gibbs, UT Martin
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL - Donovan Johnson, Eastern Illinois
DL - Jeff Sobol, Eastern Illinois
DL - Brandt Thomas, Jacksonville State
DL - Maurice Davis, Tennessee State
LB - Daniel Becker, Austin Peay
LB - Tyjuan Jones, Eastern Kentucky
LB - Josh Bey, UT Martin
DB - Zach Denton, Eastern Kentucky
DB - Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State
DB - Larry Williford, Tennessee State
DB - Maurice Smith, Tennessee Tech
SECOND-TEAM SPECIALISTS
K - Gavin Hallford, Jacksonville State
P - Adam Ivey, UT Martin
RS - Maurice Dupree, Jacksonville State
ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
RB - Ryan White, Austin Peay
WR - Stephon Fuqua, Eastern Kentucky
DB - A.J. Davis, Jacksonville State
QB - Ryan Perrilloux, Jacksonville State
LB - Phillip Klaproth, Southeast Missouri
DL - Marcus Broxie, Tennessee State
DB - Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State
LB - Rico Council, Tennessee State
WR/KR - JaJuan Spillman, Tennessee State
WR - Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech
WR - Mike Hicks, UT Martin
Note: The All-Newcomer team is comprised of first-year players in the OVC - that can be either true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or first-year transfers. The team consists of 11 total players and is not voted on by position.