• Complete HERO Sports Sophomore All-American Team
Four OVC football players have been named honorable mention FCS Sophomore All-Americans by HERO Sports.
The selections includes Jacksonville State quarterback
Zerrick Cooper and tight end
Trae Barry and Southeast Missouri defensive backs
D.J. Freeman and
Bydarrius Knighten.
Cooper, a first-team All-OVC selection, held guide Jacksonville State to its fifth-straight OVC Championship in his first season with the program. He finished the season with 3,787 yards of total offense, the sixth-most in OVC single-season history. Cooper directed an offense that ranked fifth nationally in total offense (497.3 yards/game) and seventh nationally in scoring offense (40.0 points/game). Cooper ranked third nationally in passing touchdowns (32), fourth in passing yards (3,416), sixth in points responsible for/game (18.0), 12th in passing efficiency (147.6), 13th in yards per passing attempt (8.19), 15th in total offense (290.9 yards/game), 16th in passing yards/game (262.8) and 21st in completions/game (19.31). Cooper's 32 passing touchdowns and 3,416 yards of total offense were both JSU records while he also added 371 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Cooper had multiple touchdown passes in 12 of 13 games.
Barry, a first-team All-OVC selection caught 32 passes for 503 yards and a touchdown in 12 games during 2018. He averaged 15.7 yards/catch for a team that won its fifth-straight OVC Championship. He helped the JSU offense rank fifth nationally in total offense (497.3 yards/game) and seventh nationally in scoring offense (40.0 points/game).
Freeman, helped the Southeast Missouri defense rank first nationally in turnovers gained (36), turnover margin (+1.85/game) and interceptions (23) and third in defensive touchdowns (5). Freeman finished the year ranked seventh in the FCS in passes defended (1.4/game). In 13 games he had two interceptions and 16 pass breakups (which led the OVC) and also added 56 tackles (33 solo), 4.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries.
Knighten, a first-team All-OVC selection, helped the Southeast Missouri defense rank first nationally in turnovers gained (36), turnover margin (+1.85/game) and interceptions (23) and third in defensive touchdowns (5). He was third on the Redhawks team in total tackles (88), while also adding 1.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
HERO Sports Freshman All-Americans From the OVC
QB - Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State (HM)
TE - Trae Barry, Jacksonville State (HM)
DB - DJ Freeman, Southeast Missouri (HM)
DB - Bydarrius Knighten, Southeast Missouri (HM)