• Complete HERO Sports FCS Sophomore All-American Team
Five OVC football players have been named to the HERO Sports FCS Sophomore All-American Team.
The selections were Southeast Missouri quarterback
Paxton DeLaurent and linebacker
Bryce Norman, UT Martin running back
Zak Wallace and defensive lineman
Daylan Dotson and Eastern Illinois defensive back
Jordan Vincent.
In his first season at Southeast Missouri, DeLaurent, an OVC All-Newcomer selection, guided a team that was 4-7 last year to a 9-3 overall record, OVC Championship and playoff berth this season. In 10 games (he missed two due to injury), he completed 210-of-344 passes (61.0%) for 2,684 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 288 yards and three additional scores. In the regular season, DeLaurent ranked sixth nationally in total offense (299.1 yards/game), 13th in passing yards/game (267.4), 18th in points responsible for/game (14.9), 21st in completions/game (20.56) and passing efficiency (149.1) and 26th in touchdowns (19). He passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Southern Illinois.
Norman, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, helped SEMO to its third OVC Championship and a berth in the FCS Playoffs. During the regular season he ranked 16th nationally in tackles/game (9.8/game). Including the team's playoff game at Montana, Norman finished the year with 119 tackles (57 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, five pass breakups, eight quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown. He had a season-best 17 tackles against Nicholls and added 16 versus Eastern Kentucky. As a team he helped SEMO rank 16th nationally in rushing defense (114.0 yards/game) and 26th in scoring defense (21.5 points/game) .
Wallace guided UT Martin to a share of its second-straight OVC Championship. During the regular season he ranked fifth nationally in rushing touchdowns (16), 16th in scoring (8.7 points/game), 23rd in rushing yards (1,011) and rushing yards/carry (5.98) and 28th in rushing yards/game (91.9). He was part of two running back tandem that saw freshman Sam Franklin added 676 yards and eight touchdowns. Wallace had five games with 100-plus yards including a season-best 204 yards against Lindenwood. Wallace added four rushing touchdowns and 155 yards in a win at Houston Christian.
Dotson ranked 23rd nationally in sacks (0.73) and 28th in tackles for loss (1.3/game) during the season. He finished the season with 48 tackles (18 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was named National Defensive Player of the Week on October 31 after have five tackles, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown in a win over Houston Christian. He also had 2.0 sacks at Boise State and against Eastern Illinois and added a season-best 14 tackles against Kennesaw State. Dotson helped UTM rank first nationally in turnovers gained (28) and in the Top 20 nationally
in tackles for loss (17th) and sacks (20th).
Vincent led the EIU team with 84 tackles (57 solo) while addidng 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, five pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick. He ranked fifth in the OVC in tackles/game (7.6) and tied for second in interceptions/game (0.27). He had a season-best 12 tackles at McNeese and added nine against Tennessee State.