Mocs DE Keionta Davis Named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year by League Coaches

(SoConsports.com) University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior defensive lineman Keionta Davis was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the league’s coaches today. Davis leads the SoCon with 8.5 sacks and is considered one of the top defensive players at the FCS level.

This is the fourth time in the last five seasons a Moc has been named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year. It also the fifth time in the eight-year tenure of head coach Russ Huesman that a defensive player from UTC has taken the honor. Davis Tull won it three times in a row from 2012-14, while Josh Beard was honored in 2009.

“We are very proud of Keionta, and I think he is very deserving of this honor,” stated head coach Russ Huesman. “He is an extremely hard worker and has been an outstanding representative of our program throughout his career.”

Chattanooga led all teams in the SoCon with 10 honorees on the Coaches’ team. Joining Davis on the first team defense were senior linebacker Nakevion Leslie, junior linebacker Dale Warren and junior defensive back Lucas Webb. Senior offensive lineman Corey Levin made his third straight All-SoCon first team. He was joined by senior running back Derrick Craine and junior lineman Jacob Revis.

Senior defensive lineman Vantrel McMillan and junior defensive back Montrell Pardue made the second team defense, while junior offensive lineman Josh Cardiello was second team offense. Offensive lineman Malcolm White and punter Colin Brewer both made the SoCon All-Freshman Team.

The media team had a different take with Levin on first team offense and Davis, McMillan and Leslie on first team defense. Bennifield, Craine and Revis made the second team offense, while Warren and Pardue were second team defense.

The Mocs are preparing for their opening round game of the FCS Playoffs against No. 23 Weber State on Saturday. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) at Finley Stadium. Tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com or by calling the UTC Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627).

2016 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year – Devlin Hodges, R-So., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year – Keionta Davis, Sr., DL, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year – Tyrie Adams, QB, Western Carolina
Jacobs Blocking Award – Isaiah Pinson, Jr., OL, The Citadel
Coach of the Year – Brent Thompson, The Citadel

First Team Offense
QB – Devlin Hodges, R-So., Samford
RB – Derrick Craine, Sr., Chattanooga
RB – Lorenzo Long, Sr., Wofford
OL – Nick Jeffreys, Sr., The Citadel
OL – Isaiah Pinson, Jr., The Citadel
OL – Corey Levin, Sr., Chattanooga
OL – Jacob Revis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL – Anton Wahrby, Sr., Wofford
TE – Ryan Swingle, R-Jr., VMI
WR – Karel Hamilton, Sr., Samford
WR – Andrej Suttles, Sr., Furman

First Team Defense
DL – Joe Crochet, Sr., The Citadel
DL – Keionta Davis, Sr., Chattanooga
DL – Miles Brown, So., Wofford
DL – Tyler Vaughn, Jr., Wofford
LB – Shaheed Salmon, Jr., Samford
LB – Dale Warren, Jr., Chattanooga
LB – Nakevion Leslie, Sr., Chattanooga
DB – Dee Delaney, Jr., The Citadel
DB – Kailik Williams, Jr., The Citadel
DB – Omari Williams, Jr., Samford
DB – Lucas Webb, Jr., Chattanooga

First Team Specialists
PK – David Marvin, Jr., Wofford
P – Ian Berryman, R-So., Western Carolina
RS – DeAndre Schoultz, Sr., The Citadel

Second Team Offense
QB – Alejandro Bennifield, Jr., Chattanooga
RB – Tyler Renew, Sr., The Citadel
RB – Detrez Newsome, Jr., Western Carolina
OL – Kyle Weaver, Sr., The Citadel
OL – Bret Niederreither, Sr., Mercer
OL – Armando Bonheur, Sr., Samford
OL – Josh Cardiello, Jr., Chattanooga
OL – Andrew Lewis, Sr., VMI
OL – Roo Daniels, Jr., Wofford
TE – Duncan Fletcher, Sr., Furman
WR – Kelvin McKnight, So., Samford
WR – Marquise Irvin, So., Mercer

Second Team Defense
DL – Isaiah Buehler, So., Mercer
DL – Roosevelt Donaldson, R-Sr., Samford
DL – Ahmad Gooden, R-So., Samford
DL – Vantrel McMillan, Sr., Chattanooga
LB – Tevin Floyd, Sr., The Citadel
LB – Ryan Francis, Jr., VMI
LB – Tyson Dickson, Sr., Western Carolina
DB – Trey Robinson, Sr., Furman
DB – Jamerson Blount, Sr., Samford
DB – Montrell Pardue, Jr., Chattanooga
DB – Trey Morgan, Sr., Western Carolina
DB – Jaleel Green, Sr., Wofford

Second Team Specialists
PK – Cody Clark, Sr., The Citadel
P – David Marvin, Jr., Wofford
RS – Mason Dermott, So., VMI
Detrez Newsome, Jr., Western Carolina

All-Freshman Offense
Drew McEntyre, OL, The Citadel
Ben Blackmon, OL, ETSU
Tim Coleman, OL, Furman
Thomas Gordon, WR, Furman
TaDarryl Marshall, WR, Samford
Nick Nixon, OL, Samford
Malcolm White, OL, Chattanooga
Javean Lara, WR, VMI
Daz Palmer, RB, VMI
Tyrie Adams, QB, Western Carolina
Walker Lanning, OL, Western Carolina
Aubrey Payne, TE, Western Carolina

All-Freshman Defense
Khafari Buffalo, DB, The Citadel
Jason Maduafokwa, LB, ETSU
Nasir Player, DL, ETSU
Will Coneway, LB, Mercer
Eric Jackson, DB, Mercer
Dorian Kithcart, DL, Mercer
Jalen Nash, DL, Samford
George Gbesee, DB, Wofford
Mikel Horton, DL, Wofford
Datavious Wilson, LB, Wofford
Jireh Wilson, LB, Wofford

All-Freshman Specialists
Jacob Godek, PK, The Citadel
Colin Brewer, P, Chattanooga
Connell Young, RS, Western Carolina

2016 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team
Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Devlin Hodges, R-So., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year – Kailik Williams, Jr., DB, The Citadel
Freshman of the Year – Tyrie Adams, QB, Western Carolina
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year – Brent Thompson, The Citadel

First Team Offense
QB – Devlin Hodges, R-So., Samford
RB – Lorenzo Long, Sr., Wofford
RB – Tyler Renew, Sr., The Citadel
OL – Nick Jeffreys, Sr., The Citadel
OL – Isaiah Pinson, Jr., The Citadel
OL – Bret Niederreither, Sr., Mercer
OL – Corey Levin, Sr., Chattanooga
OL – Anton Wahrby, Sr., Wofford
TE – Ryan Swingle, R-Jr., VMI
WR – Karel Hamilton, Sr., Samford
WR – Terryon Robinson, R-Jr., Western Carolina

First Team Defense
DL – Joe Crochet, Sr., The Citadel
DL – Ahmad Gooden, R-So., Samford
DL – Keionta Davis, Sr., Chattanooga
DL – Vantrel McMillan, Sr., Chattanooga
DL – Tyler Vaughn, Jr., Wofford
LB – Ryan Francis, Jr., VMI
LB – Allan Cratsenberg, Jr., VMI
LB – Nakevion Leslie, Sr., Chattanooga
LB – Tevin Floyd, Sr., The Citadel
DB – Dee Delaney, Jr., The Citadel
DB – Kailik Williams, Jr., The Citadel
DB – Omari Williams, Jr., Samford
DB – Jaleel Green, Sr., Wofford

First Team Specialists
PK – David Marvin, Jr., Wofford
P – David Marvin, Jr., Wofford
RS – DeAndre Schoultz, Sr., The Citadel

Second Team Offense
QB – Alejandro Bennifield, Jr., Chattanooga
RB – Detrez Newsome, Jr., Western Carolina
RB – Derrick Craine, Sr., Chattanooga
OL – Kyle Weaver, Sr., The Citadel
OL – Matthew Schmidt, Jr., Furman
OL – Jacob Revis, Jr., Chattanooga
OL – Roo Daniels, Sr., Wofford
OL – Dequan Miller, Sr., Wofford
TE – Duncan Fletcher, Sr., Furman
WR – Aaron Sanders, Sr., VMI
WR – Marquise Irvin, So., Mercer

Second Team Defense
DL – Ken Allen, So., The Citadel
DL – Tosin Aguebor, Sr., Mercer
DL – Roosevelt Donaldson, R-Sr., Samford
DL – Miles Brown, So., Wofford
LB – Dylan Weigel, R-So., ETSU
LB – Shaheed Salmon, Jr., Samford
LB – Dale Warren, Jr., Chattanooga
DB – Trey Robinson, Sr., Furman
DB – Jamerson Blount, Sr., Samford
DB – Montrell Pardue, So., Chattanooga
DB – Greg Sanders, Jr., VMI
DB – Fred Payne, Sr., Western Carolina

Second Team Specialists
PK – Cody Clark, Sr., The Citadel
P – Ian Berryman, R-So., Western Carolina
RS – Mason Dermott, R-Fr., VMI