Football | 11/21/2017 2:00:00 PM

FRISCO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team landed six spots on the 2017 All-Southland Conference Team, the league office announced Tuesday, highlighted by first team honors for graduate student Joe Zema and sophomore Desmond Hite.
 
Zema earned First Team Punter recognition, while Hite was awarded First Team Kick Returner distinction. Hite was also named Second Team Offensive All-Purpose Player. Sophomore offensive lineman Terence Hickman II, sophomore linebacker Mar'kel Cooks and graduate student running back Derrick Mitchell each garnered All-Southland Honorable Mention recognition at their respective positions.
 
"This is a great honor for all of our guys that were selected," Head Coach Larry Kennan said. "Their recognition is well deserved and it reflects well on our entire team. I'm really proud of our guys."
 
A 6'2" punter out of Melbourne, Australia, Zema was arguably the Cardinals' most consistent and effective weapon of the season. His UIW career was a success from day one, as he set the program record for longest punt in his first collegiate game, launching a 75-yarder at Fresno State. Zema finished the year as the national leader in punting at the FCS level, with an average of 46.7 yards per punt. The next-closest player in the country had 26 fewer punts and averaged a full 1.4 yards less per punt. Zema booted 31 punts over 50 yards, while the next-closest punter in the conference had just 14. Zema concluded his stellar year by breaking the Southland record for punting average in a season, set by Chad Stanley of Stephen F. Austin in 1998.
 
"Joe Zema can punt," Kennan said. "It's easy to see why NFL scouts have had an eye on him all season long. He is a great person and a great player, and no stage is too big for him. Joe is a game-changer, and I know he will have success at the next level."
 
A 5'9" special teams standout from Cypress, Texas, Hite was undoubtedly the Cardinals' most explosive player in 2017. He finished the year as the national leader in kickoff return touchdowns, with three to his credit, obliterating the all-time UIW season record of one. Two of Hite's kick return scores went for 100 yards, while the third was 97. He finished the year ranked second in the league in average all-purpose yards (113.1) and first in kickoff return average against conference opponents (29.8). Hite carried the rock 40 times for 132 yards and added 18 receptions for an additional 88.
 
"Desmond Hite is an elusive player," Kennan said. "His return against Southeastern Louisiana is one of the best I've ever seen at any level. He's a talented athlete."
 
A 6'3" offensive lineman out of Converse, Texas, Hickman was a leader on the Cardinals' offensive line, starting 10 games and solidifying a unit that surrendered only 2.1 sacks per game. He was instrumental in helping the UIW offense rack up 3,225 total yards on the year.
 
"I'm really proud of Terence," Kennan said. "He's a two-year starter for us, a leader on the front line and consistently played well for us. He's only going to get better, and that's a scary thing for the opponents he'll face next season."
 
A 6'1" running back from St. Louis, Mo., Mitchell joined the Cardinals as a graduate transfer from the University of Iowa and had an immediate impact. He scored on just his second carry for UIW at Sacramento State and exploded for 168 rushing yards at Stephen F. Austin in his first start for the Cardinals. Mitchell added a second 100-yard performance with 133 rushing yards against Lamar. He led UIW with 601 yards (4.5 per carry) and 5 rushing touchdowns, while adding 83 receiving yards and a receiving score. Mitchell finished the season ranked seventh in the Southland in rushing.
 
"Derrick is an outstanding running back and an even better human being," Kennan said. "He's got the strength and power to play at the next level. His run against Lamar is one of the most incredible plays I've seen. It felt like he broke 20 tackles on that run. We were fortunate to have him this season. He was a joy to coach."
 
A 6'0" linebacker out of Irving, Texas, Cooks was seemingly everywhere for the UIW defense this season. He racked up a team-high 88 tackles, which place him second all-time in program history for tackles in a season. Cooks led the Cardinals with 8.5 tackles for loss, to go along with 2.5 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. He finished the year ranked fourth in the league in tackles and 10th in tackles for loss.
 
To view the complete 2017 All-Southland Conference Football Team visit southland.org.
 
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