SAN ANTONIO – On Wednesday morning, the Southland announced the football all-conference teams and superlative award winners. Thirteen student-athletes from the University of the Incarnate Word football program were named to the first and second teams, while two earned superlative titles.
Lindsey Scott Jr. was named the Southland Player of the Year and
Kelechi Anyalebechi, the Southland Defensive Player of the Year.
Southland Conference Football First Team All-Conference Offense
Lindsey Scott Jr. – QB
- Walter Payton Award Finalist, Scott, led both the Southland Conference and FCS in almost every statistical category. He completed 240 of 328 passes (73%) for 3,791 yards (2nd in the nation) with 50 touchdowns (1st in the nation) and only four interceptions giving him the best passing efficiency in all of Division I football. Scott finished two games with seven touchdowns and six games with five-plus touchdowns. He not only got it done through the air but also on the ground. This season he rushed for 388 yards and added seven touchdowns, bringing his total to 57, setting the new record for touchdowns responsible for at UIW. He also holds the record for passing TDs (50) in a season and he's tied for most touchdowns in a single game with seven. Scott was named NCAA FCS Player of the Week, FCS Stats Perform Offensive Player of the Week, and Southland Conference Player of the Week (2x).
Taylor Grimes – WR
- Grimes has accumulated 13 touchdowns this season, running for 979 yards to help break the team season touchdowns responsible for record. He finished with a season-high three TDs against McNeese. Individually, he's the career record holder for pass receptions and touchdowns scored through his two seasons with UIW.
Darion Chafin – WR
- Chafin broke the single-game record for receiving yards with an impressive 262 against Nevada to earn SLC Offensive Player of the Week. He is tied for first on the team with 13 touchdowns, helping the team break the season touchdowns responsible for record. In the final game of the season, he recorded a season-high three touchdowns against Northwestern State.
Reid Francis – OL
- Francis played and started in all 11 games for the Cardinals, helping the offensive line allow only 13 sacks this season for 68 tackles for loss along with 1,526 rushing yards
Caleb Johnson – OL
- Johnson played and started in all 11 games for the Cardinals, helping the offensive line allow only 13 sacks this season for 68 tackles for loss along with 1,526 rushing yards
Southland Conference Football First Team All-Conference Defense
Chris Whittaker – DL
- Whittaker broke the single-game sack record this season, tallying four against Nevada. He totals 7.5 on the season to lead UIW and put him in second place in the conference standings. He finished the season with 30 total tackles (19 solo),7.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles, and one pass breakup.
Steven Parker – DL
- Parker had a season-high 1.5 sacks against Texas A&M - Commerce and seven tackles against Houston Christian. He finished the season with 10.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and 38 total tackles (17 solo). He also tallied one fumble recovery, four QB hurries, and one pass breakup. Parker is third in the conference for sacks.
Kelechi Anyalebechi – LB
- Buck Buchanan Award Finalist, Anyalebechi, notched a season-high 15 tackles against Texas A&M - Commerce and one interception against Houston Christian. He finished the season with 88 total tackles (45 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, one QB hurry, three pass breakups and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Anyalebechi is the career record holder for total tackles (310), unassisted tackles (168), fumbles forced (7), and QB hurries (12).
Donte Thompson – DB
- Thompson finished the season with 26 tackles (18 solo) and one forced fumble. He led the Southland in passes defended this season with 15 pass breakups and one interception.
Southland Conference Football Second Team All-Conference Offense
Marcus Cooper – RB
- Cooper finished the season with 1,044 yards and 10 touchdowns. He scored a career-high three rushing TDs against Texas A&M - Commerce to be named the SLC Offensive Player of the Week. He was a significant factor in helping break the team season rushing yards record. Cooper is second in the conference with his 94.91 rushing yards per game. In the last regular season game, Cooper broke the single-game record for rushing yards with 254.
Jimeto Obigbo – OL
- Obigbo played and started in all 11 games for the Cardinals, helping the offensive line allow only 13 sacks this season for 68 tackles for loss along with 1,526 rushing yards
Nash Jones – OL
- Jones played and started in all 11 games for the Cardinals, helping the offensive line allow only 13 sacks this season for 68 tackles for loss along with 1,526 rushing yards
Southland Conference Football Second Team All-Conference Defense
Kaleb Culp – DB
- Culp had 64 tackles (47 solo) and 3.5 tackles for a loss to go along with one forced fumble and three pass breakups. He had a season-high 12 tackles against Nevada.
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