All-Louisiana team released

LAKE CHARLES – Following a stellar season that saw McNeese State post a 10-win regular season, seven Cowboy players have been named to the 2013 All-Louisiana squad, including six on the first team, released by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association on Christmas Day.

Those earning first team honors included offensive linemen Arinze Agada and Antoine Everett, tight end Nic Jacobs, running back Marcus Wiltz, defensive end Everett Ellefsen, and cornerback Guy Morgan. Wide receiver Diontae Spencer was named to the honorable mention squad.

Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Bryan Bennett was named the state’s Offensive Player of the Year as well as Newcomer of the Year while his head coach, Ron Roberts, was named Coach of the Year. Defensive back Lorenzo Doss of Tulane earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and Louisiana-Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire was named Freshman of the Year.

The team was selected based on original nominations from the media relations personnel at the football playing schools in the state of Louisiana. A committee of LSWA members voted for both first and second team selections. Media members could vote for anyone on the ballot while sports information voters could not vote for their own players and had to complete a ballot for their players to be eligible under LSWA rules.

McNeese State and LSU tied for the most players named to the first team.

Agada, the Southland Conference’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, earned first team all-SLC honors as well as earning all-America honors by the Associated Press, Sports Network, College Sports Madness and Beyond Sports Network organizations. He started in all 13 games and ended his career with a streak of 35 consecutive starts. He, along with Everett, anchored an offensive line that helped an offense rack up 465 yards of offense a game and opened up lanes for Wiltz, who was the league’s regular-season rushing leader.

Everette, like Agada, earned first team all-conference honors and started all 13 games on the season, playing a majority of the snaps. His play was a big part of the Cowboys’ offense breaking five team school records including most points in a season with 520.

Jacobs, a first team all-SLC selection, transferred to McNeese from LSU and made an immediate impact starting with the season opening win at South Florida where his 78-yard catch and run for a touchdown helped lead the Cowboys to the biggest non-playoff win in school history. He finished that game with five catches for 122 yards. He ranked second on the team with 32 catches and third with 453 receiving yards. He ranked as the top receiving tight end in the Southland Conference while ranking eighth in the FCS.

Wiltz was the league’s rushing leader at the end of the regular season with an average of 103 yards per game. He ended the season with just under 100 yards a contest. His 1,287 yards rushing yards on the season is the first time since 2009 a McNeese player rushed for 1,000 in a season and the 12th all-time. The first team all-conference selection rushed for a career-high 181 yards on 17 carries with a career-long 77 yard run in a win at Central Arkansas.

Ellefsen led the team and ranked tied for eighth in the SLC with five sacks. The junior earned first team all-conference honors after he finished the season with 44 tackles, five sacks, seven tackles for a loss, an interception and 10 quarterback hurries. He started in all 13 games.

Morgan ended his playing career as the team and conference co-leader with four pass interceptions to go along with 59 tackles, a sack, two-and-a-half tackles for a loss and six pass breakups. He had a season-high nine stops at South Florida and had a interception returned 76 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half to help pace the Cowboys to the upset win. He missed the playoff game after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the regular season finale at Lamar.

Spencer was one of the most electric players to watch in the FCS this season. The senior, who earned first team all-conference honors at wide receiver and second team honors as a kick returner, led the Cowboys with 50 catches for 835 yards and had nine receiving touchdowns. He also returned 29 kicks for a school record 853 yards and had two touchdowns. His performance on the season resulted in 10 records broken on tied on the school, conference, or national level. He had one of the greatest return games in FCS history at Stephen F. Austin when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and added a punt return for a score. For that game, he became the first player – FCS or FBS – to garner four CFPA National Player of the Week honors in one week by the organization.

All-LOUISIANA LSWA COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
POS/NAME, SCHOOL/CL./HOMETOWN/NOTES
OL/Arinze Agada, McNeese State/Sr./Houston, Texas/SLC Offensive Lineman of Year; 3rd Team A-A
OL/Josh Allen, ULM/Sr./Cedar Hill, Texas/First team All-SBC, Started all 12 games at center
OL/La’el Collins, LSU/Jr./Baton Rouge, La./Second Team All-SEC, 56 knockdowns
OL/Andre Huval, Louisiana-Lafayette/Sr./Scott, La./First Team All-SBC, started 38 straight games at center
OL/Antoine Everett, McNeese State/Jr./Richmond, Texas/First Team All-SLC, left tackle
TE/Nic Jacobs, McNeese State/Jr./Many, La./First Team All-SLC, 32 catches, 4 TDs
WR/Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU/Jr./New Orleans, La./Hornung Winner, 1st Team A-A, 57 rec., 1,117 yards, 8 TDs
WR/Jarvis Landry, LSU/Jr./Convent, La./Team best 75 rec, 1,172 yards, 10 TDs; Named LSU team MVP
RB/Jeremy Hill, LSU/So./Baton Rouge, La./First Team All-SEC, 1,185 yds, 14 TDs in 11 games, 6.8 ypc
RB/Marcus Wiltz, McNeese State/Sr./Cecilia, La./First Team All-SLC, 1,287 yds, 11 TD, 1st since 2009 over 1,000
QB/Bryan Bennett, Southeastern Louisiana/Jr./Granada Hills, Calif./SLC POY, 2,896 yds, 20 TD, 61.7 pass %

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
POS/NAME, SCHOOL/CL./HOMETOWN/NOTES
DL/Anthony Johnson, LSU/Jr./New Orleans, La./Second Team All-SEC, 32 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT
DL/Everett Ellefsen, McNeese State/Jr./Madisonville, La./First Team All-SLC, 44 tackles, 7 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 INT
DL/IK Enemkpali, Louisiana Tech/Sr./Pflugerville, Texas/First Team C-USA, 11 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 7 QBH
DL/Julius Warmsley, Tulane/Sr./Baton Rouge, La./First Team C-USA, 42 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 4.0 Sacks, 5 QBH
LB/Justin Anderson, Louisiana-Lafayette/Sr./Foley, Ala./First Team All-SBC, 123 tackles, 5 games 10 or more TT
LB/Lamin Barrow, LSU/Sr./Marrero, La./Second Team All-SEC, 86 tackles, 4.5 TFL
LB/Cqulin Hubert, Southeastern Louisiana/Sr./Houston, Texas/SLC Def. POY, 77 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT
DB/Lorenzo Doss, Tulane/So./New Orleans, La./Walter Camp 2nd Team A-A, 2nd NCAA in INT (7), 9 PBU, 32 TT
DB/Harlan Miller, Southeastern Louisiana/So./Kentwood, La./First Team All-SLC, 38 tackles, 4 INT, 10 BPU
DB/Guy Morgan, McNeese State/Sr./Baton Rouge, La./First Team All-SLC, 59 tackles, 4 INT, 1 TD, 1 sack
DB/Isaiah Newsome, ULM/Sr./Petal, Miss./48 tackles, 3 TFL, 4 int (175 return yards), 3 PBUs

FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
POS/NAME, SCHOOL/CL./HOMETOWN/NOTES
RS/Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU/Jr./New Orleans, La./14 PR, 141 yds, 30 KOR, 806 yds, 100 yd missed FG for TD
K/Cairo Santos, Tulane/Sr./Brasilia, Brazil/First Team All-SEC, Lou Groza Semi., 16-22 FG, Long 56, 35-35 PAT
P/Justin Manton, ULM/Jr./Prairieville, La./First Team All-SBC, 45.8 avg, 24 inside 20, 16 FC, 11 touchbacks

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Bryan Bennett, QB, Southeastern Louisiana
Voting – Bennett 19, Zack Mettenberger (LSU) 9, Dray Joseph (SU) 1

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Lorenzo Doss, DB, Tulane
Voting – Doss 14, Justin Anderson (Louisiana-Lafayette) 6, Cqulin Hubert (SLU) 5, IK Enemkpali (LT) 3, Daniel Brown (SU) 1.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
Voting – McGuire 17, Tre’Davious White (LSU) 5, Xavier Woods (LT) 2, Nico Marley (TU) 2, Easton Melancon (La. College) 1, No Vote -- 2

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Bryan Bennett, QB, Southeastern Louisiana
Voting – Bennett 23, Zach Adkins (Northwestern St.) 3, Willie Quinn (SU) 2, No vote – 1

COACH OF THE YEAR – Ron Roberts, Southeastern Louisiana
Voting – Roberts 19, Dawson Odums (SU) 5, Curtis Johnson (TU) 4, Mark Hudspeth (Louisiana-Lafayette) 1

SECOND TEAM ALL-LOUISIANA OFFENSE
OL – Hunter Feibel, Louisiana College, Sr., Shreveport, La. (First Team All-ASC); Gasten Gabriel, Southeastern, Sr., Jackson, La. (First Team All-SLC); Warren Jones, Northwestern State, Sr., Macon, Miss. (Second Team All-SLC); Marshall Paris, Southeastern, Sr, Lake Charles, La. (First Team All-SLC); Daniel Quave, Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., Gauthier, Miss. (Second Team All-Sun Belt); Trae Turner, LSU, So., New Orleans, La. (Second Team All-SEC).
TE – Jeremy Meyers, Southeastern, Jr., Baton Rouge, La. (HM All-SLC). WR – Lee Doss, Southern, Sr., New Orleans, La. (Bayou Classic MVP); Ryan Grant, Tulane, Sr., Beaumont, Texas (First Team All-C-USA). RB – Alonzo Harris, Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., Gasden, Ala. (First Team All-SBC); Ryan Montague, Louisiana College, Sr., New Orleans, La. (ASC Offensive POY); Elijah McGuire, Louisiana-Lafayette, Fr., Houma, La. (SBC FOY). QB – Zach Mettenberger, LSU, Sr., Watkinsville, Ga. (3,082 yds, 22 TDs)

SECOND TEAM ALL-LOUISIANA DEFENSE
DL – Ego Ferguson, LSU, Jr. Mims, Fla. (58 TT, 3.5 TFL); Justin Hamilton, Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., Natchez, Miss. (Second Team All-SBC); Gerrand Johnson, ULM, So., Rayville, La. (Second Team All-SBC); Jacob Newman, Southeastern, Jr., Visalia, Calif. (Second Team All-SLC); Preston Thibeaux, Louisiana College, Jr., Breaux Bridge, La. (First Team All-SLC).
LB – Pat Black, Northwestern State, Sr, Jackson, Miss. (Second Team All-SLC); Daniel Brown, Southern, Jr., New Orleans, La. (led SU in sacks 5.5, TFL 14.0); Dominic Graham, Louisiana College, Sr., Houston, Texas (First Team All-ASC).
DB – Jordan Batiste, Tulane, So., Gramercy, La. (HM All-C-USA); Ira Jewitt, Louisiana College, Jr., Shreveport, La. (First Team All-ASC); Craig Loston, LSU, Sr., Aldine, Texas (51 tackles, 2 int.); Sam Scofield, Tulane, Jr., Lafayette, La. (94 TT, 9.5 TFL).

SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
RS – Xavier Roberson, Southeastern, Sr., Atlanta, Ga. (First Team All-SLC); K – Seth Sebastian, Southeastern, Sr., Lafayette, La. (First Team All-SLC); P – Peter Picerelli, Tulane, So., Warren, R.I. (Ray Guy Candidate).

HONORABLE MENTION
WR – Diontae Spencer, McNeese.