Muleriders’ Johnson Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year

2008 All-GSC FB Team.pdf

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas fullback Mark Johnson (Fr., 5-7, 182, Longview, Texas) has been selected as co-offensive freshman of the year as one of the individual honorees on the 2008 All-Gulf South Conference football team that was released from the league office Thursday. The Muleriders are also represented by three players on the all-conference squad, all on the second team.

Johnson shares the honor with first-year Valdosta State quarterback Chris Hart, and is SAU’s first-ever player to garner freshman accolades. The true freshman rushed for 716 yards and five touchdowns this season, averaging 79.6 yards a game to rank third in the GSC. Johnson received offensive player of the week honors following his 231-yard, four touchdown rushing performance against Harding. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry through the year, and also had 12 receptions for 109 yards.

Second Team All-GSC honors went to SAU running back Chris Metcalf (Jr., 6-0, 190, Blytheville) on offense and defensive end Ryan Terry (Jr., 5-11, 234, Houston, Texas) and linebacker Steven Dauenhauer (Sr., 6-1, 215, Waveland, Miss.) on defense.

Metcalf rushed for 168 yards and five touchdowns this season, caught 16 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown, and led the team with a 23.2 kick return average on 10 returns.

Terry was also a second team pick last year. He finished sixth on the squad with 37 tackles, including 22 unassisted, and had a team-high 10 tackles for loss, including a team-best four sacks. Terry’s two fumble recoveries also led the team, returning one 60 yards for a touchdown, and he had two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble.

Dauenhauer was the second-leading tackler for Southern Arkansas, totaling 50, with 38 solos. He had 4.5 tackles for loss, including one sack, led the team with three forced fumbles, had two hurries, and blocked a kick.

North Alabama led the way with nine First Team All-GSC picks, and added seven second team members, for a total of 16 overall on the team. Two-time defending conference champion Delta State placed 10 overall, with seven on the first team.

Arkansas-Monticello sophomore quarterback Scott Buisson, a first team selection, was named the GSC offensive player of the year, while defensive player of the year laurels went to a Delta State linebacker for the third consecutive year, in junior Lardester Hicks-Green. Delta State defensive back Dominique Davenport was voted as the freshman defensive player of the year, and Delta State’s Ron Roberts received Coach of the Year accolades for the second straight season.

The All-GSC team is selected by the head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players. Ballots ending in a tie are not broken.