Southern Arkansas University Athletics

A native of Arkansas City, Arkansas, DaVondrick Lison arrived at Southern Arkansas University with the physical tools to dominate. By the time his career concluded, he had established himself as one of the most feared defensive players in Mulerider Football history and one of the premier pass rushers in NCAA Division II.
 
Lison quickly developed a reputation for disrupting opposing offenses. His combination of size, strength, and athleticism made him a nightmare for quarterbacks and offensive linemen alike. Whether rushing off the edge, chasing down ball carriers, or forcing turnovers, Lison consistently found his way into the backfield and onto the stat sheet.
 
His emergence began early, as he led all of Division II in forced fumbles during the 2015 season with seven. The performance showcased his knack for creating game-changing plays and foreshadowed the dominant career that would follow. Over the next several seasons, Lison became the cornerstone of the Mulerider defense, earning three All-Great American Conference selections, including two First Team honors.
 
The pinnacle of his career came in 2017 when he was named Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Year. That season, he led the team with 64 tackles, including 18.0 tackles for loss totaling 75 lost yards. He added 7.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and five quarterback hurries. Against Southwestern Oklahoma State, Lison tied the program's single-game record with three sacks, further cementing his place among the top defenders in school history.
 
His success extended beyond conference recognition. Lison earned AFCA Second Team All-America honors in both 2017 and 2018, collected two D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-America selections, and was a three-time All-Region performer, highlighted by a D2CCA First Team All-Region selection in 2017. Following his senior season, he was named a finalist for the prestigious Gene Upshaw Award, presented annually to Division II's top lineman.
 
By the end of his career, Lison had rewritten the Mulerider record book. He remains the program leader in tackles for loss (54.5), tackles for loss yardage (252), quarterback hurries (27), and forced fumbles (13). He was also the only player, until recently, in program history with multiple seasons of at least 7.5 sacks, and he finished his career tied with David Sanders (1989-92) for the school record with 25.0 sacks, a mark that had stood for more than 30 years.
 
A member of the Great American Conference All-Decade Team and an undrafted free agent invitee to the Atlanta Falcons rookie camp, Lison left Southern Arkansas University as one of the most decorated defensive players in program history. His relentless pursuit of the football and ability to change games created a legacy that remains among the very best in Mulerider Football history.