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OFFICIAL GAC RELEASE

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RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – A total of 11 Southern Arkansas football players have been named as All-Great American Conference performers for the 2014 season as the annual all-conference first, second, and honorable mention teams were announced by the league on Tuesday.
 
Senior tight end Paul Walker-Hall and senior wide receiver Zikerious Ware headline the 11 Muleriders honored as each earned All-GAC First-Team plaudits at their respective positions. Next, a total of four players achieved All-GAC Second-Team status as senior wide receiver Aaron Johnson, junior linemen John Miller and Nick Nichols, along with senior linebacker A.J. Steele were named to the second-team. Lastly, a total of five Muleriders earned all-conference recognition as senior quarterback Si Blackshire, junior running back Deandre Jenkins, senior defensive tackle Nolan Duncan, senior linebacker Luke Lansdell, and senior safety DeMario Thomas all appeared on the All-GAC Honorable Mention team.
 

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Walker-Hall, a native of Allen, Texas, appeared in all 10 games for the Muleriders at the tight end position. Tasked with blocking assignments along with pass-catching responsibilities, Walker-Hall helped pave the way for a rushing attack that ranked third in the GAC as SAU's ground game averaged 201.9 yards per game. Additionally, Walker-Hall would catch 14 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns this past season.
 
Ware, a native of Clewiston, Fla., had a breakout year for the Muleriders in 2014 as he was the team's top pass catcher as well as being its top kick returner. As a receiver, Ware would lead the team in receptions (50), yards (832) and touchdowns (8). His 5.0 receptions per game and 83.2 yards per game both ranked Ware second in the GAC. Perhaps the Muleriders top deep threat throughout the season, Ware would catch seven passes that would go for more than 40 yards down the field with four of those big plays going for touchdowns. In the kick return game, Ware would rack up 508 return yards on 23 attempts. His longest return of the year was a game-changing 88-yard touchdown in SAU's 66-42 win over Arkansas-Monticello in the third-annual Battle of the Timberlands game. Ware would also finish third in the GAC in all-purpose yards per game with 136.8.
 

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ohnson, a native of Longview, Texas, transferred to SAU for his final year of football after playing and earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Houston. In his first game this season, Johnson flashed signs of what was to come as he caught a pair of touchdowns, including the dramatic game-winner with time expiring to beat Southeastern Oklahoma. Hampered by injuries midway through the season, Johnson would get back on track against Henderson State in the second-to-last game of the season as he turned in his third 100+-yard receiving game. All told, Johnson would end the season with 606 yard receiving on 31 catches and seven touchdowns.
 
Miller, a native of DeQueen, Ark., earned his second All-GAC honor in his career as he landed on the second-team after being an Honorable Mention lineman the year prior. In 2014, Miller began the year as the Muleriders' starting left guard before moving over to be the starting right tackle for the final six games of the year. One of the anchors of the offensive line, Miller helped protect a prolific offense that finished the year as the GAC's top total offense at 505.4 yard per game. That impressive per game number currently ranks as the 10th-best in Division II. Miller was also named as a Capital One Academic All-District® Three First-Team honoree, making him eligible for inclusion on the Academic All-America team.
 

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ichols, a native of Rayville, La., earned his first All-GAC honor as he remained a constant figure at left tackle for the Muleriders in 2014. As with Miller, Nichols was one of the imposing figures in the trenches that paved the way and protected the top offense in the GAC.
 
Steele, a native of Jonesboro, Ark., returned to the Mulerider football team after last appearing on the field for SAU in 2011. That year, Steele was an all-conference linebacker as he led the team in tackles with 70. This year, not much was different as Steele led the team in tackles with 89 en route to being named an All-GAC linebacker. His 89 total tackles also ranked him sixth in the GAC. Having recorded at least five tackles in all 10 games, Steele would amass 10 or more stops four times, including posting a season-high 15 tackles against Henderson State.
 


 

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Blacks

hire, a native of Carthage, Texas, served as the Muleriders' starting quarterback in his final year at SAU. Having been the backup for the previous two years, Blackshire's comfort-level with the offense was evident with his outstanding play on the field. A dual-threat quarterback, Blackshire would end the year as the leader in the GAC in total offense (331.3 ypg), second in passing yards (295.6 ypg) and touchdowns (30), and third in passing efficiency (151.2). Currently, Blackshire ranks in the top-10 individually in DII in points responsible for per game (4th; 22.4), points responsible for (5th; 224), total offense (8th; 331.3 ypg), and passing TDs (10th; 30). Additionally, Blackshire would set new SAU record for most passing TDs in a game (6) and total plays in a season (462). Furthermore, Blackshire would narrowly miss out on single-season records in passing yards (2,956), touchdowns (30), and total yards (3,313).
 
Jenkins, a native of Mountain Pine, Ark., opened the year as the Muleriders' starting running back and he would end the year as the top rusher as he netted 670 yards on the ground and found the endzone four times. Twice, this season Jenkins would eclipse the 100-yard mark as he ran for a season-high 155 yards in the season opener and then 129 yards against Southern Nazarene on Homecoming. His 67.0 rushing yards per game ranked seventh in the GAC. In the passing game, Jenkins would catch 15 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown.
 

Duncan, a

native of Mabank, Texas, was a disruptive force along the interior of the Mulerider defensive line all year long. The team-leader in tackles for lost yardage at 12.5 and tied for the team-lead in sacks with 2.5, Duncan would add five quarterback hurries as well. His 12.5 TFL ranks fifth in the GAC and fourth among defensive linemen.
 
Lansdell, a native of El Dorado, Ark., started all 10 games this season at linebacker for the Muleriders. Finishing as the third-leading tackler on the team with 56 stops, Lansdell would add 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, as well as forcing a pair of fumbles. Recording multiple tackles in all 10 games, Lansdell would total 10 or more tackles twice with his season-high of 11 stops coming against Henderson State, a game played at his former high school field.
 
Thomas, a native of Shreveport, La., started all 10 games this season as the Muleriders' rover safety. The second-leading tackler on the team with 58, Thomas would pick off a pair of passes and break up another five. Additionally, Thomas would force a fumble and recover another one as well.