Big South Announces 2014 Football Awards, All-Conference Teams
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Coastal Carolina quarterback Alex Ross (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Chanticleers’ linebacker Quinn Backus (Greenwood, S.C.) have been voted the 2014 Big South Football Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, by the Conference’s head coaches and media panel, it was announced today by the League office. Monmouth defensive back Mike Basile (Brick, N.J.) was tabbed Freshman of the Year, Liberty’s John Lunsford (Fort Myers, Fla.) was voted Special Teams Player of the Year, while Presbyterian College’s Harold Nichols and Coastal Carolina’s Joe Moglia shared Coach of the Year honors. In addition, the Big South’s sports information directors voted Liberty offensive lineman Mitch Hanson (Blue Ridge, Va.) as the football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Ross was a near unanimous selection as the Big South’s Offensive Player of the Year and is the second consecutive Chanticleer to win the Conference’s top offensive honor. Ross finished the regular-season as the Big South leader in total offense (3,640 yards) and total offense per game (303.3), completed a Big South single-season record 238 passes, tied for the League lead with 19 touchdown passes and was the top rushing quarterback with 619 yards, which ranks fifth overall in the Conference. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, Ross was a three-time Big South Offensive Player of the Week honoree in 2014, and threw a TD in 10 of 12 games, six of which were six multi-TD pass efforts -- including three games with three. Ross amassed a school-record 426 yards of offense twice this season, and tied the Big South single-season record with four consecutive games with more than 300 yards of offense. Ross had seven total games with 300 yards of offense this season and passed for 300 yards in a game three times. He directed Coastal’s offense to 30 points in a League-record 11 consecutive games, as well as the top offense (468.1 yards per game) and scoring offense (37.8 points per game) in the Big South this season. Nationally, Ross ranks eighth in total offense, ninth in pass efficiency (151.95) and 10th in both passing yards (3,021) and completion percentage (66.7).
Ross received 15 of the 18 first-place votes cast and 30 total points to finish ahead of runner-up Darrin Peterson (Liberty), who received the three remaining first-place votes and six total points.
Backus is the Big South’s first-ever three-time winner of the Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Backus is the Big South’s leading tackler for the third straight season with 109 stops -- becoming the first player in League history to achieve this feat. He is the League’s leading tackler despite missing one game due to injury, and not playing the second half in a game twice and the fourth quarter twice. A finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, Backus has a League-high 62 solo hits and tied the Big South single-season record with five forced fumbles this season. In addition, five of his caused turnovers (3 forced fumbles, two interceptions) led to Coastal Carolina touchdowns. The only Big South player averaging more than eight tackles per game this season with 9.9, Backus recorded a key defensive play (TFL, SK, INT, FF, PBU) in nine of his 11 games this year. He ranks sixth in the League with 4.5 sacks and posted five double-figure tackle games -- including 20 in the season finale against Liberty. Backus, who is the leading active career tackler in FCS with 423 (second all-time in Big South history), averaged a Conference-best 11.8 tackles in Big South games.
Backus received 10 first-place votes and 27 points, finishing ahead of Jacob Hagen (Liberty), who received seven first-place votes and 22 points. Presbyterian College’s Ed Britt was third in the voting with five points (one first-place vote).
Basile is the first defensive player to win Freshman of the Year honors since 2011. The first true freshman to start for Monmouth since 2008, Basile tied for second in the Big South with 59 solo tackles (second among defensive backs) and is sixth in total stops with 78. The leading freshman tackler in the League with 7.1 per game, Basile was named Big South Freshman of the Week three times in 2014. He had nine solo stops in Monmouth’s win at Lehigh and had seven solo hits at Duquesne. Basile is tied for third in the Big South with four interceptions (67 return yards), including one in the end zone that sealed a victory over Wagner. He finished the year with four tackles-for-loss and five pass breakups, including one on a Hail Mary on the final play in the victory over Lehigh.
Basile received 13 first-place votes and 29 points, ahead of Charleston Southern defensive back Davion Anderson (two first-place votes and nine points), Coastal Carolina running back Osharmar Abercrombie and Liberty punter Trey Turner, who finished with eight points each.
Lunsford earns the Big South’s Special Teams Player of the Year award after leading the League in kick scoring with 82 points. He was 40-of-41 on PAT attempts ( =97.6 percent) and 14-of-19 on field goals ( =73.7 percent) in 2014. He led the Big South in field goals made and is third overall in points scored. Lunsford ranks 10th in the nation in field goals per game with 1.4 and made a Big South-record three field goals from 50 yards-or-longer this season -- including a League-record 60-yarder against Richmond that sent the game into overtime. He also hit the game-winning field goal at No. 1 Coastal Carolina, and set a school record with 94 consecutive extra points during the year. A two-time Big South Special Teams Player of the Week, Lunsford was a national weekly honoree following the Richmond game. He also had 41 of his 63 kickoffs result in touchbacks.
Lunsford received 11 first-place votes and 29 points, finishing ahead of Charleston Southern return specialist Darius Hammond (seven first-place votes and 21 points).
Nichols directed Presbyterian College to its first winning season since 2007, as well as the program’s first winning Big South campaign since joining the League. Nichols led the Blue Hose to wins over two nationally-ranked programs in 2014 (Furman, Charleston Southern) and held both teams to a touchdown or less. The Blue Hose are second nationally in red zone defense (60.0 percent), second in the Big South in pass defense (189.8 yards allowed) and third in overall total defense (378.5 yards). PC tied a Big South single-game record with two interception returns for touchdowns against Western Carolina, and set program records for fewest touchdowns allowed (36) and fewest offensive yards allowed per game. In addition, Presbyterian College went 5-2 against FCS teams in 2014, and limited those seven opponents to averages of 15.9 points, 131.1 rushing yards and 310 yards of offense. Three of the seven managed just seven points-or-less. PC held its FCS foes to 5-of-17 in the red zone (29.4 percent), and limited six of its seven FCS opponents to below their season scoring average for a combined average of 14.7 points less.
Moglia directed Coastal Carolina to the Big South’s first No. 1 national ranking and top eight seed in the FCS Playoffs. The Chanticleers shared the football championship for the third consecutive year and earned an at-large berth to the postseason for the second time in program history. CCU became the first team in Big South history to open the season 11-0, as well as the first to win seven road games in a campaign. Seven of Coastal’s 11 wins have been by 20-or-more points, and own a 19.5 average margin of victory. The Chanticleers were also the first team in Big South history to hold three consecutive opponents to three points or less, as well as the first to win 10 games in back-to-back seasons. A finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award for the third time, Moglia’s squad leads the Big South in scoring offense (37.8), scoring defense (18.3) and total offense (468.1). Coastal Carolina started 4-0 in the Big South for the first time since 2006 and captured its League-record seventh Big South title.
Nichols and Moglia each received six first-place votes and 17 points in the voting. Liberty head coach Turner Gill was third with 14 points (four first-place votes).
Hanson, who is Liberty’s third consecutive Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year in football, is a 4.00 graduate student in government. He graduated with a 3.92 in Human Services Counseling/Executive Leadership. A Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District III selection and candidate for Academic All-America, Hanson is Liberty’s active leader with 35 consecutive career starts (at three different positions) and ranks third on the squad in team performance grade. The Flames lead the Big South and rank No. 10 nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.92 per game). Hanson also helped running back D.J. Abnar become the 10th player in school history with a 1,000 rushing yard season.
The Big South also announced its All-Conference first and second teams. The squads are comprised of 12 offensive and defensive players and five special teams players, plus any ties. Coastal Carolina led the way with 16 total selections, just ahead of Liberty (15). Charleston Southern had eight selections, followed by Monmouth (7), Gardner-Webb (7) and Presbyterian College (5). The Flames and Chanticleers tied for the League-high with nine First-Team honorees.
Ross, Backus, Basile, Lunsford and Hanson each earned a spot on the All-Conference First-Team. The list of 2014 All-Conference members and award winners, as well as the All-Academic Team, appears below.
FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB - Alex Ross, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina
RB - De’Angelo Henderson, R-Soph., Coastal Carolina
RB - D.J. Abnar, Jr., Liberty
WR - Darrin Peterson, Jr., Liberty
WR - Kenny Cook, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb
WR - Neal Sterling, R-Sr., Monmouth
TE - Seth Cranfill, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb
OL - Chad Hamilton, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina
OL - Kevin Hart, Sr., Coastal Carolina
OL - Clayton Truitt, Sr., Charleston Southern
OL - Jonathan Burgess, Jr., Liberty
OL - Mitch Hanson, R-Sr., Liberty
DEFENSE
DL - Chima Uzowihe, Jr., Liberty
DL - O.J. Mau, Jr., Gardner-Webb
DL - Roderick Holder, Jr., Coastal Carolina
DL - Dominique Davis, Sr., Liberty
LB - Quinn Backus, Sr., Coastal Carolina
LB - Donelle Williams, R-Jr., Presbyterian College
LB - Aaron Cook, Soph., Gardner-Webb
LB - Aaron Brown, Jr., Charleston Southern
DB - Jacob Hagen, R-Sr., Liberty
DB - Ed Britt, Jr., Presbyterian College
DB - Pernell Williams, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina
DB - Mike Basile, Fr., Monmouth
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - John Lunsford, Jr., Liberty
P - Trey Turner, R-Fr., Liberty
LS - Shane Ballard, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina
KR - Devin Brown, R-Soph., Coastal Carolina
PR - Darius Hammond, Soph., Charleston Southern
SECOND-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB - Josh Woodrum, R-Jr., Liberty
RB - Christian Reyes, Sr., Charleston Southern
RB - Lavon Chaney, Soph., Monmouth
WR - Bruce Mapp, R-Soph., Coastal Carolina
WR - John Israel, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina
WR - Tobi Antigha, Sr., Presbyterian College
TE - Dexter Herman, Sr., Liberty
OL - Mo Ashley, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina
OL - Greg Ray, R-Sr., Liberty
OL - Reece Johnston, R-Sr., Monmouth
OL - Devinn Ritter, Sr., Presbyterian College
OL - Erik Austell, R-Soph., Charleston Southern
DEFENSE
DL - Toby Oneychi, R-Sr., Liberty
DL - Calvin Hollenhorst, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina
DL - Dylan Black, Sr., Charleston Southern
DL - Darnell Leslie, R-Soph., Monmouth
LB - John Sieczkowski, Jr., Monmouth
LB - Brett Johnson, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina
LB - Nick Sigmon, R-Sr., Liberty
LB - Nick Newman, Soph., Liberty
DB - Troy McGowens, Soph., Charleston Southern
DB - Ivan Toomer, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
DB - Demaris Freeman, R-Sr., Charleston Southern
DB - Denzel Rice, Sr., Coastal Carolina
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Alex Catron, Sr., Coastal Carolina
P - Ryan Mohr, Sr., Monmouth
LS - Cannon Jordan, R-Sr., Presbyterian College
KR - J.J. Hubbard, Sr., Gardner-Webb
PR - J.J. Hubbard, Sr., Gardner-Webb
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Christian Reyes, Sr., RB, Charleston Southern
Cody Craig, Gr., TE, Coastal Carolina
Tyler Hough-Jenkins, Gr., DL, Gardner-Webb
Mitch Hanson, R-Sr., OL, Liberty
Joe Johnson, Jr., DB, Monmouth
Ugonna Akoh, R-Soph., DE, Presbyterian College
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alex Ross, QB, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Quinn Backus, LB, Sr., Coastal Carolina
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
John Lunsford, PK, Jr., Liberty
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Mike Basile, DB, Monmouth
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
Harold Nichols, Presbyterian College
Joe Moglia, Coastal Carolina
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Mitch Hanson, R-Sr., OL, Liberty