FRISCO, Texas - Nicholls State University linebacker
Eli Ennis has been named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, as the league office announced Wednesday it's 2022 All-Southland Football Teams and postseason awards.
Earning All-Southland First Team on offense were running back
Julien Gums and center
Evan Roussel. Landing on second-team defense were lineman
Perry Ganci and defensive back
Jordan Jackson.
A Jerry Rice Award Finalist, Ennis was a two-time Southland Defensive Player of the Week in his rookie campaign. He finished with 45 tackles and was fourth overall in the SLC in tackles for loss with 10, despite playing in only nine games. He led the league in conference games with 9.0 TFLs, helped by two games where he had 2.0. Ennis was named player of the week for the first time following the Colonels' win over McNeese where he had 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. After recording the game-winning safety against Texas A&M-Commerce, Ennis garnered his second league honor and was named FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of the Week.
A native of Ohatchee, Alabama, Ennis is the fifth Colonel all-time to earn freshman of the year and first since 2004, joining Darryl Pounds (1991), Josh Son (2000), LeJuan Walker (2001) and Broderick Cole (2004).
Gums received All-Southland honors for the third time in his storied career. He finished the season with 873 yards rushing and four touchdowns, helped by four 100-yard games in league play. Gums was just one of three players in the Southland to average over 100 yards in conference (103.5 ypg). His best effort in the backfield came in the victory against Texas A&M-Commerce where he rushed for a season 124 yards for his 15th career 100-yard game. As the Colonels' all-time leading rusher, the New Orleans native wrapped up his career ranked ninth all-time in Southland history in rushing yards and was tied for 10th in rushing touchdowns.
Roussel was named All-Southland for the third time in as many seasons. He anchored the offensive line that paved the way for the No. 3 rushing offense in conference. Nicholls also had the second fewest sacks allowed in the Southland on the season.
Ganci ranked second in Southland play with 7.5 tackles for loss and was tied for third with 3.5 sacks. In the River Bell Classic, the New Orleans native had 3.5 TFLs with two sacks and a forced fumble. He finished third on the defense with 64 tackles and had a career-high 14 against Lamar.
Jackson started at cornerback and ranked fifth in SLC play with five pass breakups. He tied for eighth overall with eight passes defended and totaled 36 tackles with 3.0 for loss. Jackson closed out the season with a high of eight tackles in the River Bell Classic.
Southland award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school's head coach. Voting for one's own athlete is not permitted. No player may earn more than one superlative award.
2022 Southland Conference Football Individual Superlative Winners
Player of the Year: Lindsey Scott, Jr., UIW
Offensive Player of the Year: Deonta McMahon, McNeese
Defensive Player of the Year: Kelechi Anyalebechi, UIW
Newcomer of the Year: Zach Patterson, Northwestern State
Freshman of the Year: Eli Ennis, Nicholls
Offensive Lineman of the Year: John Allen, Southeastern
Coach of the Year: Frank Scelfo, Southeastern
2022 Southland Conference Football First Team All-Conference Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Lindsey Scott, Jr. |
UIW |
Gr. |
Zachary, La. |
| RB |
Deonta McMahon 2 |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Frostproof, Fla. |
| RB |
Julien Gums |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| TE/HB |
Travon Jones |
Northwestern State |
Fr. |
Miami, Fla. |
| WR |
Andrew Armstrong |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
So. |
Dallas, Texas |
| WR |
Taylor Grimes 2 |
UIW |
Sr. |
Godley, Texas |
| WR |
Darion Chafin |
UIW |
Gr. |
Wichita Falls, Texas |
| OL |
John Allen 2 |
Southeastern |
Jr. |
Jackson, Miss. |
| OL |
Caleb Johnson |
UIW |
Gr. |
Mount Pleasant, Texas |
| OL |
Evan Roussel 3 |
Nicholls |
So. |
Lutcher, La. |
| OL |
Reid Francis |
UIW |
Sr. |
College Station, Texas |
| OL |
Calvin Barkat |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Sachse, Texas |
| PK |
Garrison Smith |
McNeese |
Fr. |
Norwalk, Ohio |
| P |
Austin Dunlap |
Southeastern |
Jr. |
Slidell, La. |
2022 Southland Conference Football First Team All-Conference Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Chris Whittaker |
UIW |
Gr. |
Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. |
| DL |
Steven Parker |
UIW |
Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| DL |
Celestin Haba |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
Columbia, S.C. |
| DL |
Masry Mapieu |
McNeese |
Sr. |
York, Neb. |
| LB |
Kelechi Anyalebechi 4 |
UIW |
Gr. |
Pearland, Texas |
| LB |
Kordell Williams 2 |
McNeese |
R-Sr. |
Carencro, La. |
| LB |
Rodney Dansby 2 |
HCU |
So. |
Houston, Texas |
| DB |
Jack Henderson |
Southeastern |
So. |
Mandeville, La. |
| DB |
Donte Thompson |
UIW |
Jr. |
Pensacola, Fla. |
| DB |
Zy Alexander |
Southeastern |
So. |
Loreauville, La. |
| DB |
Ferlando Jordan 2 |
Southeastern |
R-Sr. |
Atlanta, Ga, |
| DB |
D'Ante Smith |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
Richardson, Texas |
| KR |
Gage Larvadain 2 |
Southeastern |
So. |
Donaldsonville, La. |
| PR |
BJ Busbee |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
Long Beach, Calif. |
2022 Southland Conference Football Second Team All-Conference Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Zachary Clement |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Broussard, La. |
| RB |
Marcus Cooper |
UIW |
Gr. |
Altair, Texas |
| RB |
Carlos Washington, Jr. |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Clinton, Md. |
| TE/HB |
Ivan Drobocky |
Southeastern |
So. |
Bowling Green, Ky. |
| WR |
Javon Antonio |
Northwestern State |
R-Jr. |
LaPlace, La. |
| WR |
Gage Larvadain 2 |
Southeastern |
So. |
Donaldsonville, La. |
| WR |
Zach Patterson |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Corinth, Miss. |
| OL |
Jimeto Obigbo |
UIW |
So. |
Arlington, Texas |
| OL |
Nash Jones 2 |
UIW |
Jr. |
Nacogdoches, Texas |
| OL |
Dom Serapiglia III |
Southeastern |
R-So. |
Jefferson Hills, Pa. |
| OL |
Caron Coleman |
McNeese |
Sr. |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| OL |
Jhy Orgeron |
Southeastern |
So. |
Galliano, La. |
| PK |
Riley Callaghan |
Southeastern |
Fr. |
Ashburn, Va. |
| P |
Brady Buell 2 |
HCU |
Sr. |
Traverse City, Mich. |
2022 Southland Conference Football Second Team All-Conference Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Perry Ganci 2 |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| DL |
Jalyx Hunt |
HCU |
Jr. |
DeBary, Fla. |
| DL |
Jomard Valsin, Jr. 2 |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
Port Arthur, Texas |
| DL |
Arlen Williams |
Southeastern |
R-Jr. |
Boothville, La. |
| LB |
Donte' Daniels |
Southeastern |
So. |
Slidell, La. |
| LB |
Tyler Jackson |
Lamar |
Jr. |
DeSoto, Texas |
| LB |
Dee Walker |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
Moultrie, Ga. |
| DB |
Jordan Jackson |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
Prairieville, La. |
| DB |
PJ Herrington |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
Natchez, Miss. |
| DB |
William Hooper |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
Montgomery, Ala. |
| DB |
Kaleb Culp 2 |
UIW |
Jr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| DB |
Tyler Barnes |
McNeese |
Sr. |
D'Iberville, Miss. |
| KR |
Deonta McMahon |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Frostproof, Fla. |
| PR |
PJ Herrington |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
Natchez, Miss. |
2 = Two-time All-Conference
3 = Three-time All-Conference
4 = Four-time All-Conference
