Sports

Sun Belt player of the year: Elijah McGuire

by Matt Sullivan

Sophomore Elijah McGuire has been named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

Led by sophomore Elijah McGuire, who was named the league’s Player of the Year, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns filled a league-best eight spots on the 2014 All-Sun Belt Conference Football team that was announced on Wednesday.

The Ragin’ Cajuns filled five spots on the first team, including two by McGuire who was selected at both running back and as the league’s top all-purpose back. McGuire, who was also voted as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, was joined on the first team was offensive lineman Daniel Quave, defensive tackle Christian Ringo and nose tackle Justin Hamilton.

Named to the second-team were offensive lineman Mykhael Quave, defensive back Corey Trim and placekicker Hunter Stover, with quarterback Terrance Broadway, tight end Larry Pettis, center Terry Johnson and linebacker Dominique Tovell each earning honorable mention honors.

Rounding out the squad was redshirt freshman defensive back Tracy Walker who was named to the Sun Belt All-Newcomer team.

“I’m very excited for all of the players who earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors,” Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth said. “They were very deserving and it is a sign of all of the hard work that they put in. We felt like there were some others that definitely should have made it, I’m a little disappointed about that they didn’t make it. But I’m very proud of the ones that did.”

McGuire joined former Ragin’ Cajuns great Tyrell Fenroy in earning SBC Player of the Year honors and Michael Desormeaux as the league’s top offensive player. The Houma, La., native rushed for 1,165 yards (the fourth-highest single-season total in school history) and 14 touchdowns (tied for fourth) on the season while leading the Ragin’ Cajuns with 40 receptions and a pair of TDs.

After gaining 165 yards on the ground in the regular-season finale at Troy on Nov. 29, McGuire joined Brian Mitchell (1989), Desormeaux (2007-08) and Fenroy (2005-08) as the only players in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. McGuire, who was the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, increased his rushing total to 2,028 yards in his career, joining Fenroy as the only players in school history to rush for over 2,000 yards in their first two seasons.

McGuire recorded a rushing touchdown in the final nine games of the regular-season for the Ragin’ Cajuns and posted five 100-yard games. He rushed for a career-high 265 yards on 19 carries and scored four times in a 55-40 victory over Arkansas State in a nationally-televised contest on Oct. 21.

He led the Sun Belt Conference, and ranked 19th nationally, in all-purpose yards averaging 141.2 yards per contest and finished third in the league in punt return average.

Daniel Quave, a second-team All-Sun Belt choice in 2013, started all 12 games at right guard during the regular season for Louisiana, extending his streak of consecutive games started to 51, and tied for the second-best mark among active NCAA players. Named to the Lombardi Watch List during the summer, Daniel Quave was the main leader on an offensive line that helped spark a rushing attack that ranked 23rd nationally.

Ringo, a senior from Jackson, Miss., helped anchor a defensive line that ranked as the best rushing defense (146.7 yards per game) in the Sun Belt Conference while ranking third overall in sacks. He ranked seventh in the nation with 19.5 tackles for loss and was 12th nationally with 10.5 sacks.

He recorded a career-high 42 tackles on the season with 35 solos, 15.5 tackles for loss and finished tied for the SBC lead in fumble recoveries, including a 41-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown at Texas State. His 5.5 tackles for loss against ULM set a new school single-game record and he posted a career-best 2.5 sacks against the Warhawks.

Named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 20, Ringo had at least one sack in five of eight games and finished the regular season one-half sack shy of the single season school record set in 1993. He is within one sack from setting the career record and is 1.5 tackles for loss shy of tying the school single season record set in 1993.

Hamilton, a senior from Natchez, Miss., started all 12 games at nose tackle for the Ragin’ Cajuns and recorded 26 tackles (22 solo) with 9.0 tackles for loss and five sacks. He ranked ninth in the Sun Belt Conference in both sacks and 15th in TFL and he led the squad with seven quarterback hurries on the year.

One of four members of the Ragin’ Cajuns named to the Lombardi Watch List, Hamilton posted a season-best five tackles against Arkansas State.

Mykhael Quave, a junior, started in all 12 games during the regular-season for the Ragin’ Cajuns and extended his streak of consecutive games started to 38. A preseason Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection, Mykhael Quave joined his older brother on the Lombardi Award Watch List, giving the Ragin’ Cajuns the only tandem of brothers to be named to a national list.

Trim, a senior from Baton Rouge, led the Ragin’ Cajuns during the regular season with 71 tackles, including 60 solo, while posting five stops for loss. The former Redemptorist High product started all 12 games at corner for Louisiana, ranking seventh in league play in passes defended (6) and eighth in interceptions (2).

Stover, a senior from Abbeville, finished the regular season tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead in field goal percentage connecting on 15 of his 18 attempts (83.3 percent). He ranked second in the conference in made field goals with 15 and recorded a career-best four field goals in a win over South Alabama.

He ranked fifth in the conference in scoring with 87 points and led all Sun Belt kickers in points per game (7.2). Stover converted on 42 of 45 extra point attempts during the season, recorded 29 touchbacks for a kickoff unit that ranked eighth nationally in in kick coverage, and posted six tackles on special teams during the, including a game-high three against Arkansas State.

A three-year starter at quarterback, Broadway started all 12 games during the regular-season for the Ragin’ Cajuns completing 190 of 311 passes (61.1 percent) for 2,068 yards and 12 touchdowns. He finished third on the team in rushing with 626 yards and three touchdowns and directed an offense that ranked seventh in the nation in red zone offense (92.5 percent).

In three seasons at the helm, Broadway ranks second in school history passing yards (7,329), second in touchdowns (48), third in pass attempts (892) and pass completions (562). Broadway ranks 10th in school history, and third among quarterbacks, in rushing (1,857) and was nominated for the Davey O’Brien Award, the Manning Award and the Wuerffel Award.

Broadway became the school’s all-time leader in total offense with 9,186 yards, passing former Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback Jake Delhomme’s record of 8,876. Broadway accounted for 2,714 yards of total offense during the season, ranking ninth in school history.

Broadway threw for a season-high 237 yards with three TDs in win over Southern and passed for 225 yards and a touchdown, plus ran for 113 yards in a nationally-televised Sun Belt Conference victory at Texas State.

In his first year as a full-time starter, Pettis caught 16 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown for Louisiana. He caught passes in his first seven games of the season, led by a season-high three receptions against Louisiana Tech. Pettis opened the regular season against Southern with a pair of receptions and a touchdown.

Pettis, a senior from Oxford, Miss., converted a key third-down conversion with an 18-yard grab in the fourth quarter that helped the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 34-31 victory over Georgia State in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.

Johnson, a senior from Oxford, Miss., started in all 12 games at center during the regular-season for the Ragin’ Cajuns after starting at left guard as a junior in 2013. Replacing three-year starter Andre Huval at center, Johnson anchored an offensive line and did not allow a sack during the regular-season.

Tovell, a junior from Columbia, Miss., started all 12 games at linebacker moving from outside linebacker to the inside position halfway through the season. Tovell finished second on the team with 70 tackles (51 solo) and posted 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. He tied a career-high with nine tackles in the regular-season finale at Troy and had at least seven tackles in six games.

Named to the Lombardi Award Watch List, Tovell notched sacks against Boise State, South Alabama and ULM.

Walker, a redshirt freshman from Brunswick, Ga., saw action in all 12 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns before starting at safety in the final seven games of the season. Walker posted 29 of his 40 tackles during conference play and finished tied for eighth with two interceptions during conference play. He recorded a season-high six tackles against Arkansas State and South Alabama, notched two interceptions against New Mexico State, and forced a fumble at Troy.

Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
Elijah McGuire (Louisiana, So., RB)

Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year
Elijah McGuire (Louisiana, So., RB)

Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year
David Mayo (Texas State, Senior, LB)

Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
Taylor Lamb (Appalachian State, Fr., QB)

Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year
Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern

All-Sun Belt Conference First Team Offense
Fredi Knighten (Arkansas State, Jr., QB)
Matt Breida (Georgia Southern, So., RB)
Elijah McGuire (Louisiana, So., RB)
Donovan Harden (Georgia State, Jr., WR)
Joshua McCain (Idaho, Sr., WR)
Rashon Ceaser (ULM, Jr., WR)
Brad Miller (Texas State, Sr., TE)
Kendall Lamm (Appalachian State, Sr., OL)
Garrett Frye (Georgia Southern, Sr., OL)
Manrey Saint-Amour (Georgia Southern, Sr., OL)
Daniel Quave (Louisiana, Sr., OL)
Valerian Ume-Ezeoke (New Mexico State, Sr., OL)

All-Sun Belt Conference First Team Defense
Qushaun Lee (Arkansas State, Sr., LB)
Justin Hamilton (Louisiana, Sr., DL)
Christian Ringo (Louisiana, Sr., DL)
Gerrand Johnson (ULM, Jr., DL)
Michael Odiari (Texas State, Sr., DL)
Edwin Jackson (Georgia Southern, Sr., LB)
David Mayo (Texas State, Sr., LB)
Doug Middleton (Appalachian State, Jr., DB)
Artez Brown (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)
Mitch Lane (ULM, Jr., DB)
Montres Kitchens (Troy, Jr., DB)
David Mims (Texas State, Jr., DB)

All-Sun Belt Conference First Team Special Teams
Justin Manton (ULM, Sr., PK)
Austin Rehkow (Idaho, So., P)
Chandler Worthy (Troy, Sr., RS)
Elijah McGuire (Louisiana, So., All Purpose)

All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team Offense
Kevin Ellison (Georgia Southern, So., QB)
Marcus Cox (Appalachian State, So., RB)
Michael Gordon (Arkansas State, Jr. RB)
Ajalen Holley (ULM, So., WR)
Teldrick Morgan (New Mexico State, So., WR)
Shavarez Smith (South Alabama, Sr., WR)
Joel Ruiz (Georgia State, Jr., TE)
Mike Marboe (Idaho, Sr., OL)
Mykhael Quave (Louisiana, Jr., OL)
Ucambre Williams (South Alabama, Sr., OL)
Terrence Jones (Troy, Sr., OL)
Adrian Bellard (Texas State, Jr., OL)

All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team Defense
Ronald Blair (Appalachian State, Jr., DL)
Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (Arkansas State, Fr., DL)
Jerome McClain (South Alabama, Sr., DL)
Theo Rich (South Alabama, Sr., DL)
John Law (Appalachian State, So., LB)
Joseph Peterson (Georgia State, Jr., LB)
Hunter Kissinger (ULM, Jr., LB)
Maleki Harris (South Alabama, Sr., LB)
Matt Dobson (Georgia Southern, JR., DB)
Corey Trim (Louisiana, Sr., DB)
Terrell Brigham (South Alabama, Sr., DB)
Craig Mager (Texas State, SR., DB)
All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team Special Teams
Blaise Taylor (Arkansas State, Fr., RS)Hunter Stover (Louisiana, Sr., PK)
Justin Manton (ULM, Sr., P)
Chandler Worthy (Troy, Sr., All Purpose)

All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention
Drew Bailey (Appalachian State, Sr., TE)
Parker Collins (Appalachian State, So., OL)
Kennan Gilchrist (Appalachian State, So., LB)
Joel Ross (Appalachian State, Sr., DB)
Tres Houston (Arkansas State, Jr., WR)
Chris Stone (Arkansas State, Jr., DL)
Andrew Tryon (Arkansas State, Sr., DB)
Xavier Woodson (Arkansas State, So., LB)
Logan Daves (Georgia Southern, Sr., OL)
Deion Stanley (Georgia Southern Sr., S)
Jay Ellison (Georgia Southern, So., DL)
Antwione Williams (Georgia Southern, Jr., LB)
Nick Arbuckle (Georgia State, Jr., QB)
Tim Wynn (Georgia State, Sr., OL)
LynQuez Blair (Georgia State, Sr., WR)
Robert Davis (Georgia State, So., WR)
Marc Millan (Idaho, Jr., LB)
Quinton Bradley (Idaho, Jr., DE)
Matt Linehan (Idaho, Fr., QB)
Elijhaa Penny (Idaho, Jr., RB)
Dominique Tovell (Louisiana, Jr., LB)
Larry Pettis (Louisiana, Sr., TE)
Terrance Broadway (Louisiana, Sr., QB)
Terry Johnson (Louisiana, Sr., OL)
Trey Caldwell (ULM, Jr., DB)
Kenzee Jackson (ULM, Sr., WR)
Michael Johnson (ULM, Jr., LB)
Ray Stovall (ULM, Grad., LB)
Rodney Butler (New Mexico State, So., LB)
Winston Rose (New Mexico State, Sr., DB)
Larry Rose III (New Mexico State, Fr., RB)
Derek Ibekwe (New Mexico State, Fr., LB)
Chris May (South Alabama, Jr., OL)
Melvin Meggs (South Alabama, Sr., OL)
Jesse Kelley (South Alabama, Sr., DL)
Montell Garner (South Alabama, Sr., DB)
Will Johnson (Texas State, Sr., P)
Tyler Jones (Texas State, So., QB)
Robert Lowe (Texas State, Jr., RB)
Ryan Melton (Texas State, So., OL )
Dalton Bennett (Troy, Jr., OL)
Brandon Burks (Troy, Jr., RB)
Tyler Roberts (Troy, Jr., DL)
Bryan Holmes (Troy, Jr., WR)

Sun Belt Conference Newcomer Team
Beau Nunn (Appalachian State, Fr., OL)
Dijon Paschal (Arkansas State, Fr., WR)
Nick Arbuckle (Georgia State, Jr., QB)
L.A. Ramsby (Georgia Southern, Fr., RB)
Jordan Rose (Idaho, Fr., OL)
Tracy Walker (Louisiana, Fr., DB)
Pete Thomas (ULM, Grad, QB)
Larry Rose III (New Mexico State, Fr., RB)
Braedon Bowman (South Alabama, Jr., TE)
CJ Best (Texas State, Jr., WR)
Brandon Silvers (Troy, Fr., QB)