SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced the 2017 football postseason awards today (Nov. 21). Selections include the coaches' all-conference teams and specialty award winners in addition to the league's all-freshman team. The Southern Conference Sports Media Association also selected its football all-conference team and specialty awards for the 2017 season.
 
Overall, Wofford had nine players earn first or second team honors from the coaches or media and one player was named to the All-Freshman Team. The nine Terriers honored match the number from the 2016 season. Wofford ended the season 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the Southern Conference to win the league title for the fifth time, but did not win any of the major awards. The Terriers advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the eighth time.
 
Earning first team honors from the Southern Conference Coaches were DL Miles Brown, K Luke Carter, OL Ross Demmel, DL Tyler Vaughn and CB Devin Watson. Second team honors went to DL Mikel Horton and RB Andre Stoddard. DL Deon Priester earned All-Freshman Team honors.
 
In the media voting, first team honors went to DL Miles Brown, K Luke Carter, OL Roo Daniels, OL Ross Demmel, RB Andre Stoddard and CB Devin Watson. Second team recognition went to DL Mikel Horton and OL Jared Jacon-Duffy.
 
Miles Brown, a junior from Cheverly, Maryland, started all eleven games on the defensive line. He leads the team with 9.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. The rushing defense is ranked first in the league. This is his third season receiving All-Southern Conference honors.
 
Luke Carter, a sophomore from Florence, South Carolina, was the Terriers kicker and punter this season. He is first in the Southern Conference in field goal percentage and is sixth in scoring. He is second in the NCAA in field goal percentage (90.9%) going 10-of-11 and also has made all 36 PATs for 66 total points.
 
Roo Daniels, a senior from Columbia, South Carolina, started six games at center. He missed five games due to injury. He helped paved the way for the nation's sixth-ranked rushing game. This is his second straight season being named All-Southern Conference.
 
Ross Demmel, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, started all eleven games at left tackle. He was third on the team in knockdown blocks as the offensive line led the Terriers rushing game to 250.6 yards per game, which is sixth in the nation. The honor is the first of his career.
 
Mikel Horton, a sophomore from Lexington, Kentucky, started six games at nose tackle for the Terriers. He has 27 total tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Last season he received All-Freshman Team honors.
 
Jared Jacon-Duffy, a senior from Pleasant Plain, Ohio, started eight games at right guard. He leads the team in knockdown blocks with 85. The offensive line is ninth in the nation and second in the league in fewest sacks allowed with just 0.82 per game. This marks his first All-Southern Conference honor.
 
Andre Stoddard, a junior from Greenville, South Carolina, started eight games at fullback. He is second in the Southern Conference with 743 rushing yards and is first in the league with 14 rushing touchdowns. He leads the team with 84 points, which is tied for first in the league rankings. This is his first All-Southern Conference honor.
 
Vaughn, a senior from McDonough, Georgia, started all eleven games at defensive end. He has 35 total tackles on the season, including 3.5 tackles for loss as the Terrier rushing defense is ranked first in the league. This is the second straight season he has been named All-Southern Conference.
 
Devin Watson, a junior from Gainesville, Georgia, started all eleven games at cornerback. He is third in the Southern Conference with four interceptions. Overall he is sixth on the team in total tackles with 49 and he has three tackles for loss along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery. This is his first All-Southern Conference honor.
 
Among the All-Freshman team honoree Deon Priester started three games at nose tackle. The native of Allendale, South Carolina, had 12 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
As part of the balloting, coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players or themselves.
 
Samford had a league-high nine all-conference coaches selections, while Western Carolina followed with eight and Mercer and Wofford had seven each. The Catamounts put a SoCon-best six players on the first teams. Western Carolina and Wofford had first-team selections on offense, defense and special teams. All nine teams had at least one all-freshman selection, led by Furman's five.
 
In the media selections, Furman, Samford, Western Carolina and Wofford had eight selections each. Wofford had a league-best six first-team selections, with Samford second with five. Furman put a league-best five players on the second team. Western Carolina and Wofford were the only two teams to have first-team selections on offense, defense and special teams.
 
2017 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year
Devlin Hodges, Samford, R-Jr., QB
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Ahmad Gooden, Samford, Jr., DL
 
Freshman of the Year
Kaelan Riley, Mercer, QB
 
Jacobs Blocking Award
Matthew Schmidt, Furman, Sr., OL
 
Coach of the Year
Clay Hendrix, Furman
 
First team offense
QB      Devlin Hodges, Samford
RB       Antonio Wilcox, Furman
RB       Detrez Newsome, Western Carolina
OL       Tyler Davis, The Citadel
OL       Terrell Bush, Furman
OL       Matthew Schmidt, Furman
OL       Zach Weeks, Western Carolina
OL      Ross Demmel, Wofford
TE       Andy Schumpert, Furman
WR      Kelvin McKnight, Samford
WR      Terryon Robinson, Western Carolina
 
First team defense
DL       Isaiah Buehler, Mercer
DL       Ahmad Gooden, Samford
DL      Miles Brown, Wofford
DL      Tyler Vaughn, Wofford
LB       Lee Bennett, Mercer
LB       Shaheed Salmon, Samford
LB       Tahjai Watt, Western Carolina
DB      Kailik Williams, The Citadel
DB      Omari Williams, Samford
DB      Lucas Webb, Chattanooga
DB      Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
DB      Devin Watson, Wofford
 
First team special teams
PK      Luke Carter, Wofford
P          Ian Berryman, Western Carolina
RS       Chandler Curtis, Mercer
 
Second team offense
QB      Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
RB       Tee Mitchell, Mercer
RB      Andre Stoddard, Wofford
OL       Alex Rios, ETSU
OL       Thomas Marchman, Mercer
OL       Austin Sanders, Mercer
OL       Nick Nixon, Samford
OL       Josh Cardiello, Chattanooga
TE       Bailey Lenoir, Chattanooga
WR      Chris Shelling, Samford
WR      Steffon Hill, Western Carolina
 
Second team defense
DL       Jaylan Reid, Furman
DL       Isaiah Mack, Chattanooga
DL       Derek Mahaffey, Chattanooga
DL      Mikel Horton, Wofford
LB       Myles Pierce, The Citadel
LB       LeMarkus Bailey, Mercer
LB       Allan Cratsenberg, VMI
DB      Aron Spann III, The Citadel
DB      Aaquil Annoor, Furman
DB      Darius Harvey, Samford
DB      Greg Sanders, VMI
 
Second team special teams
PK       JJ Jerman, ETSU
P          Austin Barnard, Samford
RS       Quan Harrison, ETSU
 
All-Freshman Offense
Jonathan Cole, The Citadel
Jon Barrett Lewis, The Citadel
Brandon Rainey, The Citadel
Reed Kroeber, Furman
Darius Morehead, Furman
Kaelan Riley, Mercer
Montrell Washington, Samford
Mike Williams, Samford
Cole Copeland, Chattanooga
Kris Thornton, VMI
Donnavan Spencer, Western Carolina
 
All-Freshman Defense
Blake Bockrath, ETSU
Reynard Ellis, Furman
Elijah McKoy, Furman
Malique Fleming, Mercer
Sidney Otiwu, Mercer
Koi Freeman, Samford
Brett Granger, Samford
Jerrell Lawson, Chattanooga
A.J. Smith, VMI
Michael Murphy, Western Carolina
Deon Priester, Wofford
 
All-Freshman Special Teams
Grayson Atkins, Furman
Brandon Dowdell, Chattanooga
Victor Ulmo, Chattanooga
 
2017 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team
Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year
Devlin Hodges, Samford, R-Jr., QB
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Ahmad Gooden, Samford, Jr., DL
 
Freshman of the Year
Kaelan Riley, Mercer, QB
 
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year
Clay Hendrix, Furman
 
First team offense
QB      Devlin Hodges, Samford
RB       Detrez Newsome, Western Carolina
RB      Andre Stoddard, Wofford
OL       Tyler Davis, The Citadel
OL       Terrell Bush, Furman
OL       Matthew Schmidt, Furman
OL      Roo Daniels, Wofford
OL      Ross Demmel, Wofford
TE       Andy Schumpert, Furman
WR      Kelvin McKnight, Samford
WR      Terryon Robinson, Western Carolina
 
First team defense
DL       Nasir Player, ETSU
DL       Isaiah Buehler, Mercer
DL       Ahmad Gooden, Samford
DL      Miles Brown, Wofford
LB       Lee Bennett, Mercer
LB       Shaheed Salmon, Samford
LB       Allan Cratsenberg, VMI
DB      Aron Spann III, The Citadel
DB      Omari Williams, Samford
DB      Marvin Tillman, Western Carolina
DB      Devin Watson, Wofford
 
First team special teams
PK      Luke Carter, Wofford
P          Ian Berryman, Western Carolina
RS       Chandler Curtis, Mercer
 
Second team offense
QB      P.J. Blazejowski, Furman
RB       Kealand Dirks, Furman
RB       Antonio Wilcox, Furman
RB       Tee Mitchell, Mercer
OL       Thomas Marchman, Mercer
OL       Josh Cardiello, Chattanooga
OL       Andrew Miles, Western Carolina
OL       Zach Weeks, Western Carolina
OL      Jared Jacon-Duffy, Wofford
TE       Bailey Lenoir, Chattanooga
WR      Marquise Irvin, Mercer
WR      Chris Shelling, Samford
 
Second team defense
DL       Ja'Lon Williams, The Citadel
DL       Jaylan Reid, Furman
DL       Nate Link, Western Carolina
DL      Mikel Horton, Wofford
LB       Myles Pierce, The Citadel
LB       Brian Lipscomb, VMI
LB       A.J. Newman, Western Carolina
DB      Aaquil Annoor, Furman
DB      Eric Jackson, Mercer
DB      Lucas Webb, Chattanooga
DB      Greg Sanders, VMI
 
Second team special teams
PK       JJ Jerman, ETSU
P          Austin Barnard, Samford
RS       Darius Harvey, Samford