SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced the 2019 football postseason awards today (Nov. 26). 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 2019 season.
 
In the major specialty awards, Joe Newman was named the Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches and media. Blake Jeresaty earned the Jacob Blocking Trophy, while Josh Conklin was named Coach of the Year by the media.
 
Overall, Wofford had seven players earn first or second team honors from the coaches or media. Three Terriers also earned All-Freshman Team recognition. Wofford ended the regular season 8-3 overall and 7-1 in the Southern Conference to win the league title for the seventh time overall and third straight season. The Terriers advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the tenth time and fourth straight season.
 
Earning first team honors from the Southern Conference Coaches were QB Joe Newman, OL Justus Basinger, OL Blake Jeresaty and LB Jireh Wilson. Second team honors went to OL Michael Ralph, DL Michael Mason, and DB George Gbesee.
 
In the media voting, first team honors went to QB Joe Newman, OL Justus Basinger, OL Michael Ralph, DL Michael Mason and LB Jireh Wilson. Second team recognition went to OL Blake Jeresaty and DB George Gbesee.
 
Wofford had three named to the All-Freshman Team, the most since putting four on the list in 2016, with RB Jacquez Allen, DB Keyvaun Cobb and DL Michael Mason being honored.
 
In his second year as head coach, Josh Conklin was named the Wallace Wade Coach of the Year by the media. This season the team was 8-3 overall and 7-1 in the league to win the outright Southern Conference title. The team also qualified for the NCAA Playoffs for the season straight season under his direction. It is the sixth time the Terriers have earned Coach of the Year, with Mike Ayers receiving the honor five times.
 
Joe Newman, a senior quarterback from Riverdale, Georgia, is just the second Terrier to ever be named Offensive Player of the Year. Previously Eric Breitenstein won the award in 2011 and 2012. He is also the first Wofford quarterback to ever receive All-Southern Conference honors. Newman has started all 11 games this season and is the team's leading rusher with 880 yards and 13 touchdowns on 118 carries. He has completed 64-of-115 passes with seven touchdowns. He is the first Wofford quarterback to throw for more than 1,000 yards in back to back seasons since Travis Wilson (1999-01).
 
Blake Jeresaty, a junior center from Charleston, South Carolina, becomes the fifth Terrier to earn the Jacob Blocking Trophy and the first since 2011. He is part of an offensive line that is ranked first in the nation in fewest sacks allowed, with only one (0.09 spg). The line paves the way for the nation's second-ranked rushing attack at 323.5 yards per game. He leads the team in knockdown blocks with 117 on the season. He was named All-Southern Conference second team last season. He was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District the past two years.
 
Jacquez Allen, a freshman from Prattville, Alabama, has seen action in ten games this season. He is third on the team in rushing with 527 yards on 50 carries, along with four touchdowns. His 10.5 yard per carry average leads the team.
 
Justus Basinger, a senior from Longwood, Florida, started all eleven games at right guard. He helped pave the way for the nation's second-ranked rushing game and the offensive line has allowed only one sack this season. He is second on the team in knockdown blocks with 111. This is his second straight All-SoCon honor.
 
Keyvaun Cobb, a freshman from Black Mountain, North Carolina, has played in all eleven games with two starts in the secondary. He leads the team with two interceptions and has 28 tackles on the season.
 
George Gbesee, a senior from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, started all eleven games at cornerback and has 39 career starts in the secondary. He leads the team in pass break-ups with ten and has one interception. He has 33 total tackles, 25 of which are solo. He is the team leader in interceptions with three this season, bringing his career total to six. He also has 24 tackles and two pass break-ups. This is his second straight All-SoCon honor.
 
Michael Mason, a freshman from Effingham, South Carolina, has played in all eleven games with two starts at defensive end. He is tied for the league lead in sacks with 7.0 and is sixth in the conference with 10.5 tackles for loss. He has a total of 39 tackles and a forced fumble this year.
 
Michael Ralph, a senior from Loveland, Ohio, started all eleven games at left tackle and has made 35 career starts at that position. He is part of an offensive line that is first in the league in rushing yards and first in fewest sacks allowed. Nationally the team is first in fewest sacks allowed and second in rushing offense. This marks his second straight All-Southern Conference honor.  
 
Jireh Wilson, a senior from Calhoun, Georgia, has started all eleven games at outside linebacker. He is second on the team with 47 total tackles, second with 4.5 sacks, and third with 6.5 tackles for loss. He also had an interception, along with four pass break-ups. The Terrier defense is ranked first in the Southern Conference in total defense and rushing defense. This is his first All-SoCon honor.
 
As part of the balloting, coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players or themselves.
 
Furman had a league-high nine all-conference coaches selections, while Chattanooga followed with eight and Mercer and Wofford had seven each. Wofford was one of five schools with four players on the first team. Furman also had a league-best seven on the All-Freshman Team.
 
In the media voting, Chattanooga had nine selections, followed by Furman with eight and Wofford with seven. Wofford had a league-best five on the first team.
 
2019 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year - Joe Newman, Sr., QB, Wofford
Defensive Player of the Year - Willie Eubanks III, Jr., LB, The Citadel
Freshman of the Year - Ailym Ford, RB, Chattanooga
Jacob Blocking Award - Blake Jeresaty, Jr., OL, Wofford
Coach of the Year - Scott Wachenheim, VMI
 
First team offense
QB      Joe Newman, Wofford
RB       Ailym Ford, Chattanooga
RB       Alex Ramsey, VMI
OL       Ben Blackmon, ETSU
OL       Bo Layton, Furman
OL       Nick Nixon, Samford
OL      Justus Basinger, Wofford
OL      Blake Jeresaty, Wofford
TE       Nate Adkins, ETSU
WR      Raleigh Webb, The Citadel
WR      Bryce Nunnelly, Chattanooga
WR      Jakob Herres, VMI
 
First team defense
DL       Joseph Randolph II, The Citadel
DL       Nasir Player, ETSU
DL       Adrian Hope, Furman
DL       Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga
LB       Willie Eubanks III, The Citadel
LB       John Staton, Samford
LB       Jireh Wilson, Wofford
DB      Artevius Smith, ETSU
DB      Bryan Okeh, Furman
DB      Brandon Dowdell, Chattanooga
DB      A.J. Smith, VMI
 
First team special teams
PK       Grayson Atkins, Furman
P          Matt Campbell, The Citadel
RS       David Durden, Mercer
 
Second team offense
QB      Reece Udinski, VMI
RB       Quay Holmes, ETSU
RB       Devin Wynn, Furman
OL       Drew McEntyre, The Citadel
OL       Tre'mond Shorts, ETSU
OL       Jordan Harris, Furman
OL       Austin Sanders, Mercer
OL       Cole Strange, Chattanooga
OL      Michael Ralph, Wofford
TE       Chris Ellington, Mercer
WR      Thomas Gordon, Furman
WR      David Durden, Mercer
 
Second team defense
DL       Dorian Kithcart, Mercer
DL       Khayyan Edwards, Chattanooga
DL       Telvin Jones, Chattanooga
DL      Michael Mason, Wofford
LB       Jordan Willis, Furman
LB       Sidney Otiwu, Mercer
LB       Marshall Cooper, Chattanooga
DB      Chris Beverly, The Citadel
DB      Eric Jackson, Mercer
DB      John Brannon III, Western Carolina
DB      George Gbesee, Wofford
 
Second team special teams
PK       Mitchell Fineran, Samford
P          Grayson Atkins, Furman
RS       Montrell Washington, Samford
 
All-freshman offense
Will Huzzie, ETSU
Devin Abrams, Furman
Wayne Anderson, Furman
Darren Grainger, Furman
Evan Jumper, Furman
Yahsyn McKee, Mercer
Jay Stanton, Samford
A.J. Toney, Samford
Ailym Ford, Chattanooga
Leroy Thomas, VMI
Jacquez Allen, Wofford
 
All-freshman defense
Hasan Black, The Citadel
Donovan Manuel, ETSU
Josh Agbenou, Furman
Travis Blackshear, Furman
Braden Gilby, Furman
Richie Coffey, Mercer
TriMarcus Cheeks, Samford
Kameron Brown, Chattanooga
Aljareek Malry, VMI
Keyvaun Cobb, Wofford
Michael Mason, Wofford
 
All-freshman special teams
Tyler Keltner, ETSU
Caleb Dowden, Mercer
Zach Lassiter, Mercer
Julian Pletz, Western Carolina
 
2019 Media All-Southern Conference Football Team
Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Offensive Player of the Year - Joe Newman, Sr., QB, Wofford
Defensive Player of the Year - Willie Eubanks III, Jr., LB, The Citadel
Freshman of the Year - Ailym Ford, RB, Chattanooga
Wallace Wade Coach of the Year - Josh Conklin, Wofford
 
First team offense
QB      Joe Newman, Wofford
RB       Devin Wynn, Furman
RB       Alex Ramsey, VMI
OL       Drew McEntyre, The Citadel
OL       Bo Layton, Furman
OL       Nick Nixon, Samford
OL      Justus Basinger, Wofford
OL      Michael Ralph, Wofford
TE       Chris James, Chattanooga
WR      Bryce Nunnelly, Chattanooga
WR      Jakob Herres, VMI
 
First team defense
DL       Joseph Randolph II, The Citadel
DL       Nasir Player, ETSU
DL       Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga
DL      Michael Mason, Wofford
LB       Willie Eubanks III, The Citadel
LB       John Staton, Samford
LB       Marshall Cooper, Chattanooga
LB       Jireh Wilson, Wofford
DB      Artevius Smith, ETSU
DB      Eric Jackson, Mercer
DB      Brandon Dowdell, Chattanooga
DB      A.J. Smith, VMI
DB      JerMichael White, Western Carolina
 
First team special teams
PK       Grayson Atkins, Furman
P          Matt Campbell, The Citadel
RS       David Durden, Mercer
 
Second team offense
QB      Reece Udinski, VMI
RB       Ailym Ford, Chattanooga
RB       Quay Holmes, ETSU
OL       Jordan Harris, Furman
OL       Austin Sanders, Mercer
OL       Cole Strange, Chattanooga
OL       Josh Andre, VMI
OL      Blake Jeresaty, Wofford
TE       Chris Ellington, Mercer
WR      Raleigh Webb, The Citadel
WR      Thomas Gordon, Furman
 
Second team defense
DL       Adrian Hope, Furman
DL       Armond Lloyd, Samford
DL       Khayyan Edwards, Chattanooga
DL       Jarrod Richmond, VMI
LB       Ty Boeck, Chattanooga
LB       Ty Harris, Western Carolina
LB       Jayden Pauling, Western Carolina
DB      Chris Beverly, The Citadel
DB      Bryan Okeh, Furman
DB      John Brannon III, Western Carolina
DB      George Gbesee, Wofford
 
Second team special teams
PK       Mitchell Fineran, Samford
P          Grayson Atkins, Furman
RS       Montrell Washington, Samford