FRISCO, Texas – Fresh off of capping an undefeated regular season and the 14^th Southland Conference championship in school history, the McNeese Cowboys were awarded with a league-high 13 all-conference selections along with two individual superlatives, including defensive player of the year with senior free safety Wallace Scott and coach of the year with Matt Viator, the league announced Tuesday in conjunction with the all-conference teams.
 
McNeese, 10-0 overall and 9-0 in league play, dominated the all-conference teams, claiming 13 of the 58 spots with five first-team picks and eight second-team selections. In addition, the Cowboys placed three on the honorable mention list.
 
Scott, a senior from Weyanoke, La., is one of the leaders of a McNeese defense that heads into the postseason topping the nation in rushing defense (78.6), is second in scoring defense (11.1) and ninth in total defense (280.8). The three-time conference defensive player of the week has 48 total tackles on the season with two sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss. Scott set a school records with two fumble recoveries for a touchdown in a season and 142 fumble return yards in a season. Scott and the McNeese defense have allowed just three rushing touchdowns on the year and have only allowed one player to break the century mark rushing in a game.
 
Scott is the 12^th McNeese player to garner defensive player of the year honors, and first since 2008 when Bryan Smith won the award.
  
Viator led McNeese to a perfect 9-0 league mark, which is the most conference wins for a team in a single season. A finalist for the STATS FCS National Coach of the Year, Viator leads the Southland with 54 league wins and is tied for the McNeese's all-time record with 78 career wins.
 
Viator and the Cowboys won their fourth conference championship in 10 seasons and he became the first McNeese coach to post two undefeated regular seasons, having gone 11-0 in 2007. Viator is just the second coach in conference history to have two unblemished regular seasons, joining Louisiana Tech's Maxie Lambright who did it in 1972 and 1974. This is Viator's third coach of the year honor, having received the award in 2006 and 2007. It's the 11^th time a McNeese coach has received the award.
 
Cowboys that earned first team all-conference honors include offensive lineman Quentin Marsh, defensive lineman Isaiah Golden, linebacker Bo Brown, punter Jean Breaux, and Scott.
 
Second team honors were awarded to quarterback Daniel Sams, running back Ryan Ross, tight end Zach Hetrick, wide receiver Kent Shelby, offensive lineman Ben Jones, defensive lineman Cameron Smith, linebacker Ashari Goins, and defensive back Dominique Hill.
 
Earning honorable mention honors were offensive lineman Nick Gorman, defensive lineman Jammerio Gross, and defensive back Brent Spikes.
 
A preseason All-SLC first team selection, Marsh has started every game this season and 34 consecutive starts heading into the posteason. He's the anchor of an offensive line that has allowed just 10 sacks on the season while helping the offense average nearly 242 yards per game rushing, the most by a McNeese team in 33 years (the 1982 team averaged 243.7 rushing yards per game).
 
New to the team this year, Golden has played a major role in the Cowboys' top-ranked defense by holding opponents to 11 points and under 80 yards rushing per game. Playing in the middle of the line, his size and quickness has enabled him to be disruptive on nearly every play. He's recorded 35 tackles on the season with two sacks, three tackles for a loss and has 15 quarterback hurries. He's also blocked two kicks.
 
A three-time all-conference selection, Brown has posted a stellar senior season and has played a big part for the success of the defense. Of the Cowboys' four defensive scores (3 TDs, 1 safety) on the year, he's responsible for three of them, having forced two fumbles that were returned for touchowns while a pressure in the endzone forced an intentional grounding and safety. He leads the team with five sacks to go along with 8 ½ tackles for a loss and is third on the team with 59 total tackles.
 
Breaux saved the best year of his career for his last. He's the conference leader in punting with a 43.8 average while the Cowboys are ranked No. 1 in the nation with a 41.04 net average. His season average is currently tied as the highest in school history in a single-season (Don Stump, 43.8 in 1979). In 51 punts on the season, 11 have gone for 50 yards or more and 20 have been downed inside the 20. He has booted two punts that have gone 70 yards or more with a long of 73 yards. He's a two-time SLC Player of the Week award winner.
 
Sams, a finalist for the FCS National Offensive Player of the Year Award, leads the team and is ranked third in the league with 87.7 rushing yards per game and is third in total offense with a 231.8 average. He set a single-season and career school record for most 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback – seven in a career and four this season. He's rushed for 100 or more in two straight games and in three of four heading into the Dec. 5 second round playoff game.
 
Ross is right behind Sams in rushing, ranking second on the team and fourth in the conference with 87.2 yards per game. His 6.4 yards per carry mark is ranked 12^th nationally and third in the league.
 
Shelby is the team leader with 34 catches and 575 receiving yards. His receiving yards mark ranks 20^th on the school's single-season chart.
 
Like Marsh, Jones has played a big part in the Cowboys' rushing success on the season. The senior has started 34 consecutive games heading into next week's playoff game.
 
Smith ended the regular season ranked fifth on the team with 53 total tackles. He added 2 ½ sacks and 7 ½ tackles for a loss while hurrying the quarterback five times.
 
Goins is a hard-hitting linebacker who finished second on the team with 60 total tackles and also with 9 ½ tackles for a loss. He recorded four sacks and had four QB hurries on the season.
 
Hill topped the team with 11 tackles for a loss and nine pass break ups. He collected 54 tackles, had one sack, intercepted a pass, and forced two fumbles.
 
Other individual superlative winners include: Lamar running back Kade Harrington for player of the year; Sam Houston State quarterback Jared Johnson for offensive player of the year; Sam Houston State lineman Donald Jackson III for offensive lineman of the year; Abilene Christian's Jabari Butler for freshman of the year; and Myke Tavarres of Incarnate Word for newcomer of the year.
 
 
2015 Southland Conference Individual Superlative Winners
Player of the Year: Kade Harrington, Lamar (RB)
Offensive Player of the Year: Jared Johnson, Sam Houston State (QB)
Defensive Player of the Year: Wallace Scott, McNeese State (DB)
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Donald Jackson III, Sam Houston State (OT)
Freshman of the Year: Jabari Butler, Abilene Christian (CB)
Newcomer of the Year: Myke Tavarres, UIW (LB)
Coach of the Year: Matt Viator, McNeese State
 
2015 All-Southland Conference Football Teams
First-Team Offense

Pos.	Name	University	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
QB	Jared Johnson	Sam Houston State	6-1	215	Jr.	Grand Prairie, Texas
RB	Kade Harrington	Lamar	5-9	190	Jr.	Kingwood, Texas
RB	Corey Avery	Sam Houston State	5-10	190	So.	Dallas, Texas
TE/HB	Cole Wick	UIW	6-7	255	Sr.	Hallettsville, Texas
WR	Ed Eagan2	Northwestern State	5-10	193	Sr.	New Orleans, La.
WR	Desmond Smith	Central Arkansas	6-1	201	Jr.	Bentonville, Ark.
WR	Reggie Begelton3	Lamar	6-2	200	Sr.	Beaumont, Texas
OL	Donald Jackson III3	Sam Houston State	6-2	290	Sr.	Kilgore, Texas
OL	Quinton Marsh2	McNeese State	6-3	310	Sr.	Dickinson, Texas
OL	Kyle Stouffer	Central Arkansas	6-7	316	Sr.	Dallas, Texas
OL	Cody Elenz	Lamar	6-4	290	Sr.	Copperas Cove, Texas
OL	Bret Treadway	Lamar	6-3	280	Jr.	Silsbee, Texas
AP	Ed Eagan2	Northwestern State	5-10	193	Sr.	New Orleans, La.
PK	Chris Moore	Northwestern State	6-0	215	Sr.	Plano, Texas

 
First-Team Defense

Pos.	Name	University	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
DL	Jonathan Woodard4	Central Arkansas	6-6	271	Sr.	Brentwood, Tenn.
DL	P.J. Hall2	Sam Houston State	6-1	280	So.	Seguin, Texas
DL	Isaiah Golden	McNeese State	6-2	335	So.	Carthage, Texas
DL	Larance Hale	Lamar	6-2	280	Jr.	Tatum, Texas
LB	Myke Tavarres	UIW	6-2	220	Sr.	Lake Oswego, Ore.
LB	Bo Brown3	McNeese State	6-1	216	Sr.	Katy, Texas
LB	Sam Denmark	Abilene Christian	6-1	230	So.	Las Cruces, N.C.
DB	Wallace Scott2	McNeese State	6-1	211	Sr.	Weyanoke, La.
DB	Harlan Miller3	Southeastern La.	6-1	180	Sr.	Kentwood, La.
DB	Trenier Orr2	Sam Houston State	5-11	180	Sr.	Orlando, Fla.
DB	Tremon Smith	Central Arkansas	6-0	185	So.	Anniston, Ala.
DB	Jabari Butler	Abilene Christian	5-11	180	Fr.	Potomac, Md.
P	Jean Breaux	McNeese State	5-10	172	Sr.	Scott, La.
KR	Ed Eagan2	Northwestern State	5-10	193	Sr.	New Orleans, La.
PR	Harlan Miller3	Southeastern La.	6-1	180	Sr.	Kentwood, La.

 
Second-Team Offense

Pos.	Name	University	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
QB	Daniel Sams	McNeese State	6-2	198	Sr.	Slidell, La.
RB	Blake Veasley	Central Arkansas	6-0	205	Sr.	Cherry Valley, Ark.
RB	Ryan Ross	McNeese State	5-9	205	So.	Richwood, Texas
TE/HB	Zach Hetrick	McNeese State	6-3	250	Jr.	Baton Rouge, La.
WR	Kent Shelby	McNeese State	6-3	194	So.	New Orleans, La.
WR	Gerald Thomas	Sam Houston State	5-10	183	Sr.	The Colony, Texas
WR	Yedidiah Louis	Sam Houston State	5-8	187	So.	Richardson, Texas
OL	Codey Funk2	Abilene Christian	6-6	325	Sr.	Gridley, Ill.
OL	Ben Jones	McNeese State	6-5	283	Sr.	Nederland, Texas
OL	Pace Murphy2	Northwestern State	6-6	296	Sr.	Houston, Texas
OL	Joe Graves	Southeastern La.	6-3	320	Sr.	Covington, La.
OL	Byron Williams2	Stephen F. Austin	6-4	302	Sr.	Dickinson, Texas
AP	Yedidiah Louis	Sam Houston State	5-8	187	So.	Richardson, Texas
PK	Jace Denker	Central Arkansas	6-1	188	Sr.	Bryant, Ark.

 
Second-Team Defense

Pos.	Name	University	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
DL	Derek Floyd	Central Arkansas	6-2	248	Sr.	Dallas, Texas
DL	Cameron Smith	McNeese State	6-3	238	Sr.	Tamarac, Fla.
DL	Ashton Henderson	Southeastern La.	6-1	320	Sr.	Tulsa, Okla.
DL	John Franklin	Stephen F. Austin	6-4	284	So.	Greenville, Texas
LB	Ricky Wyatt	Central Arkansas	5-11	222	Sr.	Monroe, La.
LB	Herbert Harris	Southeastern La.	6-1	225	Sr.	Clinton, Miss.
LB	Ashari Goins	McNeese State	5-10	200	So.	Monroe, La.
DB	Mikell Everett	Sam Houston State	5-11	185	Sr.	Kent, Wash.
DB	Dominique Hill	McNeese State	5-10	177	So.	Mansfield, La.
DB	Jordan Batiste	Southeastern La.	5-10	185	Sr.	Gramercy, La.
DB	Kobie Douglas	UIW	5-9	162	Sr.	Plano, Texas
DB	B.T. Sanders	Nicholls	6-0	190	Jr.	Foley, Ala.
P	Lachlan Edwards2	Sam Houston State	6-5	215	Sr.	Victoria, Australia
KR	Rodney Randle	Lamar	5-10	200	Fr.	Beaumont, Texas
PR	Jonathan Epps2	Abilene Christian	5-9	170	Sr.	Fort Worth, Texas

 
² indicates two-time all-conference selection
³ indicates three-time all-conference selection
⁴ indicates four-time all-conference selection
 
Honorable Mention:
Quarterback: Trent Brittain, UIW; Zach Conque, Stephen F. Austin. Running Back: Michael Henry, Nicholls; De'Mard Llorens, Northwestern State; De'Andre Brown, Abilene Christian. Tight End/H-Back: Jamie Walker, Abilene Christian; DeAndre Jennings, Lamar. Wide Receiver: Cedric Gilbert, Abilene Christian; Jatavious Wilson, Central Arkansas. Offensive Linemen: Zach Stevens, Sam Houston State; Nathan Thompson, UIW; Bridge Blount, Sam Houston State; Stockton Mallet, Central Arkansas; Alec Willis, Central Arkansas; Justin Brock, Lamar; Nick Gorman, McNeese State; Ryan Hanley, Nicholls; Terrance Boyd, Northwestern State; Travis Romero, Southeastern Louisiana. Offensive All-Purpose: Kody Edwards, UIW. Defensive Linemen: LaMarcus Allen, Abilene Christian; Alex Jenkins, UIW; James DeLaRosa, Sam Houston State; A.J. Bowen, Southeastern Louisiana; Josh Bloom, Abilene Christian; Jammerio Gross, McNeese State; Jacobi Hunter, Sam Houston State; Kedrick Harrison, Stephen F. Austin. Linebackers: Justin Owens, Stephen F. Austin; Garrett Dolan, Houston Baptist; Josh Zellars, UIW; Logan Moss, Lamar; Hezekiah White, Nicholls; Jacob Merriman; Myke Chatman, Sam Houston State; Tre' Bennett, Southeastern Louisiana. Defensive Back: Brent Spikes, McNeese State; Bobby Watkins, Central Arkansas; Micah Eugene Southeastern Louisiana; Xavier Bethany, Lamar; Devin Spurlock, Central Arkansas; Patrick Martin, Stephen F. Austin; Prince Sam, Houston Baptist; Robert Johnson, UIW. Kick Return Specialist: Kody Edwards, UIW; Byron Proctor, Abilene Christian.Punt Return Specialist: Jordan Hicks, UIW; Brandon Cox, Central Arkansas.