LAKE CHARLES – McNeese's defenses have traditionally been a dominant force in the Southland Conference and the nation over the past 74 seasons and the 75^th season is falling right in line.
 
From the Blue Wall in the 1970s and 80s to the Defense With Attitude (DWA) formed in the 90s and still going strong today, a major part of that success has been because of the group of linebackers the Cowboys have put on the field.
 
In conjunction with the celebration of the 75^th year of McNeese Football, on Thursday, 16 linebackers have been selected to the McNeese Football 75^th Anniversary All-Linebacker team.
 
Since the 2018 season is the 75^th year of football, current players will be eligible to be added to the list at the conclusion of the season.
 
Members of the All-75^th Anniversary team will be recognized at the Oct. 6 home game against Abilene Christian. Contact Matthew Bonnette at wbonnette@mcneese.edu for more information.
 
McNeese Football All-75^th Anniversary Team – Defensive Line (Alphabetical Order)
 
Charlie Ayro (1995-98) – One of best linebackers in school history… 1998 All-American (AP, Walter Camp, AFCA, STATS, ESPN/USA Today)… 1997 All-American by Walter Camp, STATS and ESPN/USA Today… two-time first team All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana… 1998 SLC Defensive Player of the Year… 1998 McNeese Team MVP and Team Captain… Three-time McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year (1996-98)… continues to hold school career record with 486 tackles… ranked ninth with 15 career sacks… single-season school record with 171 tackles in 1998… single-game school record with 23 tackles against Nicholls in 1996… led team in tackles in 1996 (113), 1997 (171) and 1998 (137)… played professionally in the indoor league… also received his masters degree from McNeese… currently the linebackers coach for the Cowboys… inducted into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame in 2010… Southland Conference 1990s All-Decade Team
 
Trey Bennett (2004-07) – Three-time All-Southland Conference selection earning first team honors in 2005 and 2007… first team All-Louisiana in 2007… 2007 McNeese Team Captain… 2007 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player… ranks 10^th all-time in tackles with 308… ranked second on the team with 98 tackles in 2007… recorded 20 tackles for a loss and six sacks in his career.
 
Bo Brown (2012-15) – Three-time All-Southland Conference honors and 2015 All-Louisiana… 2015 Southland All-Academic honors… 2015 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player… recorded 215 tackles in his career along with 24.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks and an interception… tied for the team lead with four sacks as a senior in 2015.
 
Daryl Burckel (1977-80) – 1980 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year… first team All-SLC… 1980 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player and Team Captain… starter at middle linebacker his junior and senior seasons and led the Cowboys to the 1979 and 1980 SLC Championships as well as appearances in the Independence Bowl both years… led the team with 104 tackles in 1980… recorded 224 tackles in his career… named the seventh president in McNeese State University history in 2017… inducted into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame in 2002… Southland Conference 1980s All-Decade Team.
 
Wayne Cordova (1996-99) – First team All-Southland Conference selection… 1999 McNeese Team Captain… 1999 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player… recorded 306 career tackles, currently ranking him 11^th on the school's all-time list… led the Cowboys with 113 stops in 1999… member of the 1997 SLC Championship team that played for the national title... recorded six sacks and 12 tackles for a loss in his career… currently defensive backs coach for the Cowboys.
 
Doug Fruge (1975-78) – Three-time first team All-Southland Conference honors and All-Louisiana honors in 1976… led the Cowboys with 83 tackles as a sophomore and with 156 tackles his senior season, which at the time, tied a school record for most tackles in a single-season… ended his career with 325 tackles which currently ranks him No. 8 on the school's all-time list… was part of a linebacker group that included one of the all-time greats, Bob Howell… 1978 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Players and Team Captain… played on the 1976 SLC and Independence Bowl championship team… inducted into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
 
Bob Howell (1974-77) – Two-time first team All-Southland Conference selection… led the Cowboys in tackles in 1975 with 90 and in 1977 with then a school-record 156 stops… battled back from a severe knee injury during his playing career that ended with 337 career tackles which currently ranks No. 7 on the school's all-time tackles list… 1977 Team MVP and Captain and 1975 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player… played on the 1976 SLC and Independence Bowl championship team… a 2008 inductee into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame.
 
Terry Irving (1990-93) – Arguably the greatest linebacker to ever suit up for the Cowboys… 1992 and 1993 first team All-American by the AP, Walter Camp, Kodak and Sports Network… 1992 and 1993 SLC and Louisiana Defensive Player of the Year… three-time first team All-Southland Conference and two-time first team All-Louisiana… led McNeese in tackles three straight years from 1991-93… his 159 stops in 1993 set a new single-season school record at the time… one of just two players in school history to record more than 400 tackles in his career as his 461 currently ranks No. 2 on the all-time list… ended career with 12 sacks and 49 tackles for a loss including 23 TFLs his senior season… 1992 and 1993 team MVP… 1993 team captain… 1991, 92 and 93 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player… drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1994 NFL Draft and had a five-year career… Southland Conference 1990s All-Decade Team and Southland Conference 50^th Anniversary All-Time Football Team as first team linebacker… inducted into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
 
Vincent Landrum (1992-95) – 1994 All-American by the AP and Sports Network and 1995 All-American by Walter Camp… 1994 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year… 1994 and 1995 first team All-Southland Conference and 1994 first team All-Louisiana… led the Cowboys with 153 tackles in 1994 and ended his career with 304 stops which currently ranks 12^th on the school's all-time list… 1994 McNeese MVP and Outstanding Defensive Player… 1995 team captain… as a freshman he was part of a Cowboys' team that won their first-ever postseason playoff game, and as a senior in 1995, helped the team to its very first semifinal game… Southland Conference 1990s All-Decade Team… a 2016 inductee into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame.
 
Deron Minor (2006-10) – Appeared in 49 games in his career, recording 345 tackles in his career which currently ranks sixth on the school's all-time list… led the Cowboys with 111 tackles in 2010, a year after seeing his season cut short after three games due to injury… ended his career with five sacks and 20.5 tackles for a loss.
 
Bill Moseley (1973-76) – Nicknamed "Mr. Hustle", earned first team All-Southland Conference honors and the McNeese MVP in 1976 where he helped lead the Cowboys to the SLC and Independence Bowl titles… racked up 159 tackles in his career with 76 of those coming in his junior campaign… will be inducted into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
 
Allen Nelson (2005-08) – A 2007 and 2008 first team All-Southland Conference selection and a three-time All-Louisiana linebacker… 2008 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player… led the Cowboys in tackles three straight years from 2006-08 with a high of 119 in 2006… currently ranks fourth in McNeese history with 369 career tackles… helped the Cowboys win the 2006 and 2007 conference championships… Southland Conference 2000s All-Decade Team.
 
Chad Reeves (1994-95) – Two-time All-Southland Conference in 1994 and 1995… 1995 All-Louisiana… 1994 SLC Newcomer of the Year… helped the Cowboys to the 1995 SLC title and the 1994 and 1995 playoffs, including the program's first semifinal appearance in 1995… led the team with 119 tackles in 1995 and recorded 197 tackles in his two-year career… suited up for the New England Patriots at Super Bowl XXXI which was played in New Orleans.
 
Vance Robichaux (1982-85) – An All-American candidate for the Cowboys his senior season where he led the team with 133 tackles… also led the squad with 104 stops his junior season… his 289 career tackles currently ranks as the 15^th-most in school history… 1985 All-Southland Conference honors and 1985 McNeese MVP… two-time McNeese team captain (1984 and 1985)… 1985 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player.

Roderick Royal (2002-03) – 2002 First Team All-American by the AP, Walter Camp, Football Gazette and Sports Network… 2003 First Team All-American by the AFCA, AP, Football Gazette and Sports Network… 2002 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year… 2002 and 2003 First Team All-SLC and All-Louisiana… 2002 Louisiana Newcomer of the Year… 2002 and 2003 McNeese Outstanding Defensive Player… led the team in tackles both his seasons – 160 in 2002 and 116 in 2003… helped guide the Cowboys to conference championships both season, compiling a 23-4 overall record and 11-0 in conference play… also led McNeese to the 2002 national title game… Southland Conference 2000s All-Decade Team.
 
Richard Vidrine (1967-70) – Two-time All-Gulf States Conference selection… led the team in tackles in 1969 with 61, and in 1970 with 104, which at the time, was a single-season school record… recorded 269 tackles in his career which currently ranks him 17^th on the McNeese all-time list… 1970 McNeese MVP and team captain… Academic All-American in 1970… inducted into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.