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November 28, 2012
Sullivan, Players Honored On All-SoCon Teams
SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Samford head football coach Pat Sullivan was named the Southern Conference's Co-Coach of the Year by the league's coaches, and 10 Bulldog players were honored on various teams when the league released its postseason awards on Tuesday.
Sullivan shared the honor with Kevin Higgins of The Citadel. Sullivan led the Bulldogs to seven wins for the first time since 2003 and to a 5-3 record in SoCon games, marking the first time the Bulldogs have finished with a winning league mark since joining the league in 2008. The Bulldogs also earned their first two wins over ranked opponents since 1994, and their first national ranking since 1993.
On the Coaches All-Conference team, offensive lineman Ryan Dudchock, defensive lineman Nicholas Williams, safety Jaquiski Tartt and place-kicker Cameron Yaw were named first team All-Conference. Running back Fabian Truss, wide receiver Kelsey Pope and offensive lineman Jacob Kirschenbaum were named second team All-Conference, while tight end Tony Philpot, and defensive backs Trey Wesley and James Bradberry were named to the All-Freshman Team.
The SoCon Sports Media Association also named Dudhcock, Williams, Tartt and Yaw to its first team. Truss, Kirschenbaum and Pope were also named second team by the media. In addition to being named second team as a running back, Truss was also named second team as a return specialist by the media.
Dudchock has started the last 33 consecutive games for the Bulldogs. He has been the team's center and one of the leaders of the offensive line for the last three years.
Williams leads the team and ranks second in the Southern Conference in sacks with seven. He finished the season with a total of 31 tackles and eight tackles for a loss.
Tartt, who is on the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award for the top defensive player at the FCS level, leads the team and is tied for seventh in the SoCon in tackles with 94. He leads the SoCon in passes defended with 14, and he is tied for the league lead in interceptions with four.
Yaw leaves Samford as the school's all-time leading scorer with 303 points in his four years in a Samford uniform. This season, he made 15-of-23 field goals, including a career-long 52-yarder at Chattanooga. He made 27-of-28 extra point attempts, and he averaged 64.1 yards on 54 kickoffs in 2012.
As a running back, Truss rushed for 1,063 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and 96.6 yards per game. As a kick returner, Truss ranked third in the SoCon, averaging 27.1 yards per return. Overall, Truss led the league in all-purpose yard per game, averaging 179.8 yards per contest.
Pope led Samford in receiving, catching 68 passes for 552 yards and four touchdowns. Pope averaged 8.1 yards per catch and 50.2 yards per game. Pope also rushed six times for 25 yards and a touchdown.
Kirschenbaum has started the last 32 consecutive games on the offensive line for Samford. He has been a consistent leader for the unit for the last three seasons.
Philpot caught eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in his first season in a Samford uniform. He had a long catch of 62 yards, and he caught a touchdown pass in the first quarter against Appalachian State.
Trey Wesley finished the 2012 season with 32 tackles, including 20 solo stops. He also had four and a half tackles for a loss, three sacks and one interception as a freshman.
James Bradberry produced 32 tackles, including 22 solo tackles. He intercepted two passes, broke up two passes and had one and a half tackles for a loss.
