ALL-GAC Teams

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the 2018 football All-Conference awards in a press release earlier today; Ouachita took home three of the four superlatives and placed 16 players on All-GAC teams.

Head football coach Todd Knight took home GAC Coach of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, this is his fourth GAC Coach of the Year honor and his fifth overall. Under Knight's tutelage the Tigers have won four GAC titles in eight seasons and have won a program record 70 games since the 2010 season. The Tigers set a new school record with 11 regular season wins as they head into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed for just the second time in school history.  

Senior running back Kris Oliver (Arkadelphia, Ark.) has been named the GAC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing 893 yards and 8 touchdowns on the season. Oliver is just the second Tiger to earn the honor, former Tiger quarterback Casey Cooper won the award after the 2011 season. On October 18^th Oliver rushed for a season high 151-yards against Southern Nazarene, in the process the Arkadelphia native became the GAC's All-Time leading rusher with 3,687-yards and the only player in GAC history with 15 or more 100-yard rushing games. Oliver needs just 107-yards to break the 1,000-yard mark on the season.

The GAC named Ouachita quarterback Brayden Brazeal (England, Ark.) Freshman of the Year after he helped guide the Tigers to an undefeated regular season and GAC Championship in his first season. The Natural State native joins fellow teammate Allie Freeman (Little Rock, Ark.) as the only Tigers to take home the honor of Freshman of the Year. Through the air, Brazeal passed for 1,054-yards and six touchdowns, on the ground he ran for an additional 478-yards and six touchdowns. This is Brazeal's first postseason honor of his career.

Ouachita placed a conference high nine players on the first team. Joining Oliver on the First Team this season are Drew Harris (Benton, Ark.), Cori Gooseberry (Little Rock, Ark.), Justin Gooseberry (Little Rock, Ark.), Ernest Reed (El Dorado, Ark.), Airric Parker (San Diego, Calif.), Keandre Evans (Junction City, Ark.), Cole Antley (Atlanta, Ga.) and Tevin Joins (Nettleton, Ark.).

Harris proved to be one of the most versatile players on the Tigers sideline this season. After fighting through injuries for most of the season, the Benton native was able to finish the year with 437 All-Purpose yards and three touchdowns. The Gooseberry twins anchored one of the best offensive lines in the Conference. Behind the Gooseberry's the Tigers rushing offensive was able to explode this season for 275.3-yards per game and 41 rushing touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball Reed, Parker and Evans lead one of the stoutest defenses in the entire nation. Opponents averaged just 9.64 points per contest and the Tigers forced 24 turnovers this season. Reed anchored a defensive front that caused constant havoc on opposing quarterbacks, the El Dorado native finished the regular season with 26 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Parker had a breakout season leading the team in tackles with 66, 40 of which were solo stops. The California native also had a fumble recovery, two interceptions and a touchdown on the season. Parker was named GAC Defensive Player of the Week after a 12-tackle performance against Southeastern Oklahoma State on September 15.

Evans became a lockdown cornerback and the leader of a furious secondary. The junior out of Junction City led the secondary with 51 tackles, 13 pass breakups, 4 interceptions and a highlight reel touchdown against Arkansas Tech. The pick-six touchdown against the Wonder Boys was replayed on Sportscenter, College Football Final, Fox NFL Sunday and NBC's Sunday Night Football.

The Tigers special teams units were one of the best in the GAC. Jones primarily a special teams player this season recorded 30 tackles this season. Meanwhile, Antley led the league in points scored by a kicker (80) and in made field goals with 11. The Peach State native currently leads the nation with .917 kicking percentage.
Ouachita running back Shun'cee Thomas (Bossier City, La.), defensive end Dameyun McDonald (Helena, Ark.) and kickoff return specialist Allie Freeman were all named to the All-GAC second team.

Thomas finished the regular season second on the team in rushing yards with 711. The junior running back crossed the century mark on three separate occasions this year, Thomas also had the Tigers longest rush from scrimmage with a 74-yard scamper against Southern Arkansas. McDonald finished the regular season with 53 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and a team leading 4.5 sacks.

Freeman not only was the Tigers top receiver but he was also Ouachita's top return specialist. The Little Rock native returned 11 kickoffs for 264-yard and had 14-punt returns for 151-yards. As a receiver Freeman earned honorable mention honors after he hauled in 39 receptions for 411-yards and two scores.

Joining Freeman on the honorable mention list is fullback Brockton Brown (Sheridan, Ark.), tight end Logan Morris (Hamburg, Ark.) and center Jacob Roberts (Sherwood, Ark.).
Brown finished the season with a team high 15 touchdowns on 560 yards. The Sheridan native set a school record for rushing yards in a half with 187 against Oklahoma Baptist earlier this season. Brown earned Offensive Player of the Week for his breakout game against the Bison and he has scored in all but three games this season. Morris and Roberts are both part of an offensive line unit that was one of the best in the conference.     

The Ouachita football is currently preparing for their NCAA second round matchup on November 24^th at Cliff Harris Stadium, the Tigers will find out who they play the winner of the Indianapolis/Fort Hays game. For more information on the Ouachita football game or tickets for the upcoming playoff game log onto obutigers.com.