RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Carter McElhany, Justin Crutchmer, and Steven Weston highlight a total of 20 Ouachita football players to earn All-Great American Conference honors for the 2025 season.

The teams were announced Wednesday by the league office. The Tigers ended up with three players selected to the All-GAC First Team, six selected to the second team, and 11 selected to the third team.

Junior receiver Carter McElhany earned unanimous All-GAC First Team honors, one of just five players in the league to earn top marks on all ballots. The Greenbrier native also earned first team honors as a return specialist. He led the league this season in receiving yards (772), receiving yards per game (70.2), and receiving touchdowns (eight). As a kickoff return specialist, he finished with seven returns for an average of 30.1 yards, highlighted by a 99-yard return for a score in the season opener that was featured as the No. 1 play on ESPN Sportscenter's Top 10. McElhany is now a three-time All-GAC performer in his career.

Sophomore linebacker Justin Crutchmer and senior cornerback Steven Weston also made the All-GAC First Team as two of the top defenders in the league this season. In his first season with the Tigers, Crutchmer led the nation in the regular season in forced fumbles with seven total. The Hot Springs native also had one interception this season and ended up leading the Tigers in tackles with 79 total, including 5.5 tackles for loss. Weston wrapped up the year with eight passes defended and a team-high three interceptions. The Pine Bluff native was third on the team this season in tackles with 51, including one sack. Weston finishes his career as a two-time All-GAC honoree.

The six Tigers to earn All-GAC Second Team honors include junior receiver Bo Baker, senior center Dylan Horton, graduate offensive lineman Brett Barbaree, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Terence Roberson, Jr., senior safety Braylon Johnson, and senior kicker Dax Jaggers. Horton is now a three-time All-GAC honoree. Baker and Jaggers are now two-time honorees.  

Horton, Barbaree, and Roberson anchored an offensive line that helped the Tigers rank third in the GAC in scoring and total offense. Baker was an all-around producer for the Tigers as a receiver, rusher, and return specialist. Johnson was second on the team in passes defended this year. Jaggers was top 10 in the GAC this year in scoring with seven field goals and 43 made extra points.

The 11 Tigers to earn All-GAC Third Team include freshman quarterback Tre Nichols, junior running back Chris Henley, Jr., senior tight end Garrison Jackson, senior receiver AJ Jones, senior defensive end Jaxson Carter, junior defensive end Joey Ortego, senior defensive tackle Connor Schorp, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Gabe Williams, redshirt freshman linebacker Kahlil Smith, senior cornerback Mario Ganter, Jr., and sophomore snapper Braden Reed. Jackson and Ganter are now three-time All-GAC honorees for their careers. Jones is earning his second honor.

The GAC also announced the 2025 academic honor roll for football, which includes all non-true freshman in the league that have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA. 27 Tigers made that list, including: Jezreel Bachert, Max Dickson, Jr., Mark Gabbie, Brayden Hendricks, Brock Holton, Dylan Horton, Roy Hudson, Garrison Jackson, Dax Jaggers, Elijah Mason, Aaron McMillian, Nicolas Middlebrook, Maddox Olatunde, Joey Ortego, Terence Roberson, Jr., Davion Robinson, Josh Robinson, Connor Schorp, Isaiah Simpson, Thomas Stewart, Chase Swede, Nate TenBarge, Lane Tomlinson, Lyric Tredwell, Gavin Vest, Isaac Wallis, and Lucas Wilbur.

These honorees helped Ouachita record the program's 17th consecutive winning season in 2025, extending the longest active streak among all college football teams in the state of Arkansas.