Viator, Scott lead group of 13 Cowboys named to All-Southland teams

FRISCO, Texas – Fresh off of capping an undefeated regular season and the 14th 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 12th 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 11th 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.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Jared Johnson, Sam Houston State
RB - Kade Harrington, Lamar RB - Corey Avery, Sam Houston State TE/HB - Cole Wick, UIW WR - Ed Eagan, Northwestern State
WR - Desmond Smith, Central Arkansas WR - Reggie Begelton, Lamar
OL - Donald Jackson, Sam Houston State OL - Quinton Marsh, McNeese State OL - Kyle Stouffer, Central Arkansas OL - Cody Elenz, Lamar OL - Bret Treadway, Lamar AP - Ed Eagan, Northwestern State PK - Chris Moore, Northwestern State
FIRST TEAM
DEFENSE
DL - Jonathan Woodard, Central Arkansas
DL - P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State DL - Isaiah Golden, McNeese State DL - Larance Hale, Lamar
LB - Myke Tavarres, UIW
LB - Bo Brown, McNeese State LB - Sam Denmark, Abilene Christian DB - Wallace Scott, McNeese State DB - Harlan Miller, Southeastern La. DB - Trenier Orr, Sam Houston State DB - Tremon Smith, Central Arkansas DB - Jabari Butler, Abilene Christian
P - Jean Breaux, McNeese State KR - Ed Eagan, Northwestern State PR - Harlan Miller, Southeastern La.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Daniel Sams, McNeese State
RB - Blake Veasley, Central Arkansas RB - Ryan Ross, McNeese State TE/HB - Zach Hetrick, McNeese State WR - Kent Shelby, McNeese State
WR - Gerald Thomas, Sam Houston State WR - Yedidiah Louis, Sam Houston State
OL - Codey Funk, Abilene Christian OL - Ben Jones, McNeese State OL - Pace Murphy, Northwestern State OL - Joe Graves, Southeastern La. OL - Byron Williams, Stephen F. Austin AP - Yedidiah Louis, Sam Houston State PK - Jace Denker, Central Arkansas
SECOND TEAM
DEFENSE
DL - Derek Floyd, Central Arkansas
DL - Cameron Smith, McNeese State DL - Ashton Henderson, Southeastern La. DL - John Franklin, Stephen F. Austin
LB - Ricky Wyatt, Central Arkansas
LB - Herbert Harris, Southeastern La. LB - Ashari Goins, McNeese State DB - Mikell Everett, Sam Houston State DB - Dominique Hill, McNeese State DB - Jordan Batiste, Southeastern La. DB - Kobie Douglas, UIW DB - B.T. Sanders, Nicholls
P - Lachlan Edwards, Sam Houston State KR - Rodney Randle, Lamar PR - Jonathan Epps, Abilene Christian

2015 SLC FOOTBALL
AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Kade Harrington,
Lamar

OFFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jared Johnson,
Sam Houston State

DEFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Wallace Scott,
McNeese State

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Donald Jackson,
Sam Houston State

FRESHMAN
OF THE YEAR
Jabari Butler,
Abilene Christian

NEWCOMER
OF THE YEAR
Myke Tavarres,
UIW

COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Viator,
McNeese State