MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Texas
Lutheran University sophomore running back Marquis Barrolle, the
nation's leading rusher, and guard Kendall Wilkerson were named to
the 2014 D3football.com All-South Region First Team to highlight
seven total players selected among the three teams from the
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference on Monday morning.
The teams, selected in balloting by South Region sports
information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from
252 nominations by Division III member schools. A total of 79
players were chosen.
In addition to Barrolle and Wilkerson, senior tackle Matt Hochstrasser of Texas Lutheran University and senior linebacker Connor Yorloff and Trinity University were named to the All-South Region Second Team.
Rounding things out on the All-South Region Third Team was senior tight end Kyle Crawford of Austin College, junior defensive back Drake Dowling of Texas Lutheran, and senior kicker Tyler Brandenburg of Texas Lutheran.
The Bulldogs, who made their first appearance in the NCAA Football Playoffs this season after a 9-2 season, finished with five student-athletes on the team.
Barrolle, a sophomore from Ingleside, Texas, finished his 11-game 2014 season with a school-record 1,792 yards on a school-record 297 carries and still currently holds the nation's lead in total rushing yards with three total games remaining in Division III. His 1,792 yards were the second most in SCAC history. The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year, Barrolle scored 14 touchdowns to lead the conference while racking up 2,068 all-purpose yards.
Wilkerson, a senior from Highlands, Texas, and Hochstrasser, a senior from Houston, Texas, led a TLU offensive line that propelled the Bulldogs to the 11th-ranked total offense in all of NCAA Division III. Both named to First Team All-SCAC, the Bulldogs average 502.6 yards of total offense per game behind their two stud linemen. The Bulldogs also rank 12th in scoring (42.6), 17th in rushing offense (257.2), and 23rd in sacks allowed (1.0 per game). Wilkerson and Hochstrasser were key to Barrolle's success on the ground all season long.
Yorloff, a senior from Katy, Texas, made the All-SCAC First Team for the second straight year. He was second in the conference in tackles with 100 (38 solo), and also recorded 3.5 QB sacks to lead the Trinity defense. He was a huge part of Tiger defense that came alive toward the end of the season as Trinity won three of their final four games, including a 41-0 win over Austin College where Yorloff and the defense held a potent 'Roo offense to only 164 yards of total offense, and 64 rushing yards, to clinch second in the SCAC.
Crawford, a senior from Rockwall, Texas, earns All-South Region honors for the second straight year, earning third team a season ago, and was a first team All-SCAC selection after finishing the season ranked second in the conference with 42 receptions, first with 699 yards, first with 16.6 yards-per-catch, and third with four touchdown catches. Crawford was a two-time D3football.com Team of the Week honoree as the 'Roos finished 5-5 for the second straight season.
Dowling, a junior from Katy, Texas, ranked in the NCAA Top 50 in interceptions (32nd), punt returns (24th) and passes defended (39th). Dowling is second on the team in tackles, with 78, and he leads the team in interceptions, with five. He averages 11.12 yards per punt return. In addition to his First Team All-SCAC Defense selection, Dowling was named to the honorable mention as a punt returner.
Brandenburg, a senior from Spring, Texas, made 17-of-25 field goals (68%) during the regular season, including a 51-yarder on Nov. 8 at Austin College – the fifth-longest field goal in SCAC history. His 17 field goals set a new SCAC single-season and he was tied for third in the nation in field goals made per game (1.5) at the conclusion of the regular season. Brandenburg was named SCAC Special Teams Player of the Year for the second year in a row.
To view the entire D3Football.com All-South Region Team, click here.
