Nov. 23, 2002
Magnolia, Ark.-Southern Arkansas University placed seven players on the 2002 All-Gulf South Conference football team. Representing the Muleriders on the first-team All-Conference team are Nik Lewis on offense and Tim Rose, Carl Bucknor and Brian Davis on defense.
Lewis, a 5-10, 190-pound junior wide receiver from Jacksboro, Tex., was the only ‘Rider on the first-team All-GSC offensive team. Lewis set four school records this year and tied another. He led the high-scoring SAU offense with 84 points. He caught 14 touchdown passes, had 65 receptions for 1,239 yards, had 1,429 yards in All-purpose yards, was a second-team All-GSC choice in 2001 and was a 2001 Offensive Player of the Week on offense.
Rose, a 5-11, 193-pound junior linebacker from Tyler, Tex., had 21 solos, 28 assists and 49 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for 14 yards in losses, two passes broken up and one quarterback hurry. He was a pre-season All-GSC pick by conference coaches and was a second-team All-GSC choice in 2001.
Bucknor, a 5-10, 190-pound senior cornerback from Augusta, Ga., had 27 solos, 15 assists and 42 total tackles, two tackles for losses of three yards, two interceptions returned 32 yards, eight pass break-ups, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. He was a second-team All-GSC selection in 2001. He missed one game with an injury.
Davis, a 6-0, 167-pound junior strong safety from Longview, Tex., had a team-high 111 tackles, 63 solos and 48 assists. He had one tackle for a yard loss, five interceptions returned 18 yards, two fumble recoveries returned seven yards and three forced fumbles. He was the GSC Defensive Player of the Week ending November 16 when he made 23 tackles, 20 of them unassisted, an interception, forced two fumbles and had a pass break-up.
The ‘Riders, 7-4 overall and 6-3 in GSC play, placed three on the All-GSC second-team. They are running back Torrence Jones on offense and linebackers DeVares Campbell and Keenan Washington on defense.
Jones, a 5-8, 165-pound sophomore from Cotton Valley, La., rushed for a team-high 650 yards on 100 carries and 12 touchdowns. He is a two-year starter and letterman.
Campbell 5-11, 200-pound junior from Houston, Tex., had 34 solos and 24 assists for 58 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for 14 yards in losses, two passes broken up and a quarterback hurry.
Washington, a 6-0, 242-pound sophomore from Dallas, Tex., had 54 unassisted tackles, 38 assists and 92 total tackles, second on the team. He had a team-high 11 tackles for 31 yards in losses, two sacks for eight lost yards, an interception returned four yards, one pass break-up, one quarterback hurry and four forced fumbles. He missed one game with an injury.
Unbeaten three-time GSC champion Valdosta State (12-0, 9-0 in the GSC) landed a high of 13 players, 10 first-team selections. Runner-up Harding (9-2, 7-2) was second with 10 representatives, including four on the first team. Eighth-place West Alabama (5-6, 3-6) was third with eight picks and Southern Arkansas, West Georgia (3-8, 1-8) and Central Arkansas (8-3, 6-3) tied for fourth with seven each. Delta State (4-7, 4-5) had six representatives, Ouachita Baptist (5-5, 5-4) five, Arkansas-Monticello (2-8, 2-7) and Arkansas Tech (4-7, 3-6) four each and Henderson State (5-6, 5-4) had three.