KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eighteen members of the 2015 Griffon Football team have been named All-MIAA with three earning first team honors.

Defensive back Michael Jordan became a three-time first team selection as the Griffons only unanimous pick on the 2015 All-MIAA team. He was joined by offensive lineman Travis Anderson who earned his second straight first team nod and linebacker Yomi Alli. Named to the second team were running back Raphael Spencer, return specialist Brandynn Clark, defensive lineman Arbanas Elliott and defensive back Sam Brown. On the third team were wide receiver Dee Toliver, tight end Alek Ferbet, offensive lineman John Carter, linebacker Darrian Bass and punter Matthew Vincent. Honorable mention selections were offensive lineman Leonard Wester, defensive lineman Janis Matulis, linebackers Cody Lindsay and Jorge Belcher and defensive backs Jonathan Owens and Donte Watkins.

Missouri Western landed all four of its starting defensive backs on the team, along with all four starting linebackers, two of three starting defensive linemen and three starting offensive linemen. Eight of the student-athletes named to this year’s team are repeat selections from 2014, with 10 first time All-MIAA selections. Matthew Vincent’s selection as third team punter saves a streak of a Missouri Western punter or kicker being named All-MIAA that dates back to 2005.

FIRST TEAM
Michael Jordan, defensive back (unanimous selection)
Jordan’s selection to the team makes him the first Griffon named All-MIAA four times in his career since Roger Allen, who was also freshman of the year and honorable mention in year one before becoming a three-time first team selection. The senior finished the season with a career-high five interceptions, giving him 16 for his career, the second most in MWSU history. Jordan led the MIAA and was third in all of Division II with 22 passes defended.

Travis Anderson, offensive line
Anderson could now become the first offensive lineman named to three first teams since Allen. The junior started all but one game for Missouri Western this season, helping Raphael Spencer to his third 1,000 yard season.

Yomi Alli, linebacker
Alli earned his third All-MIAA selection in his sixth season with the team. Last year he received honorable mention after being named second team in 2013. Alli finished the year sixth in the MIAA with a career-high 108 tackles. His 325 career tackles currently rank him second on the MWSU career tackles list, which dates back to 1989.

SECOND TEAM
Raphael Spencer, running back
Now a three-time All-MIAA selection after being named first team in 2014 and second team in 2013, Spencer became just the second Griffon ever to rush for 4,000 yards in his career on Nov. 7 at Nebraska-Kearney. His 4,234 career rushing yards rank second to Michael Hill’s 4,969 on the all-time list at MWSU. The Kansas City native ended his career with three seasons over 1,000 yards, 750 total rushing attempts (2nd all-time), 31 rushing touchdowns (4th all-time) and a 5.6-yard per carry average in his career.

Brandynn Clark, punt/kickoff returner
Clark was named MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week after accumulating 184 return yards and an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown in his final game as a Griffon. The senior led the MIAA, averaging 14.3 yards per punt return and was 16th in the MIAA with an 18.4 yard per kickoff return average.

Arbanas Elliott, defensive lineman
Elliott became a three-time All-MIAA selection after earning second team honors last season and third team honors in 2013. The nose guard had 21 total tackles, four quarterback hurries and an interception this season. He finished his career with 94 tackles and two interceptions.

Sam Brown, defensive back
Brown earned his first All-MIAA honor in his last season at Missouri Western. The corner finished 2015 with 43 total tackles and three interceptions. The St. Louis native had six interceptions in his career and 123 tackles.

THIRD TEAM
Dee Toliver, wide receiver
Toliver becomes All-MIAA for the first time in his career after leading the team with 33 catches and 756 receiving yards. His 22.91 yards per reception led the MIAA and were second in all of Division II football. Toliver set personal career-highs for catches, yards and touchdowns with five. He caught 78 passes for 1,415 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career as a Griffon.

Alek Ferbet, tight end
Ferbet earned his second All-MIAA selection after being named honorable mention in 2014. The senior had his best year as a Griffon with 25 receptions for 320 yards and two touchdowns. He finished his career with 43 catches for 543 yards and four touchdowns.

John Carter, offensive lineman
The junior earned his first All-MIAA selection after starting all 11 games for an offense that finished fifth in the MIAA in rushing yards per game and seventh in total offense. Carter has played in every game since arriving on campus and has started every game the last two seasons.

Darrian Bass, linebacker
Bass earned his first All-MIAA selection after totaling 62 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions this season. The junior had nine tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries and nine passes defended from his linebacker position.

Matthew Vincent, punter
The transfer made it 16-straight years Missouri Western has had a punter and/or kicker named All-MIAA. Vincent led the MIAA with 21 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He forced 24 fair catches, third in the MIAA and had a long kick of 70 yards, averaging 39.4 yards per punt.

HONORABLE MENTION
Leonard Wester, offensive lineman
Wester added his second postseason honor of 2015 after being named first team CoSIDA Academic All-District. It’s the second straight year the senior was named honorable mention All-MIAA. Wester started all 11 games at left tackle again this season and ended his career with 24 consecutive starts and 30 career starts.

Janis Matulis, defensive lineman
Matulis’s first All-MIAA selection came after starting all 11 games for Missouri Western for the third straight season. Matulis played in all but one game in his four years of eligibility, amassing 86 career tackles and four sacks.

Cody Lindsay, linebacker
Lindsay led Missouri Western for the second straight year with 7.5 sacks, fourth in the MIAA, and was named honorable mention for the second time in his two years as a Griffon. This season, the sophomore had 56 total tackles, 15 for loss, to go with the sacks. He now has 25 career tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks after two years in a Griffon uniform.

Jorge Belcher, linebacker
Belcher picked up his first All-MIAA nod despite missing the last two games and most of another due to injury. The fourth starting Griffon linebacker on the All-MIAA squad, Belcher finished the year with 29 total tackles, four for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Jonathan Owens, defensive back
The sophomore safety earned his first All-MIAA selection in his first season as a starter. Owens had 85 total tackles, four interceptions and nine passes defended this season. Owens also recorded 1.5 sacks from his safety position.

Donte Watkins, defensive back
Watkins joined fellow starting secondary members, Jordan, Brown and Owens on the All-MIAA team, a first for the sophomore. Watkins had two interceptions to go with 59 tackles this season. He also recorded seven passes defended.

— MWSU Athletics —